Sale 1174 — The J. R. Helton, Jr. Collection of Used United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 7 March, 2018
Category — $1.00-$5.00 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 241-245)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Excellent centering with balanced margins, intense color on fresh paper, lightly struck circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MORE DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS TO OBTAIN USED IN THE HIGHER GRADES.
With 2002 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
$1.00 Columbian (241). Brilliant color, well-centered with balanced margins, well-struck Paterson N.J. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Light strike of "Tompkinsville N.Y. Sep. 4 8AM 1893" circular datestamp, choice centering on fresh paper with long full perfs all around, Extremely Fine Gem and scarce, ex Saadi and Mayer, with 1990 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Rich color, well-balanced margins, New York duplex cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,250.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Radiant color on bright white paper, well-centered, neat strikes of Boston oval registry cancels, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $825.00)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Attractive margins and well-centered, marvelous color, bold strike of "U.S. German Sea P.O." duplex cancel, Very Fine and handsome, this datestamp was used on board the German steamers of the North German Lloyd and HAPAG lines on their way between New York and Germany, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $600.00 as normal cancel)
$1.00 Columbian (241). Bright shade, neat strike of New York duplex cancel, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Columbian (242). Bold color on bright paper, unobtrusive cancel, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only four examples grade higher (all at 98).
$2.00 Columbian (242). Crisp impression on fresh paper, light vignette-free cancel, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 1997, 2005 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,250.00)
$2.00 Columbian (242). Pretty shade, unusually precise centering, neatly struck "New York Jul. 6 94" circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 1985 and 2017 P.F. certificates
$3.00 Columbian (243). Wonderful color and choice wide margins, nearly perfectly centered, small neat socked-on-the-nose "Washington D.C. Aug. 28 2-PM 1895" machine datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Signed A. Diena and Raybaudi. With 2002, 2012 P.F. (XF-Superb 95) and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,850.00). Only two grade higher.
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Deep color in the Olive Green shade, detailed impression, pretty strike of Liebenthal Kans. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,250.00)
$3.00 Columbian (243). Bright shade, tied by neat "Washington D.C. Oct. 7 8-30 1893" circular datestamp on small piece, Very Fine, ex "World's Fair", with 2014 P.F. certificate
$4.00 Columbian (244). Intense shade on bright paper, outstanding centering with wide and balanced margins, unusually light registry oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SENSATIONAL USED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE HAS BEEN GRADED HIGHER.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00). Only one has been graded higher (at 95J).
$4.00 Pale Aniline Rose, Columbian (244a). Lovely pastel color, exceptional centering with wide and balanced margins, crisp strike of registered cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING AND SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN IN THE PALE ANILINE ROSE SHADE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE EXAMPLE HAS BEEN GRADED HIGHER.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,500.00). Only one example of No. 244a grades higher (at 98).
$4.00 Columbian (244). Deep rich color, exceptionally well-centered, lovely 1893 New York machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2013 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
$4.00 Columbian (244). Lovely color, attractive centering, excellent strike of "Liebenthal Kans. 1903 Jul. 21" circular datestamp, fresh and Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Choice centering with wide margins, intense shade and proof-like impression, neat strike of New York 1894 circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN COMBINING CENTERING, FRESHNESS AND AN ATTRACTIVE CANCEL.
The dollar-value Columbians are extremely difficult to obtain in superb used condition. This denomination was not designed to pay any actual postage rate, and collectors protested the high cost. Only 21,844 of the $5.00 were sold, and only a small percentage of those were used, either on philatelic covers or on heavy registered parcels. The stamps on parcels or registered mail were frequently heavily cancelled, and the large package wrappers were susceptible to damage. The stamp offered here is a notable exception. It is attractively cancelled and has balanced margins.
Ex Kirke. With 2000 and 2005 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,750.00). Only two examples have graded higher, offered in the "Natalee Grace" collection (Siegel Sale 1027, lot 130) and Siegel Sale 1140, Lot 638
$5.00 Columbian (245). Precise centering with unusually wide margins, intense shade and proof-like impression, neat circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN FEATURING EXCEPTIONAL CENTERING, A NEAT CANCEL AND OVERALL FRESHNESS.
The dollar-value Columbians are extremely difficult to obtain in superb used condition. This denomination was not designed to pay any actual postage rate, and collectors protested the high cost. Only 21,844 of the $5.00 were sold, and only a small percentage of those were used, either on philatelic covers or on heavy registered parcels. The stamps on parcels or registered mail were frequently heavily cancelled, and the large package wrappers were susceptible to damage. The stamp offered here is a notable exception. It is attractively cancelled and has balanced margins.
With 2009 and 2016 P.F. certificates. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,750.00). Only two examples have graded higher (both 98, one ex "Natalee Grace" and the other offered in Siegel Sale 1140, Lot 638).
$5.00 Columbian (245). Exceptionally wide margins and well-centered, bold color and sharp impression, uncharacteristically light circular datestamp cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,850.00)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Sharp impression, tied by "New York Dec. 11 1PM 93" duplex datestamp on small piece, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex "World's Fair", signed Brettl, with 2013 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Columbian (245). Strong color and razor-sharp impression, tied by perfect strike of "New Oxford Pa. Dec. 5 1898" circular datestamp on small blue piece, Very Fine and handsome, with 2013 P.F. certificate