Sale 1192 — United States Stamps including Confederate States and Hawaii

Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 14-16 November, 2018

Category — 1925 and Later Issues

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
640
nh
Sale 1192, Lot 640, 1925 and Later Issues$1.00 Candle Holder, Brown (Engraved) Color Inverted (1610c). Mint N.H. fresh colors

VERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS POPULAR MODERN ERROR -- THE C.I.A. INVERT.

Popularly called the "C.I.A. Invert", a single pane of 100 stamps was purchased at the McLean Va. Post Office by employees of the C.I.A., for use on mail from the agency. They noticed the error, pooled together funds to buy a replacement sheet and kept the pane for themselves. When it was discovered who had purchased the stamps, a scandal ensued over who actually owned the stamps. Of the pane of 100, only 93 sound examples reached collectors.

17,500
12,000