Sale 1025 — 2012 Rarities of the World

Sale Date — Tuesday, 26 June, 2012

Category — Columbian Issue

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
181°
nh
Sale 1025, Lot 181, Columbian Issue$1.00 Columbian (241). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed on bright paper, detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WHICH DEPICTS THE FAMOUS SCENE OF QUEEN ISABELLA PLEDGING HER JEWELS. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND ONE OF ONLY THREE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.

According to Brookman, only 55,050 copies of the $1.00 Columbian were issued. It was sold out before all of the other dollar values, probably because it was the most affordable of the dollar-value stamps. Speculation soon drove the price to $5.00 but it soon fell again, to about $1.50.

The theme of the stamp, Isabella pledging her jewels to finance Columbus's voyage, is known to most fifth-grade students who study the voyage of Columbus. However, the offer was never accepted, as financing was found elsewhere.

With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $40,400.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and one of only three to achieve this grade.

3,850
23,500