Sale 997 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 26-29 October, 2010
Category — The Falberg Collection of Postal Cards (UX28-UX39)
1c Green on Dark Buff, Postal Card, Double Impression (UX28b; USPCC S40b). Mint card, striking wide displacement of impressions, wonderfully fresh and crisp, Extremely Fine Gem, according to the USPCC there is only one Mint card recorded, though a different example was sold in Shreves Auction sale of the William Floyd collection in 2001 where it realized $1,800 hammer, additionally there is one pre-printed card and one used recorded, Scott Retail of $2,250.00 is for pre-printed
1c Vermilion on Cream, Die I, Postal Card (UX29c; USPCC S41d). Mint card, fresh and bright, light creases bottom and bottom left, otherwise Very Fine, with 2000 U.P.S.S. certificate that does not mention the creases and 2005 P.F. certificate, USPCC $700.00
1c Red on Cream, Die II, Postal Card, Horizontal Paste-Up (UX30 var; USPCC S42PUh). Mint card, 37mm brown tape, light card corner crease top right, otherwise Very Fine, USPCC value, Scott Retail unlisted
1c on 2c Red on Cream, Die II Postal Card, "1 CENT" Washington D.C. Cancelling Machine Surcharge (UX31; USPCC S43). Mint card, crisp and freshVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE WASHINGTON D.C. ONE-LINE BLACK SURCHARGE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL NON-ERROR POSTAL CARD ISSUES.
With 1971 P.F. certificate. USPCC $4,750.00
1c on 2c Red on Buff, Die I, 1c on 2c Red on Cream, Die II, Postal Cards, Washington D.C. Press-Printed Surcharges (UX34-UX35; USPCC S46-1-S47-1). Die I Mint face with pre-printed reverse (Railway Express consignee notice), Die II Mint card, fresh and Extremely Fine, USPCC $425.00
1c on 2c Red on Buff, Die I, 1c on 2c Red on Cream, Die II, Postal Cards, San Francisco, Cal. Press-Printed Surcharges (UX34-UX35; USPCC S46-2, S47-2). Mint cards, Die II minor light toning on reverse, otherwise Very Fine, USPCC $900.00
1c on 2c Red on Buff, Die I, Postal Card, San Francisco Cal. Press-Printed Double Surcharge (UX34a; USPCC S46-2b). Mint card, two bold and nicely displaced surcharges, Extremely Fine, scarce, USPCC $650.00
1c on 2c Red on Cream, Postal Card (UX36; USPCC S52). Clear surcharge, cancelled by "Long Beach Calif. Mar. 21, 1921 4PM" cancel to local address, back of card with Long Beach Public Library notice notifying recipient that his book is reserved until Mar. 24, trivial corner dentsEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF ONLY THREE CONFIRMED EXAMPLES OF THIS GREAT POSTAL CARD RARITY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RARITIES OF POSTAL CARD COLLECTING.
According to an article in Postal Stationery, the surcharging was done in order to provide for cards for the new 1c postal card rate, which was lowered from 2c after World War I. This particular card was revalued at the Los Angeles post office.
Four cards have been reported, but only three have been confirmed. Two have notices from the Long Beach Library. One has a notice regarding an Elks Club Christmas party. The fourth unconfirmed example is also supposed to have an Elks Club notice, but has not been seen in over 80 years and may be lost to philately.
The card offered here was discovered in 1992 by an auction describer for a firm no longer in business. From our 2006 Rarities of the World Sale where it realized $50,000. The last "Library Card" sold privately is reported to have cost approximately $75,000.
3c Red on Buff, Postal Card, Double Impression (UX37b; USPCC S53d). Mint face with three line printed mailing instructions on back in GermanVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE POSTAL CARD ERROR.
There seems to be some valuing confusion as Scott Retail does not list a price for pre-printed, while USPCC lists Mint card at $3,000.00 and notes one preprinted recorded which is unpriced
2c Carmine Rose on Buff, Postal Card, Indicia Omitted (UX38d; USPCC S54Bd). Mint card, partial inscription "This Side Of Card Is", fresh and Extremely Fine, according to USPCC there are only three recorded (unpriced), Scott Retail states "Indicia omitted (inscription normal)"
2c Carmine Rose on Buff, Postal Card, Albino Printing (UX38d var; USPCC S54Bd var). Unused, albino impressions of both text and indicia clearly shown in relief, Very Fine, rare, USPCC states three recorded examples with partial inscriptions, this is perhaps the only completely albino example, Scott Retail unlisted
2c Carmine Rose on Buff, Postal Card, Paste-Up and Papermaker's Splice (UX38 var; USPCC S54BPUv-1, S54BPUv-2). Mint cards, former 48mm brown tape, later very negligible soiling at right, otherwise Very Fine, according to USPCC the splice is the only example reported (1997 P.F. certificate), Scott Retail unlisted
2c on 1c Green on Buff, Postal Card, Black Surcharge (UX39 var; USPCC S56-1a2 ). Mint card, intense black surcharge with no traces of green ink, slight offset on back also in black, wonderfully freshVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE POSTAL CARD SURCHARGE.
This is reported to be one of only two known with the surcharge in black and the discovery copy. With 1995 U.P.S.S. certificate. USPCC unpriced
2c on 1c Green on Buff, Postal Card, Vertical Pair, One Without Surcharge (UX39 var; USPCC S57i). Mint pair, Very Fine and choice, USPCC value, Scott Retail unlisted
2c on 1c Green on Buff, Postal Card, Vertical Paste-Up With Purple "L. Brigman" Handstamps (UX39 var; USPCC S56-1PUv). Mint card, 68mm brown tape with five strikes of the Brigman handstamp, Very Fine, only two reported according to USPCC, Scott Retail unlisted