15c Columbian (238). Complete sheet of 100, imprint selvage at sides and two bottom imprint, plate no. 58 and letter "M" blocks of eight, original gum, nearly all stamps are Mint N.H. including both plate blocks, narrow h.r. slivers along edges of top row stamps, in right selvage and in ungummed portion of bottom selvage, these applied to sensibly reinforce the edges but there are some perf separations due to slight telescoping of perfs, most evident next to the two side imprints, deep rich color, unusually well-centered -- especially for a complete sheet

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF 100 OF THE 15-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS FORMAT WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON D.C. THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLETE SHEET WE HAVE OFFERED IN AT LEAST 30 YEARS.

For the Columbian series, all of the 1c stamps and most but not all of the 2c stamps were printed from 200-subject plates, with horizontal guide arrows between the two panes of 100. The perforating machine simultaneously applied horizontal perforations and cut the 200-stamp sheets into panes of 100, normally leaving a trace of the guide arrow on the straight edge of each pane. Some of the 2c stamps and all of the 3c-$5.00 stamps were printed on smaller presses from plates of 100 subjects, with no guide arrows. When the perforating machine applied horizontal perforations to sheets from the 100-subject plates, the cutting blade, in the same position, removed either the top or bottom sheet margin (and plate number), depending on how the sheet was fed into the perforator, reducing by half the potential number of Columbian plate blocks that might have been available to collectors. This is also why so many Columbian stamps are reperforated at top or bottom rather than at the sides--10 stamps from every 100-subject sheet (or pane) would have a straight edge at either top or bottom. The 100-subject sheets were then divided into panes of 50 for distribution and sale at post offices. The undivided full sheets of 100, as offered here, were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.

Scott value $70,400.00 as Mint N.H. plate blocks and singles (10 singles hinged)

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables