Sale 1094 — The Curtis Collection: Back of Book and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 March, 2015
Category — Offices in China (Scott K1-K18)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
120
2c on 1c Offices in China (K1). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F13301 block of six, fresh color, faint diagonal gum bend affecting one stamp, Very Fine
600
180
121
2c on 1c Offices in China (K1). Vertical block of eight, U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai duplex cancels, couple trivial light wrinkles, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as two blocks
750
250
Back to Top122
10c on 5c Offices in China (K5). Mint N.H. left plate no. 9115 block of six, strong color on bright paper, Fine-Very Fine
1,100
275
Back to Top123
12c on 6c Offices in China (K6). Wide top plate no. 7834 block of six, top left stamp lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., vibrant color, Very Fine, ex Drucker, Scott Retail as singles
1,185
325
Back to Top124
14c on 7c Offices in China (K7). Left plate no. 12562 block of six, position 3 lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine, ex Thomas, Scott Retail as singles
1,212
250
Back to Top125
16c on 8c Offices in China (K8). Wide top plate no. F10788 block of six, center stamps lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, few light natural gum skips, Very Fine, ex Drucker, Scott Retail as singles
970
325
Back to Top126
16c on 8c Olive Green, Offices in China (K8a). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins all around, rich color and a deeply etched impression, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00)
160
800
Back to Top127
18c on 9c Offices in China (K9). Mint N.H. top plate no. 6930 block of six, fresh and Fine
1,200
190
Back to Top128
18c on 9c Offices in China (K9). Block of four, U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai roller cancels, Very Fine
850
1,600
Back to Top129
20c on 10c Offices in China (K10). Lightly hinged, bold shade and sharp impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $300.00), this is the highest grade awarded
60
300
Back to Top130
20c on 10c Offices in China (K10). Right plate no. 8437 block of six, top stamps h.r., other four Mint N.H., bright shade, small rust spot at one staple hole in selvage, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
760
275
Back to Top131
20c on 10c Offices in China (K10). Block of six, bright color, U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai roller cancels, faint horizontal crease at top, otherwise Very Fine, scarce used multiple, ex Drucker, Scott Retail as block of four and two singles
955
160
Back to Top132
30c on 15c Offices in China (K12). Right plate no. 7927 block of six, top right lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., Fine, ex Thomas
1,150
300
Back to Top133
40c on 20c Offices in China (K13). Right plate no. 6938 block of six, lightly hinged, faint trace of diagonal gum bend, fresh color, Fine
1,300
275
Back to Top134
60c on 30c Offices in China (K14). Mint N.H., vibrant fresh color, choice centering and Jumbo margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,050.00)
280
800
Back to Top135
60c on 30c Offices in China (K14). Left plate no. 6927 block of six, lightly hinged, intense color on bright white paper, superb centering throughout, Extremely Fine, a truly choice plate block in all aspects, ex Drucker
1,050
475
Back to Top136
$1.00 on 50c Offices in China (K15). Mint N.H., bright color on fresh paper, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1,300
700
Back to Top137
4c on 2c Offices in China (K18). Mint N.H., radiant color on pristine white paper, excellent centering within remarkable Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, a choice stamp, ex Gorham, with 1996 P.F. and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
230
1,600
Back to Top138
4c on 2c Offices in China (K18). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 13129 block of six, each stamp is almost perfectly centered, deep rich color on fresh paper, single light natural gum bend mentioned only for complete accuracy (not mentioned on certificate)EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCKS OF THIS STAMP IN EXISTENCE.
The underlying stamp (U.S. Scott 528B) can be difficult to obtain with such choice centering and in such pristine condition. A plate block with the Shanghai overprint is incalculably rare in this condition.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
1,400
650
Back to Top139
4c on 2c Offices in China (K18). Mint N.H. top plate no. 13129 block of six with wide selvage, brilliant color, Very Fine
1,400
600
Back to Top140
4c on 2c Offices in China (K18). Block of four, neat strike of U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai Aug. 30 duplex cancel, fresh and Fine, ex Twigg-Smith
900
225
Back to Top140A
1c-25c Parcel Post Postage Due, Darrah Ty. I "S'HAI. CHINA" Handstamp Ovpt. (JQ1var-JQ5var). Two complete sets, one with black overprint, other the so-called "purple" overprint (really a purplish black and very lightly struck on each value), four with natural s.e., gum in varying condition (h.r., disturbed, slight toning), Very Good-Fine appearance, according to philatelic lore John Darrah was the U.S. postal agent in China, in 1913, in collusion with some stamp collectors he overprinted one sheet each of the stamps in stock at the agency (we doubt this applies to the printed varieties), as this was unauthorized he was ordered by Washington not to sell them, he complied with the order, but some had already reached collectors
E. 500-750
800
Back to Top141
4c on 2c Offices in China (K2). Blocks of six, four and horizontal pair tied by oval Sep. 25, 1922 U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai cancels on large cloth-lined registered cover to New York, New York registry oval arrival backstamps, one stamp from block of four with corner torn off and another with blunt perfs, cover roughly opened and some light overall foxing, otherwise Fine, a scarce use of multiple blocks on cover
E. 300-400
325
Back to Top142
10c on 5c Offices in China (K5). Intense shade, wide margins, tied by "U.S. Pos. Service, Shanghai, China, Dec. 28, 1922" duplex datestamp on cover to Hong Kong, receiving backstamps, minor cover wrinkling and soiling, the stamp is Extremely Fine, ex Twigg-Smith and Thomas
E. 200-300
325
Back to Top143
24c on 12c Offices in China (K11). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai China, R.D." oval registry handstamp on "Post Office Department, United States Postal Agency, Shanghai, China" penalty envelope to Nantaguck Conn., forwarded to Brooklyn, purple "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai, China, Sta. A, Registered Mar. 9, 1920" double-circle datestamp on reverse along with multiple transit and arrival markings, Fine and interesting use
E. 200-300
350
Back to Top144
30c on 15c Offices in China (K12). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China, R.D." oval registry handstamp on registered cover to Dresden, Germany, purple "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai, China, Sta. A, Registered Jul. 31, 1919" double-circle datestamp on reverse along with a French Red Cross label tied by a New York registry transit cancel, arrival backstamp, Very Fine, an incredible first month use, with 2003 P.F. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
900
Back to Top145
40c on 20c Offices in China (K13). Tied by well-struck "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China, R.D." oval registry handstamp on registered cover to Greenville Ill., purple "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China Aug. 17, 1922" double-circle datestamp on reverse, Chicago and arrival backstamps, original registry slip also accompanies, Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith
E. 500-750
600
Back to Top146
40c on 20c Offices in China (K13). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China, R.D." oval registry handstamp on registered cover to Greenville Ill., purple "U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai, China Nov. 3, 1922" double-circle datestamp on reverse, Chicago and receiving backstamps, original registry slip also accompanies, Very Fine, ex Thomas
E. 400-500
400
Back to Top147
60c on 30c Offices in China (K14). Tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China, R.D." oval registry handstamp on registered cover to Cleveland O., purple "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, China Oct. 24, 1922" double-circle datestamp on reverse, Chicago and arrival backstamps, some excessive glue use by the sender around stamp, still Very Fine and attractive single franking, ex Thomas
E. 300-400
300
Back to Top148
2c-$2.00 Offices in China (K1-18, K11a). Complete set of used values, Nos. K2 and K15 reperfed on one side, few other values with trivial toned or thin spots, including 24c on 12c Claret Brown shade, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a scarce and challenging complete set to assemble used, 1919 series including K11a each with 1999 P.F. certificate
4,845
1,600
Back to Top149
Offices in China Balance. Encompassing various unused singles, plate blocks (Nos. K3-4, K11), used blocks of four or six (Nos. K1-3, K5), eleven covers including five which have Offices in China stamps and two 1890s 5c Chocolate covers (both ex Thomas) from the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai, lastly a page of regular issues used at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai including an unrecorded and undocumented No. 69, 281 imprint pair on piece, 303 and a few Washington-Franklins, quality better than typically encountered with much being Fine-Very Fine
E. 2,000-3,000
2,500
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