Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — 1909 Bluish Paper Issue (Scott 357-366)
1c Green, Bluish (357). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $375.00)
1c Green, Bluish (357). Bottom imprint and plate no. 4889 block of six, narrow selvage but imprint complete, five stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color, Fine-Very Fine
1c Green, Bluish (357). Well-centered, light machine cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty used example of this issue, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Bluish (357-358). Used blocks of four, both with intense color, New York and Washington D.C. oval registry cancels respectively, 1c reperfed at top, Fine-Very Fine appearance, with 2003 P.F. certificate, 2c top right stamp faint internal crease, Very Fine appearance, scarce used blocks, ex Twigg-Smith
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Bluish (357-358). Three covers, 1c on Union Station illustrated postcard from Washington D.C. to Portland Ore., other 1c (pair) and 2c on envelopes with Pepperell N.J. postmarks to Nebraska, sent the same day in December 1909, Very Fine trio, postcard with 2000 A.P.S. certificate
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Mint N.H., incredibly well-centered, especially for a Bluish Paper, vivid color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,025.00)
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Left imprint and plate no. 4837 block of six with wide selvage, rich color on deeply blued paper, lightly hinged, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, a fantastic plate block and certainly one of the finest in existence, ex MLG collection, with 2009 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Choice centering, nicely blued paper, wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Lightly hinged with "S.A." pencil initials on gum, well-centered on strongly blued paper, fresh and Very Fine, a choice example of this scarce stamp, with 2010 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on nicely blued paper, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. and 1992 P.S.E. certificates
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Top imprint and plate no. 4918 block of six with wide selvage, lightly hinged with blue Stanley Gibbons backstamps on each, rich color on deeply blued paperFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
Lewis Kaufman records only five plate blocks, including four from the top position and one from the left. The plate block here was offered in our 1993 Rarities sale, and apart from two examples contained in the MLG collection (top and side), it is the only example we have sold since keeping computerized records. A pane of 100 is also known, with imprint and plate numbers at top and right.
With 1976 P.F. and 1994 P.S.E. certificates.
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Deep rich color, light town cancel, faint diagonal crease thru left side of vignetteFINE APPEARANCE. THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER IS THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED BLUISH PAPERS IN USED CONDITION. ONLY FOUR USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
A total of 40 sheets (4,000 stamps) were printed of the 3c on Bluish paper, using four different printing plates. A quantity was inadvertently distributed to various post offices, including the post office in New York. A small quantity was apparently used, but these have almost all been lost to philately.
Our census of Scott 359 in used condition, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/359/359.pdf , records three used copies plus one on cover. A fourth off-cover example needs to be reexamined for authenticity. This makes it as rare, or rarer, than the 5c on bluish, which catalogues three times as much.
Census No. 359-CAN-03. With 2008 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Beautiful rich color and sharp proof-like impression, nearly perfect centering which is virtually unheard-of on this rare issue, small trivial natural fiber inclusion at leftEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BLUISH PAPERS TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. Given the failed experimental nature of the paper mixture, it is no surprise that virtually all copies are off center to some extent.
Ex Peyton (Isleham) and Zoellner. Owner's small purple backstamp. With 1986 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Mint N.H., rich color on deeply blued paper, perfect centering with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, CENTERING, SIZE OF MARGINS AND COLOR. THIS SUPERB STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-90 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
We have only been able to locate two examples comparable to the stamp offered here. One was offered in the Zoellner sale. The other was offered in the Floyd sale held by Shreves.
Ex "Beverly Hills". 2005 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $25,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and no other example shares this grade.
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Lightly hinged, intense shade on deeply blued paper, well-centered with enormous margin at bottomVERY FINE AND AN UNUSUALLY WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
The Bluish Paper stamps are notoriously difficult to find well-centered. The stamp offered here, with three wide and well-balanced margins and a huge margin at bottom, is a condition rarity.
With 1969 and 1996 P.F. certificates
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Mint N.H., vivid color, choice centering, remarkably fresh paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT BLUISH PAPER. RARELY AVAILABLE IN WELL-CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Left imprint and plate no. 4938 block of six with wide selvage, lightly hinged, right frames slight oxidationFINE. APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH ARE RECORDED.
Lewis Kaufman records about a dozen plate blocks, including four from the top, seven from the left and one from the right position. A pane of 100 is also known with plate blocks at left and bottom.
With 2005 P.F. certificate.
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Barest trace of hinging, crisp color on deeply blued paper, exceptional centering for this difficult stampEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 8-CENT BLUISH PAPER IN EXISTENCE. A SUPERB STAMP.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives.
Ex Lyons and Piedmont. With 1973 and 2000 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). H.r., Jumbo margins and choice centering, vivid color, characteristic strong watermark, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $1,900.00 as 85, $2,600.00 as 90)
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Mint N.H., deep rich color, attractive margins and centeringVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
Purple backstamp. With 1991 and 2000 P.F. certificates.
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Intense shade, wide margins, light cancel (likely Saginaw Mich), Very Fine, scarce genuinely used, with 1978 P.F. certificate
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Block of four, blurry centrally struck cancel likely from Saginaw Mich, rich color on deeply blued paperVERY FINE AND RARE USED BLOCK OF THE 13-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
The 13c on Bluish, both unused and used, is recorded as having been found only at the post office at Saginaw, Michigan. Many of the used examples show only part or blurry cancels. According to the Assistant Postmaster, John J. Spencer, "We found what was left of what no doubt had been originally ten sheets safely resting at the bottom under a lot of new stock, the coming of which had doubtless saved these from annihilation [or use]. They were readily distinguished, having a marginal pen and ink marking. We found a partial mint sheet and margins from several other sheets had been used. One or two sheets had also been precancelled. We were satisfied that ten sheets (of 100) had reached this post office."
With 1979 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Mint N.H., bright color on blued paper with long full perfs all around, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. A SUPERB STAMP.
With 2002 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., top left stamp barest trace of hinging, bright color on deeply blued paper with characteristic strong watermarkVERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH WITH THREE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, F 70). Scott Retail as singles
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Brilliant color on well-blued paper, choice centering with wide margins, light strike of oval cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY TEN USED COPIES OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. A GREAT RARITY.
According to Johl, the 15c stamps were discovered in the post office in Buffalo N.Y. The rarity of the 15c on Bluish in used condition is often overlooked by collectors, probably because it is fairly plentiful in unused condition. Our census, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/366/366.pdf , records only ten used copies. None is known on cover. Another has a certificate declining opinion as to whether the cancel is contemporary, and two others (not included) need to be reexamined for genuineness. Of the confirmed copies only two or three are sound. The sound example offered here is highly desirable.
Census No. 366-CAN-09. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates