Sale 1092 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 19-20 February, 2015
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 230-245)
2c Columbian, "Broken Hat" (231 var). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with choice wide margins, fresh and crisp, clear sharp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1988 P.F. certificate for block
3c Columbian (232). Mint N.H. block of 30 with full imprint selvage at right, natural s.e. at top, brilliant color on pristine paper, well-centered, Very Fine and choice large multiple, Scott Retail as singles
4c Columbian (233). Mint N.H. three-leaf variety, radiant color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $750.00)
4c Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H. block of six from the top right corner of the sheet with natural straight edge at top and full selvage at right, deep rich color, proof-like impression, couple tiny natural inclusions, small tear at top of straight-edge stamp at top rightFINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR. ONE OF THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLES OF THIS DISTINCTIVE COLOR ERROR, AND EVEN MORE DESIRABLE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.
Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
With 2014 P.F. certificate as a block of nine (three stamps removed)
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H., wide margins and precise centering, rich color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem
5c Columbian (234). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 8 and letter "B" at left block of eight, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2002 P.S.E. certificate
3c Columbian (232). Full sheet of 100 with imprint selvage at sides and two imprint, plate no. 76 and letter "R" blocks of eight at top, natural s.e. at bottom, approximately 97 stamps Mint N.H., two stamps and selvage h.r., internal perf separations as would be expectedFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE SHEET OF 100 OF THE 3-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS FORMAT WAS AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON D.C.
All of the 1c stamps and most but not all of the 2c stamps of the Columbian issue were printed from 200-subject plates, with guide arrows between the two panes of 100. The perforating machine applied horizontal perforations and cut the 200-stamp sheets into panes of 100 in the same operation, normally leaving a trace of the guide arrow on the straight edge of each pane. Some of the 2c stamps and all of the 3c-$5.00 stamps were printed on smaller presses from plates of only 100 subjects, with no guide arrows. When the perforating machine applied horizontal perforations to sheets from the 100-subject plates, the cutting knife came down as before, and removed either the top or bottom sheet margin (and plate numbers), reducing by half the potential number of Columbian plate blocks that might have been available to collectors. This is also why so many Columbian stamps are reperforated at top or bottom rather than at the sides -- 10 stamps from every 100-subject sheet (or pane) would show a straight edge at either top or bottom. The 100-subject sheets were then divided into panes of 50 for distribution and sale at post offices. The undivided full sheets of 100, such as the one offered here, were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.
6c Columbian (235). Bottom corner margin block of 25 containing imprint, plate no. 104 and letter "Z" block of eight, part imprint at upper right, all stamps Mint N.H., few white mounting marks in selvage only, rich color, Fine-Very Fine with the best-centered stamps fortuitously contained in the plate block, Scott Retail as hinged plate block and Mint N.H. singles
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, lightly hinged, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, barely hinged in one corner, intense shade, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2013 P.F. certificate (VF 80), we feel this stamp is undergraded
50c Columbian (240). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
$1.00, $2.00, $4.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on India (241P3, 242P3, 244P3). Full to large margins, rich colors, Very Fine
$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H., bright color, Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate for pair
$1.00 Columbian (241). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, vivid color, well-proportioned margins, some minor perf separations between left pair, tiny natural inclusion in bottom right stamp at top, Very Fine
$1.00 Columbian (241). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, intense fiery color on fresh paper, lightly struck mute double oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS TO OBTAIN IN HIGHER USED GRADES.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,750.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Block of four, deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat strikes of mute double-oval cancelVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED BLOCK OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE. USED MULTIPLES OF THE HIGH-DENOMINATION COLUMBIANS ARE RARE.
Power Search contains approximately ten used blocks of four plus a block of six
$2.00 Columbian (242). Pretty shade, neat strike of "San Francisco Cal. Apr. 6, 94 12AM" circular datestamp, fresh and Very Fine
$2.00 Columbian (242). Block of four, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-struck New York registry ovals, choice centering and margins, a few short perfs bottom left, bottom right stamp small internal paper wrinkle, a few internal perf separations between right pairVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN.
This cancels on this block show it was used on registered mail from New York City.
$3.00 Columbian (243). Mint N.H., pastel color, fresh and Fine, a difficult stamp to find in Mint N.H. condition
$3.00 Columbian (243). Block of four, two left stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp barely hinged with a tiny thin not mentioned on certificate, superb centering, bright color and very freshEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE BLOCK CONTAINING TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED $3.00 COLUMBIAN STAMPS.
With 1995 P.F. certificate stating that three stamps are Mint N.H. Scott Retail as two Mint N.H. and two hinged singles
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Rich color, neat "New York Oct. 20 11:30AM 93" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine stamp with a socked-on-the-nose October 1893 contemporary cancel, with 1978 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Mint N.H. with bottom right corner sheet selvage, radiant color, Jumbo margins, tiny natural inclusion at center not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A JUMBO MINT NEVER-HINGED CORNER-MARGIN COPY OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN. AN OUTSTANDING STAMP -- THIS IS A DIFFICULT DENOMINATION TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION, AND THIS STAMP IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE AS A CORNER SHEET-MARGIN POSITION.
Ex Whitman. With 2014 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Rose Carmine, Columbian (244a). Original gum, small h.r., outstanding bright pastel color, tiny natural margin inclusion speck top right, Fine
$4.00 Columbian (244). Block of four, original gum, hinge marks, remarkably well-centered, vivid color, some rejoined horizontal perforationsVERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL GUM BLOCK OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $2,600.00).
$5.00 Columbian (245). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, attractive margins and centering, light natural gum crease left pairFRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Most blocks have been broken over the years to feed demand for singles. We have offered only six others since 2001 plus the unique plate block of eight and a plate block of six