Sale 1188 — United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2018
Category — 1847 Issue Multiples and Plate Varieties
The famous Lord Crawford block of sixteen of the 5¢ 1847 Issue--the largest multiple seen and one of the most renowned items in United States philatelyDESCRIPTION
5¢ Red Brown (1), Positions 21-24/31-34/41-44/51-54R--block of sixteen (four by four) from the first four columns of the third through sixth rows of the right pane--original gum, mostly full to large margins except slightly in at places, bright shade on fresh paper
PROVENANCE
* James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford (bought privately; estate sold to Nassau Stamp Co. in 1915)
* Rep. Ernest R. Ackerman (bought from Nassau Stamp Co. and sold privately to Ward in 1931)
* Philip H. Ward, Jr. (bought privately, estate sold to Weills in 1963)
* Benjamin D. Phillips (bought from Weills out of Ward estate, 1964; collection sold privately to Weills, 1968)
* Ryohei Ishikawa (bought privately from Weills, circa 1977), Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/28-29/1993, lot 4, to William H. Gross
CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES
* Dr. Stanley M. Bierman, “Philip H. Ward, Jr.: An Aristocrat of Philately,” Chronicle 124, November 1984
* Lester G. Brookman, The 1847 Issue of United States Stamps, 1942, fig. 23-24, pp. 24-25
* --United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Vol. I, fig. 28-29, pp. 30-31
* William H. Gross, “Plating the 5¢ 1847 Block of 16,” Chronicle 210, May 2006
* David Lidman, Treasury of Stamps, fig. 64, p. 52
* John N. Luff, The Postage Stamps of the United States, reprint, p. 49
* Jonathan W. Rose, Classic United States Imperforate Stamps, p. 9
* Philip H. Ward, Jr., Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News, 1935, Vol. 69, p. 265
* --“United States Early Unused Blocks 1847-1869,” 1960 Congress Book, p. 51
* National Philatelic Museum, 1956, Vol. III, No. 1, pp. 106, 111
* London International Stamp Exhibition 1923 (Ackerman)
* TIPEX 1936 exhibition (Ward)
* ANPHILEX 1971 “Aristocrats of Philately” (Weill)
* INTERPHIL 1976 “Aristocrats of Philately” (Weill)
* ANPHILEX 1996 Invited Exhibits (Gross)
* Collectors Club of New York “Aristocrats of United States Philately” exhibit, December 2000 (Gross)
* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)
CONDITION NOTES
* Fine-Very Fine appearance; light creases, one stamp small sealed internal tear, two others thins
VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/13.pdf
