Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — Hunting Permits
$1.00 1934 Hunting Permit (RW1). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE FIRST HUNTING PERMIT ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 1993 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $8,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only three others share it. We have offered only one other in our auctions.
$1.00 1934 Hunting Permit (RW1). Mint N.H., huge Jumbo margins, outstanding centering, bright and fresh in every respectEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1934 $1.00 FIRST HUNTING PERMIT.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,700.00).
$1.00 1935 Hunting Permit (RW2). Mint N.H., rich color, remarkably detailed impression showing every nuance of the engraving, mathematically perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND HUNTING PERMIT ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. THIS STAMP IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $10,400.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it. This is also the only example graded higher than a 95 that we have offered in one of our auctions.
$1.00 1936 Hunting Permit (RW3). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1936 HUNTING PERMIT ISSUE WHICH HAS RECEIVED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 FROM P.S.E.
The early Hunting Permit stamps are very rare in Mint N.H. condition with perfect centering. Among RW2-RW7, there is a total of only six stamps graded Gem 100.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $5,100.00). This is the highest grade awarded to RW3 and it is shared by only two others
$1.00 1936 Hunting Permit (RW3). Mint N.H. with top selvage, wide margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $475.00)
$1.00 1936 Hunting Permit (RW3). Mint N.H., choice centering, wide margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem
$1.00 1937 Hunting Permit (RW4). Mint N.H., exceptionally fresh with nearly perfect centering, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,600.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others
$1.00 1937 Hunting Permit (RW4). Mint N.H., radiant color and detailed impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $875.00)
$1.00 1940 Hunting Permit (RW7). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,200.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only five others share it
$1.00 1943 Hunting Permit (RW10). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $800.00), only one has graded higher
$1.00 1946 Hunting Permit (RW13). Mint N.H., deep rich color and detailed impression, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $750.00), only two have graded higher (both 100)
$2.00 1954 Hunting Permit (RW21). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $375.00), only seven have graded higher
$2.00 1957 Hunting Permit, Back Inscription Inverted (RW24a). Mint N.H., bright color, choice centering, few natural gum skipsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1957 HUNTING PERMIT WITH THE BACK INSCRIPTION INVERTED. PERHAPS A HALF-DOZEN ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE OFFERED IN ONE OF OUR AUCTIONS.
Only four Hunting Permit issues are listed with back inscription inverted: RW22 (two unused and one used known), RW24 (6-8 known), RW25 (one known) and RW26 (two known). The stamp offered here seems undervalued in Scott, considering the RW26 is priced at $27,500.00
Ex Rudy. Normal stamp accompanies for comparison.
$3.00 1971 Hunting Permit (RW38). Mint N.H. with top left corner plate no. 171587 selvage, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $325.00), this is the highest grade awarded
$5.00 1977 Hunting Permit (RW44). Mint N.H., with strong offset on back, choice centering, Extremely Fine and very rare, it is believed perhaps 15 are known
$7.50 1984 Hunting Permit, Special Printing, Cross Gutter Block (RW51x). Mint N.H., pencil notations on back indicate this is from the seventh sheet, rich colors, choice centeringVERY FINE AND VERY RARE CROSS-GUTTER BLOCK OF THE RW51 SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 15 UNCUT SHEETS OF 120 WERE SOLD, AND ONLY A VERY FEW POSITIONS ARE COLLECTIBLE.
According to Scott Catalogue, after RW51 became void, 15 uncut sheets of 120 (four panes of 30 separated by gutters) were overprinted with "50th Anniversary 1934-1984" and auctioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fourteen were sold, and one was donated to the Smithsonian. Perhaps 2-3 sheets remain intact, so this is one of at most fourteen examples available to collectors.
With 1990 P.F. certificate identifying the sheet and positions.
$7.50 1985 Hunting Permit, Light Blue (Litho.) Omitted (RW52a). Vertical strip of five with selvage at top, right and bottom, top stamp completely lacking Light Blue, second stamp partly lacking Light Blue, bottom four stamps are normal, top stamp shows the Cinnamon Teal duck in yellow orange and is due to color changelingVERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE LIGHT BLUE (LITHO.) OMITTED ERROR, WHICH ALL COME FROM THE SAME DISCOVERY SHEET. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF HUNTING PERMIT COLLECTING.
According to Scott Catalogue, the omitted color on No. RW52a coincides with a double paper splice affecting the top row of five stamps from the sheet and the top half of stamps in the second row. There is also a color changeling of the brownish red ducks and their reflections in the water to yellow and yellow orange, respectively, on the error stamps. The error currently exists as three vertical strips of six (top stamps the error) and a plate block of twelve (plate no. at bottom left, top stamps the error).
With copy of 2006 P.F. certificate for the discovery sheet.
$7.50 1986 Hunting Permit, Black Omitted (RW53a). Mint N.H., rich colors, Extremely Fine, a beautiful example of this distinctive color-missing error, approximately 60 are believed to exist, with 1990 P.S.E. certificate
$15.00 1991 Hunting Permit, Black (Engr.) Omitted (RW58a). Mint N.H. with bottom left corner selvage, rich colors, the missing engraving results in much lighter chests of the two King EidersEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1991 HUNTING PERMIT WITH BLACK ENGRAVING OMITTED. PERHAPS A HALF-DOZEN ARE KNOWN.
According to The Duck Stamp Story, the first example of this error was discovered in 1992 by Dan Harshman. The book also states all known examples of this error originated in the San Francisco area.
With 2005 P.F. certificate. Normal stamp accompanies for comparison. This is the first we have ever offered.
$15.00 2003 Hunting Permit, Back Inscription Omitted (RW70c). Mint N.H. with top left corner plate no. P111111, deep rich colors on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE UNIQUE PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE OF THE 2003 HUNTING PERMIT WITH BACK INSCRIPTION OMITTED. ONE OF THE GREAT HUNTING PERMIT RARITIES.
In the whole history of the Federal Hunting Permit program, the back inscription omitted error only occurred during four years -- 1962, 1968, 1990 and 2003. This error was discovered in a small town in Kentucky by a collector/hunter who was buying his stamp for the season. He was able to acquire twelve, which is the only source of this error.
Ex Rudy. Scott Retail with no premium for the plate number position.
$15.00 2005 Hunting Permit, Souvenir Sheet, Artist Signed in Black (RW72b). Mint N.H., Extremely Fine, 1,000 souvenir sheets were printed and sold for $20.00 each, all are artist signed, approximately 750 in black, 150 in blue and 100 in gold, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,200.00)
Missouri, 1979, $3.40 Canada Geese (MO1). Mint N.H., fresh and Very Fine, scarce
$1.00 1934-1937 Hunting Permits (RW1-RW4). Mint N.H. plate no. singles, each with top selvage except No. RW3 at bottom, Nos. RW1 and RW4 with large top, fresh colors, No. RW2 hinged in selvage only, Fine-Very Fine
$1.00 1936-43 Hunting Permit (RW3-RW6, RW9-RW10). Each a Mint N.H. top plate number single (RW4 hinged in top selvage only), bright colors, No. RW9 with natural gum skips, Fine-Very Fine