Sale 1197 — United States Stamps

Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 14-15 March, 2019

Category — Later Issues

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
2079
nh
Sale 1197, Lot 2079, 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
12,500