Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — Pan-American Issue Invert Multiples
The unique plate block of the 4¢ Pan-American Invert Error--an iconic rarity of United States 20th century philatelyDESCRIPTION
4¢ Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a), block of four with selvage showing frame plate’s “Bureau, Engraving & Printing.” imprint and plate number “1145” in Red Brown and vignette plate’s string of plate pressmen’s initials in Black, top pair with original gum and hinge remnants, bottom pair has traces of gum, most of which was lost when the pane in the National Museum (predecessor of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum) was removed from paper to which it was affixed
PROVENANCE
* National Museum accession (complete pane of 100), inventoried in July 1913
* Either “Exchange No. 3” to Nassau Stamp Company (77 copies) or “Exchange No. 4” to H. F. Colman, Washington D.C. dealer (20 copies)
* Supposedly discovered in a cigar box of duplicate stamps
* Weill Brothers’ Stock, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 10/12/1989, lot 263, to Jack Rosenthal (collection sold privately to Andrew Levitt; later acquired by William H. Gross)
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* INTERPHIL 1976 “Aristocrats of Philately” (Weill)
* ANPHILEX 1996 Invited Exhibits (Rosenthal)
CONDITION NOTES
* Fine appearance; top left stamp has two small thin spots; brown color slightly affected by oxidation; some vertical perf separations
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/102.pdf
