Sale 1085 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. Officials
Sale Date — Thursday, 6 November, 2014
Category — Treasury Department (Scott O72-O82)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
4117
2c Treasury (O73). Block of eight with full imprint in top selvage, original gum, strong color, single hinge reinforcement, Fine, a scarce imprint block, Scott Retail simply as two blocks of four
1,100
650
4118
3c Treasury (O74). Original gum, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins, pleasing shade, light vertical gum bend at right, otherwise Extremely Fine, Jumbo examples of Official Issues are seldom encountered, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
110
450
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4120
6c Treasury (O75). Horizontal block of eight, segmented cork cancels, strong color, some perf flaws along bottom stamps, Very Good-Fine, a scarce used multiple, Scott Retail as two used blocks
1,000
160
Back to Top4121
6c Treasury (O75). Block of 26 with manuscript line cancels, affixed to piece, faults to some degree affecting most examples especially the peripheral stamps and perforations, some with facial scrapes, Very Good-Fine, a massive block that is believed to be the second largest used multiple of any Official Department (see lot 4133)
E. 300-400
350
Back to Top4122
7c Treasury (O76). Original gum, wide margins, dark shade, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate
250
400
Back to Top4123
7c Treasury (O76). Block of four, original gum, attractively centered, fresh, attractive color, Fine-Very Fine, scarce and desirable block of four
1,100
400
Back to Top4124
7c Treasury (O76). Block of four, large grids of small squares cancels, small tear and crease at bottom of bottom left stamp, otherwise Fine, very scarce, ex Stone
1,000
400
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4126
10c Treasury (O77). Block of 16, relatively light roller cancel, some sensible hinge reinforcements, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive multiple which is the largest known block of this value, Scott Retail as four used blocks of four
1,300
800
Back to Top4127
15c Treasury (O79). Block of nine with plate no. 84 in bottom selvage, all stamps Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression on fresh white paper, bottom row with particularly large marginsFINE-VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND VERY RARE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT TREASURY DEPARTMENT WITH PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.
Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
5,850
3,750
Back to Top4128
15c Treasury (O79). Block of four, original gum, couple h.r.'s, unusually well-centered, bold color, trivial tone spot on gum, otherwise Very Fine, a scarce multiple in this quality
1,400
550
Back to Top4129
24c Treasury (O80). Block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, rich color, slight perf separation, Fine-Very Fine, a scarce block, with 1990 P.F. certificate
3,250
475
Back to Top4130
24c Treasury (O80). Horizontal strip of four, lightly cancelled, Fine-Very Fine, other than a block of 14 this is the only other used multiple of the 24c Treasury, ex Stone, Scott Retail for used singles
400
350
Back to Top4131
30c Treasury (O81). Original gum, lightly hinged, wonderfully well-centered, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2002 P.F. certificate
400
600
Back to Top4132
30c Treasury (O81). Block of four, unused (no gum), deep rich color, attractive centering, some perf separations, Fine-Very Fine, ex Markovits, Scott Retail as unused singles
560
225
Back to Top4133
30c Treasury (O81). Block of 30, cancels lighter than normally seen, sensible hinge reinforcement and some perf separation, top left corner trimmed, Fine-Very Fine, this is believed to be the largest used multiple of any Official Department stamp
E. 1,500-2,000
1,800
Back to Top4134
90c Treasury (O82). Original gum, nicely centered, strong color, Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF 80; SMQ $415.00)
400
550
Back to Top4135
90c Treasury (O82). Top margin block of ten with plate no. 61 and part imprint, original gum, five stamps Mint N.H., other five lightly hinged, dark shade on fresh crisp paperFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE NUMBER MULTIPLE OF THE 90-CENT TREASURY ISSUE ON HARD PAPER.
Ex Wampler. Scott Retail as two blocks of four and two singles
4,800
3,750
Back to Top4136
90c Treasury (O82). Block of four, original gum, bold color, hinge reinforcement and a couple perf separations, fresh and Fine, ex Markovits
2,000
400
Back to Top4137
90c Treasury (O82). Block of six, deep rich color, neat strikes of cork cancels, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an exceedingly scarce block, especially in such choice condition, ex Twigg-Smith
E. 300-400
375
Back to Top4138
3c Treasury (O74). Two horizontal pairs, used with 1c Ultramarine (156), tied by circle of wedges cancels, "Cedar Keys, Fla. Sep. 23" circular datestamp on registered buff cover to Tampa, stamps with small faults from placement over the edge of cover, Fine, interesting cover with Treasury Department stamps used to make up the 3c rate plus 10c registration fee
E. 400-500
325
Back to Top4139
3c, 7c Treasury (O74, O76). Tied by segmented cork cancels, "Washington, D.C., Dec 1?" circular datestamp on cover to London, England, blue printed "Treasury Department, Washington" imprint on backflap, red London Paid datestamp (Dec. 31, 1877), 7c with two small tears and opening tear touching imprint, Fine, according to the Lanphear census (Chronicle 239, August 2013) this is one of two 7c Treasury stamps used to a foreign destination (the other example is ex Markovits and is very similar), ex Ehrenberg, with 1981 P.F. certificate
E. 400-500
375
Back to Top4140
3c, 10c Treasury (O74, O77). Each tied by violet target cancel (3c target very light) with matching "Post Office, Owensboro, Ky., Dec 21, 77" double-line circular datestamp on registered "United States Internal Revenue" imprint cover to Mud Lick, Ky., reduced at left and tear at top, Fine, pays the 3c plus 10c registration fee, ex Markovits
E. 200-300
225
Back to Top4141
2c, 3c, 10c Treasury (O73-O74, O77). Pair of 10c and singles of 2c and 3c, tied by quartered cork cancels, "Washington, D.C., Mar 7" circular datestamp on "Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, Official Business" imprint legal-size penalty clause cover to London, England, red London Paid datestamp at left, cover slightly reduced at left, couple stamps with inconsequential small flawsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USE OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT ISSUE ON A COVER TO A FOREIGN DESTINATION.
According to the Markovits catalogue (Bennett 2004), this is the latest recorded legitimate use of Official stamps on U.P.U. mail. Beginning April 1, 1879, only regular issue stamps were valid for postage.
Ex Ehrenberg and Markovits
E. 2,000-3,000
1,300
Back to Top4142
10c Treasury (O77). Block of four tied by multiple strikes of cork cancel on "Treasury Department, Secretary's Office, Official Business" penalty clause imprint label from large parcel to Goderich, Canada, vertical file fold, stamps with some toning mostly around perforationsFINE. AN IMPORTANT OFFICIAL COVER. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED WITH A BLOCK OF ANY DEPARTMENTAL STAMP.
The block of 10c stamps paid the 40c third-class rate for a 5-pound parcel. According to the Markovits catalogue (Bennett 2004) this is one of only five blocks of any Official stamp still on cover.
Ex Markovits
E. 2,000-3,000
1,300
Back to Top4143
10c Treasury (O77). Tied by circular cork cancel on large "Treasury Department, Register's Office, Official Business" penalty imprint cover to Saugerties N.Y., purple "Registered/Jun. 20, 1881/Washington, D.C." three-line datestamp, blue registry number handstamp, bright red docketing (bonds were enclosed), creased in two directions away from stamp, Fine, ex Starnes
E. 200-300
275
Back to Top4144
3c, 12c Treasury (O74, O78). Each tied by cork cancel, "Washington, D.C., Dec ?" circular datestamp on "Treasury Department, Comptroller's Office., Official Business" imprint and obsolete free frank cover to Doylestown Pa., reduced at left, trivial light stains, Fine, pays the five-times 3c domestic rate, ex Ehrenberg and Markovits
E. 400-500
325
Back to Top4145
15c Treasury (O79). Tied by quartered cork cancel and "Washington, D.C." circular datestamp on "Treasury Department, Comptroller's Office., Official Business." imprint and obsolete free frank legal-size cover to Doylestown Pa., reduced at left, Fine, pays the five-times 3c domestic rate, ex Waud and Markovits
E. 400-500
400
Back to Top4146
6c, 15c Treasury (O75, O79). 15c has a large pre-use tear, tied by segmented cork cancels, "Plattsburgh N.Y. Mar. 21" circular datestamp on legal-size "Custom House, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Collector's Office, Official Business" imprint cover to Jay N.Y., crease, tear at bottom and stain and lower left, still very presentable, scarce Treasury Department combination, ex Starnes
E. 200-300
130
Back to Top4147
2c, 6c, 10c, 30c Treasury (O73, O75, O77, O81). Four different values with cork cancels and Boston circular datestamp on "Official Business." imprint and cloth-lined legal-size cover to Farmington Falls, Me., all over toning affecting stamps, 2c with s.e. and others with minor faults, cover with corner missing at top right and peripheral faultsFINE APPEARANCE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE FOUR-DENOMINATION COVER AND ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN USES OF THE 30-CENT TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
According to the Markovits sale catalogue (Bennett 2004), this franking pays the 16-times 3c per -1/2 oz domestic rate. As to its rarity, the other known 30c Treasury cover was part of the Senator Ernest R. Ackerman collection and has not been seen in many years.
Ex Lehto and Markovits.
E. 3,000-4,000
2,100
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