Sale 1139 — U.S. Treasures of Philately from The Irwin Weinberg Inventory
Sale Date — Wednesday, 9 November, 2016
Category — Air Post
5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon, Tete-Beche Pair (CL1a). Schoendorf Types I and II, unused (no gum), large margins to full, wide spacing between stamps (8-1/2mm), accompanying certificate notes "slight defects" which are primarily thin spots and some wrinkling between stampsFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED TETE-BECHE PAIRS OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON STAMP WITH TYPES I AND II. THIS ALSO HAS ONE OF THE WIEST SPACING BETWEEN STAMPS OF ANY TETE-BECHE PAIR.
The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John F. B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tenn., The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin Tenn., which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, only 23 were used.
Approximately a dozen tete-beche pairs have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. The Schoendorf pamphlet lists nine, which are mostly a combination of Types II and III. Type I is the earliest state, with no discernible printing flaws.
Ex Ridings. Illustrated in Schoendorf pamphlet (figure 18). With 1978 P.F. certificate
