Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Essays and Proofs: Specimen Overprints
1c-90c 1861 Issue, Red Control Number Ovpts. Ty. J (63S-J to 78S-J). Complete set of ten values, original gum, h.r., bright colors, generally centered to one side with several showing perfs touching or in, 5c double perfs at left as usual, 30c straight edge at left and 90c blunted perfs at left, a few small flaws
FINE AND SCARCE COMPLETE SET OF 1861 ISSUE STAMPS WITH BOND-NUMBERING MACHINE RED CONTROL NUMBER OVERPRINTS.
As demonstrated by this set, each of the denominations of the 1861 Issue are known with sequential control number overprints, from the highest denomination to the lowest starting with the 90c "1234", 30c "2345", 24c "3456" and so on except for the 15c, which has only three numbers — "235". Research by Michael Plett and Ken Gilbart (Chronicle Aug. 2012, pp. 214-226) solved the long-standing mystery of these specimens and determined that the overprints were applied by a bond-numbering mechanical device.
2c 1889 Issue, "Sample" Ovpt. Ty. K (210S-K). Five bottom imprint and plate no. strips of five, in five colors including Brown (unlisted), Red Brown, Lake, Rose Lake and Scarlet, mounted on exhibit pages explaining why these were produced and discussing the preparation for the new 1890 Small Bank Note issue, Fine-Very Fine, also includes singles of No. 210S-L "Sample A" with and without ovpt., Scott value as singles without any premium for the imprint and plate number strips (which seems quite conservative)
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpts. Ty. E (219S-E, 220S-E to 229S-E). Each with horizontal "Specimen" overprint at bottom, also with an additional 1c with diagonal overprint, original gum, h.r., 4c and 5c thinned at right, 10c light horizontal crease, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a rare set, ex Dr. Johnson, each of the three sets we have offered in the past 30 years has realized well above this conservative Scott value
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Specimen Ovpts. Ty. E (230S-E to 245S-E). Complete set including two additional 1c showing different ovpt. orientations, majority original gum with some h.r. and some disturbed, a few no gum including the $1.00, a few small flaws to be expected
FINE-VERY FINE OR APPEAR SO. A RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE COLUMBIAN ISSUE WITH SPECIMEN OVERPRINT.
Two A.P.S. certificates accompany and $5.00 with 1974 P.F. certificate.
2c Red, Ty. IV, Booklet Pane of Six, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (279BjS-E). Two Position D with plate nos. 990 and 991, original gum, first with multiple h.r. reinforcing perf separations between the tab and the top row, that pane also rejoined between first and second rows, appears Fine, second pane few minor perf separations, Fine and scarce, it is reported that only approximately ten examples are known with the plate number
2c Red, Ty. IV, Booklet Pane of Six, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (279BjS-E). Three panes and exploded cover signed by Edwin C. Madden on exhibit pages, one pane is defective with a large tear, overall Fine appearance, Scott value without premium for the covers
1c-10c Pan-American, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (294S-E to 299S-E). Complete set, disturbed original gum, a couple tiny flaws but better condition than often seen, the 4c particularly choice centering, overall Fine-Very Fine
1897 Universal Postal Congress Overprints. 34 face-different stamps plus a number of extras (including dollar-denominated) and 59 entires or cards plus extras with "Universal Postal Congress" overprint, complete for all stamps and stationery or cards issued, mounted on exhibit pages detailing the 1897 Universal Postal Congress, with original box labelled "One set of Specimens of Stamped Envelopes of the United States of the series in use June 1897, Prepared for presentation to members of the Universal Postal Congress of Washington, U.S.A., beginning May 5, 1897 and ending June 15, 1897", also with original envelope in which the stamps were distributed, the box with slight wear, some minor flaws to be found among the stamps
VERY FINE. a beautiful intact exhibit of all the STAMPS AND POSTAL STATIONERY ENTIRES WITH "UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS" OVERPRINT. VERY FEW INTACT SETS ARE KNOWN, AND EVEN FEWER ARE KNOWN WITH an ORIGINAL BOX or envelope.
According to a note from Postmaster General Gary, "As a gesture to the delegates attending the Universal Postal Congress held in Washington, D.C., in 1897, the government overprinted the stamps of the current series of envelopes with the inscription "Universal Postal Congress". A complete set of these overprints consists of 59 envelopes and were originally presented to the delegates, and others, in a card board box covered with black paper..." The stamps consist of those current in 1897, including Nos. 264-278, E5, J38-J44 and PR114-PR125. This is a rare opportunity to acquire them all. See our website PDF for a complete scan. Scott value exceeds $12,000.
1c-$5.00 1895-98 Issue, 1897 Universal Postal Congress Overprints (267S-O to 278S-O). Mostly original gum with h.r., a couple no gum including 50c and $1.00 Ty. I, several with a straight edge but overall the centering is quite nice, a couple small faults, overall Very Fine set, only 125 of which were produced, making these technically scarcer than the underlying 1895 Bureau issue on which they were overprinted, these are often encountered with no gum
1c-$5.00 1902 Issue, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (300S-E to 313S-E, 319S-E). Overprints in various positions including mostly at sides, tops or bottoms, extra 6c, the 2c ovpt. is questionable, gum condition spans the range from original gum with h.r., disturbed gum, no gum and a couple regummed, few small faults, Fine appearance
Specimens Collection. Extensive collection on album pages, many issues represented including 1861 with Ty. B, later Large Bank Notes, Trans-Mississippi Ty. E through the 50c with a couple extras, 1895-98 Bureau issues Ty. E including $1.00-$5.00, Postage Due Ty. D plus a couple later, Officials (which are actually Special Printings rather than normal Specimens) with a range of mostly 1c-2c values, Executive set complete, 1c Agriculture imprint strip of four, also extensive showing of Large Bank Notes with "Sample." and "Sample A" (Ty. K-L), including a few Ty. M-N with handwritten letters, large group of Newspapers & Periodicals, U.S. Possessions, also a few "Ultramar" ovpts. and Universal Postal Congress $2.00-$5.00 plus Postage Dues, mixed condition as always for this type of material, overall an extensive and valuable collection