Sale 1258 — The Richie Prager Collection of United States Hunting Permits
Sale Date — Tuesday, 14 June, 2022
Category — Errors and Varieties
$1.00 Blue, 1934 Hunting Permit, Vertical Pair Imperforate Horizontally (RW1b). Left selvage block of eight containing four error pairs, unused, gummed on the front, back without gum, deep rich color, light creasing and top pair with a couple small stain spots, top left stamp shallow thin spotVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE BLOCK BEARING FOUR ERROR PAIRS OF THE 1934 FIRST HUNTING PERMIT ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. A MAGNIFICENT SHOWPIECE AND ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRAGER COLLECTION.
Specialists have searched for evidence of the origins of the 1934 Hunting Permit imperforate horizontally error, Scott RW1b (offered here), and the RW1 fully imperforate error. It is believed that only one pane of 28 imperforate horizontally was ever released, either through an official channel or as an internal release of discarded product, which would be extremely unusual for the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The pane was broken up, yielding this left selvage block of eight, other vertical pairs and at least one strip of three. Pairs are known fully imperforate, but they all have narrow side margins and are now considered to be examples of the imperforate horizontally error with the vertical perforations trimmed off. There are no recorded horizontal imperforate pairs, which adds further credence to this theory.
This block of eight is the largest multiple in existence, as well as the largest remaining piece showing the original configuration of the error pane -- perforated vertically and imperforate horizontally. It is the most iconic Federal Hunting Permit stamp error and one of the greatest 20th century philatelic errors. On the occasion of this offering, we wish to propose a theoretical connection between this error and the well-known part-imperforate errors of the National Parks issue -- the 1c, 2c, 3c, 4c, 5c and 7c imperforate horizontally or vertically, with gum (not to be confused with the Farleys). The National Parks stamps and First Federal Duck Stamp were printed at the Bureau almost concurrently in mid-1934. The National Parks errors are believed to originate from one pane of each, and none have been traced to a post office. We think this is too much for pure coincidence.
Illustrated in The Duck Stamp Story on p. 107. Ex Rudy. With 1979 P.F. certificate.
