Sale 1140 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Irwin Weinberg Inventory
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 9-11 November, 2016
Category — $1.00-$5.00 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 241-245)
$5.00 Columbian (245). Perfectly centered with wide margins approaching Jumbo proportions, intense shade and proof-like impression, neat registry cancel leaves design completely visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY USED DOLLAR VALUE COLUMBIAN.
The dollar-value Columbians are extremely difficult to obtain in superb used condition. Of the five different dollar denominations, a total of eight copies have been graded 98 and none have been graded higher (four $2.00 and two each of the $3.00 and $5.00). None of the $1.00 or $4.00 stamps have graded 98. The $5.00 denomination was not designed to pay any actual postage rate, and collectors protested the high cost. Only 21,844 were sold, and 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 lightly cancelled for a registered use, the paper is fresh and bright and it is perfectly centered. It is a true condition rarity.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $13,500.00). Only one other used stamp shares this grade, from our 2012 sale of the Natalee Grace collection.
