Sale 1201 — The Dr. William H. Johnson Collection of the U.S. 1890 Small Bank Note Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday, 21 May, 2019
Category — Imprint and Plate Number Blocks
1c Dull Blue (219). Full top left imprint, plate no. 286 and letter "D1" block of 14, Mint N.H. except where pos. 5 and 6 thinned, diagonal crease in selvage only above left three stamps, Fine-Very Fine appearance
2c Carmine, Cap on Left "2" (220a). Full bottom right imprint, plate no. 248 and letter "V V" block of twelve, each stamp shows the variety, original gum, two stamps lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, choice centering throughout, one stamp tiny natural gum skipVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1890 2-CENT CARMINE, WITH EACH STAMP SHOWING CAP ON THE LEFT "2".
We have offered only one other plate block of this variety since keeping computerized records.
Ex Wampler. Scott Catalogue lists a plate block of ten, but not one of twelve. Scott Retail as plate block of ten and two Mint N.H. singles
3c Purple (221). Full top left imprint and plate no. 21 block of twelve, original gum, barely hinged, most stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color and detailed impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 3-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
We have offered only four other plate blocks since the 1990s, all from the top position. Three were plate blocks of ten, and only one was in Mint N.H. condition.
Ex Wampler. Scott Retail as plate block of ten and two singles
4c Dark Brown (222). Full bottom right imprint, plate no. 203 and letter "M M" block of ten, original gum, h.r. where few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, intense shade and impressionFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
We have offered only five other plate blocks plus one intact pane of 100 since keeping computerized records. Ex Wampler.
5c Chocolate (223). Full bottom left imprint, plate no. 48 and letter "I" block of 14 with part arrow at right, two light hinge marks affect eight stamps, others Mint N.H., radiant colorFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE AND ATTRACTIVE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
We have offered only four other full plate blocks of this issue since keeping computerized records. Two were plate blocks of ten and one other did not have the additional stamps to the side of the imprint. The example offered here, in the larger size, is very desirable.
Scott Retail as plate block of ten and singles
6c Brown Red (224). Mint N.H. full bottom left imprint and plate no. 23 block of 14 with part arrow, intact perfs at top, radiant color, few natural gum skips and bends, light horizontal crease affects top stampsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
We have offered only two others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records. Scott Retail as plate block of ten and four singles
8c Lilac (225). Full bottom left imprint, plate no. 265 and letter "Z Z" block of twelve, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, Very Fine, an attractive plate block, Scott Retail as plate block of ten and two singles
10c Green (226). Full top right imprint, plate no. 28 and letter "E" block of 21, the plate block of twelve Mint N.H., five stamps lightly hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced at far right (not affecting plate block)FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF 21 OF THE 10-CENT 1890 ISSUE, WITH THE PLATE BLOCK OF TWELVE IN PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
We have offered only four plate blocks since keeping digital records, including two from the top and two from the bottom. For the other two top positions contained in Power Search, one is missing the "No." (so technically is not a full plate block) and the other is a plate of ten. This is the first from the top position we have offered in Mint N.H. condition.
Ex Wampler. With 1988 P.F. certificate noting only one stamp previously hinged. Scott Retail as plate block of ten and singles
15c Indigo (227). Mint N.H. top right imprint and plate no. 22 block of twelve, deep rich color on bright paper, top stamps with unusually wide vertical spacing, pos. 3 with small natural paper wrinkle not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE-VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT 1890 ISSUE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS. THIS IS ALSO ONLY THE SECOND PLATE BLOCK WE HAVE OFFERED IN AT LEAST 25 YEARS.
The 15c 1890 Issue was printed only from Plate 22. Plate blocks are especially rare. We have offered only one other since at least the 1990s, from the bottom position, also in Mint N.H. condition, which was a plate block of ten.
Ex Wampler and our 1973 Rarities sale. With 1998 P.F. certificate
30c Black (228). Mint N.H. full bottom left imprint and plate no. 24 block of twelve, intense shade and impression, choice centering throughout, few trivial perf separations not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
The 30c 1890 Issue was printed only from Plate 24. The beautiful Black Jefferson design was the last 30c U.S. definitive to be issued during the 19th century (the Jefferson design was changed to 50c in 1894). Large multiples are surprisingly scarce. Power Search, which contains all of our auctions from 1994 onwards plus our Rarities sales back to 1964 and select older sales, located a plate block of twelve, most recently offered in our Curtis sale, but the top row in that block has been separated and rejoined. The Hall collection (Sale 1096, lot 394) contained a hinged plate block of twelve with part arrow at right.
Ex Simon and Wampler. With 1998 P.F. certificate
90c Orange (229). Top imprint and plate no. 25 block of 36, 22 stamps Mint N.H., other 14 stamps lightly hinged, only one stamp in plate block of ten with barest trace of hinging, vibrant color, few stamps outside of plate block with natural inclusionsFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 90-CENT 1890 ISSUE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE AND IMPRESSIVE MULTIPLE -- THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE.
As far as we can determine, this is the largest known multiple of the 90c 1890 Issue. Scott Retail as hinged plate block, 13 Mint N.H. singles and 13 hinged singles