Sale 1185 — 2018 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 June, 2018
Category — Pan-American Issue, 20th Century Issues including Non-Inverted Jenny
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on Wove (294P1 var-299P1 var). Block sunk on approximately 203 x 152mm cards, pencil control numbers on backVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE SET OF LARGE DIE PROOFS ON WOVE PAPER OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, WHICH WERE PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.
According to an article by Clarence Brazer, three sets were printed. One set -- each off card and with a blue control number on the face side -- is the so-called "Southgate" set, which was sold in our Sale 1040 (realized $24,000 hammer). Brazer notes that the other two sets -- including issues up to the 1933 Century of Progress -- were trimmed to small die proof size (about -3/16-inch margins) and mounted on loose leaf pages. One of these two sets was arranged in four albums and given to Franklin D. Roosevelt (the source of this Pan-American set). The other is said to have been presented to a friend and has not become available to philatelists. The margins on the set offered here are larger than noted by Brazer, who may have been mistaken as to the margin size.
Ex President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Price. Each with purple "Ex Roosevelt, Gimbels" backstamp. Unlisted in Scott
1c-10c Pan-American (294-299). Complete set, deep rich colors, well-struck purple "Sub-Sta. No. 37, Wash. D.C., Registered, May 1, 1901" double-circle datestamp ties 10c, others (and 10c) tied by light strikes of "New York Reg. Div. 5-2" oval datestamps, on registered First Day cover to Abo, Finland, New York registry label (No. 19465), New York transit and Finnish receiving backstamps, trivial edgewearVERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY FIFTEEN FIRST DAY COVERS ARE KNOWN BEARING A COMPLETE SET OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER TO FINLAND.
In an article in the June 1999 issue of First Days, Alan Berkun records eleven covers bearing complete sets of the Pan-American Issue, including four from the District of Columbia, four from Massachusetts, two from New York and one from Seattle, Washington (sold in our 2001 Rarities sale). An additional four covers, including this one, have been added to the census. A total of six are used from Washington D.C., including four to Germany and one to Switzerland; this is the only one addressed to Finland. The others have stamps arranged in the same configuration and New York registry numbers in the same range (19447, 19452, 19458, 19468 and 19474).
Ex Price. Scott Retail $30,000.00
1c Pan-American (294). Choice centering, tied by "New York, May 1, 7:30 PM, 1901" duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on First Day souvenir card to Austria with "Pan American Exposition, Buffalo, N.Y. - Temple of Music" multicolored design, 2c UPU card rate underpaid by 1c, Austrian 10kr Postage Due tied at Vienna, sender's ship-name directive "Per S. S. Columbia", few small thins at lower right of cardA VERY FINE AND REMARKABLE FIRST DAY USE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE ON A SOUVENIR MAILING CARD WITH MULTICOLORED EXPOSITION-THEME DESIGN, USED TO A FOREIGN DESTINATION WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY'S POSTAGE DUE STAMP.
Apart from the complete set covers, only fourteen First Days are documented for the 1c Pan-American Issue, of which eight are on cover and six are on card. Of these, only two are to foreign destinations (the other to France).
Ex Dr. Martin and Price
2c Pan-American (295). Vignette shifted upward, tied by "Buffalo N.Y. May 1, 1901" Pan-American Exposition First Day machine cancel on magnificent multicolored Exposition cover addressed to Prof. M. Loewy in Hoboken N. J., three different exposition labels applied to cover (one tied), neat "Hoboken N. J. May 2, 1901 Rec'd" backstamp, minor toning and edge flawsA VERY FINE AND SPECTACULAR FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, CANCELLED AT THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION IN BUFFALO AND BEAUTIFULLY ADORNED WITH EXPOSITION LABELS.
Of the 61 recorded First Day covers for this issue, only thirteen are on Exposition stationery. Of these, only four have tied Exposition labels. This is certainly one of the finest recorded examples of this issue.
Ex Dr. Martin and Price. With 1981 P.F. certificate
1c Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, h.r., unusually choice centering and wide margins for this popular invert error, deep rich colors on post-office fresh paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. VERY RARE IN THIS CONDITION.
According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut. Most examples are off-center and/or have disturbed gum. The example offered here is remarkably fresh
Ex "Laila" and "Hampshire". With 1993 P.S.E. and 2009 P.F. certificates
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Wide margins and essentially perfect centering, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 ISSUE TOP VALUE WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $6,250.00). Only two examples have graded higher (at 98J and 100)
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Barely hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 342, WHICH IS AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100; SMQ $4,750.00). Only one hinged original gum stamp equals this grade with none higher. The highest Mint N.H. grade is Superb 98
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Rich color on nicely blued paper, well-centered for this difficult issue with attractive marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. UNUSUALLY WELL-CENTERED FOR THIS RARE ISSUE.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
With 2013 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Rich color on nicely blued paperFINE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1909 BLUISH PAPER ISSUE.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
With 1969 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Top imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., bottom center stamp and ungummed selvage lightly hinged, deep rich colorFRESH AND FINE. A RARE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 478.
Lewis Kaufman records only nine top and four bottom plate blocks of Scott 478. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518).
With 1998 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Tied by "(B)elmont Vt. ? 22 1923 A.M." postmark on picture postcard to Rocky Hill Conn.FRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544, ON A POST CARD. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.
With 1982 A.P.S. and 2011 P.F. certificate noting town as Elmont Vt. A Google search shows there was never such a town
1c Green, Rotary, Perf 11 (594). Intense shade and impression, neat machine cancel, margins to clear at bottomVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11 ISSUE.
Like the 2c, Scott 595, this issue was perforated in both directions on the flat plate perforating machine. This machine was not designed to perforate rotary press stamps, which are slightly different in size due to the curvature of the printing plate. This caused notoriously poor perforations. The existence of Scott 594 was not reported until four months after the final sheets were delivered, and the 1c Rotary Perf 11 was soon recognized as one of the rarest United States stamps.
Our exhaustive census of Scott 594, available at our website at: https:/siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/594 , contains 89 used singles, four used pairs and five covers (including one with a pair) for a total of 103 used stamps. Many have perforations either in on one or more sides, or have faults.
Census No. 594-CAN-85. Ex Drucker and Curtis and signed by George B. Sloane. With 1934 A.P.S. and 2002 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue notes "both unused and used are valued with perforations just touching frameline on one side"
15c John Paul Jones, Perf 12 (1789B). Mint N.H., choice centering, rich colors on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 12 JOHN PAUL JONES ISSUE.
This issue was printed by the American Bank Note Company and perforated in three different formats: Perf 11 x 12, Perf 11 All Around and Perf 12 All Around. It is believed that the USPS was unaware that there were different perforations. The Perf 12 All Around is by far the rarest.
With copy of 1995 P.F. certificate for a block of 12
29c New York Stock Exchange Bicentennial, Center Inverted, Omitted Pair (2630d). Mint N.H. se-tenant pair of Scott 2630b (black missing) and 2630c (center inverted), Positions 26 and 27 from the discovery pane of 40, with selvage at left, rich colorsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE HORIZONTAL PAIR OF THE 29-CENT NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ERROR, CONTAINING ONE WITH AN INVERTED CENTER AND ONE WITH THE CENTER OMITTED.
Two panes in total were discovered. This block comes from the first to be discovered, which was auctioned in 2002. Each pane consists of 40 stamps, and of these 28 were with the centers inverted and 12 were with the centers completely omitted.
29c New York Stock Exchange Bicentennial, Center Inverted, Omitted Pair (2630d). Mint N.H. se-tenant pair of Scott 2630b (black missing) and 2630c (center inverted), Positions 8 and 13 from the discovery pane of 40, rich colorsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE VERTICAL PAIR OF THE 29-CENT NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE ERROR, CONTAINING ONE WITH AN INVERTED CENTER AND ONE WITH THE CENTER OMITTED.
Two panes in total were discovered. This block comes from the first to be discovered, which was auctioned in 2002. Each pane consists of 40 stamps, and of these 28 were with the centers inverted and 12 were with the centers completely omitted.
$2.00 Red & Blue, Non-Inverted Jenny Error Sheet (4806d). Intact pane of six self-adhesive stamps with souvenir sheet design in margin, choice centering, back of pane indicates plate position (this is the top center of the six positions), accompanied by congratulatory sheet which accompanied the pane in the envelope, also accompanied by certificate signed by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe noting this is discovery pane No. 13 of 100 possible panesEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE NON-INVERTED JENNY SHEET. ONLY 100 WERE DISTRIBUTED TO RANDOM POST OFFICES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND ONLY APPROXIMATELY 32 HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE POSTAL SERVICE. A PHENOMENAL MODERN RARITY.
According to the U.S. Postal Service's website (http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2013/pb22371/html/info_003.htm ) and other sources, the $2.00 Inverted Jenny souvenir sheet went on sale nationwide September 22, 2013, and a ceremony was held on that day at the National Postal Museum. The souvenir sheet was printed using the intaglio printing process and plates made from the original dies used to produce the 1918 24c Air Post stamp (Scott C3). The denomination was changed to make it easily distinguishable from the original. The souvenir sheet background depicts the original airmail route, the National Postal Museum, and aviation pioneer Reuben H. Fleet.
A special automatic distribution was done to all post offices. Pre-orders and re-orders through stamp distribution offices or centers were not allowed once original automatic distribution quantities were sold. A total of 13,200,600 stamps were printed, which translates into 2,200,100 souvenir sheets of six. They were printed six souvenir sheets at a time, and their position on the plate is noted on back of each. The sheets were sold individually wrapped in cellophane, which collectors questioned at the time of issue.
The reason for the odd quantity and cellophane wrapping was revealed shortly after the release of the souvenir sheets, when an upright example was discovered by a collector in Ontario, Canada. The USPS then revealed that 100 had been created and randomly seeded throughout their distribution system. The cellophane wrappers were used to prevent searching through stocks for the upright designs -- souvenir sheets with opened cellophane were not returnable.
As of June 2017, Linn's Stamp News reported that only 32 had been registered with the Postal Service, but it is possible the number is now 33 or 34.