Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — Columbian Issue, including Complete Sheets
1c Deep Blue, Columbian (230). Bottom pane of 100 with imprint selvage at sides and two imprint, plate no. 48 and letter "J" blocks at bottom, original gum, the majority are Mint N.H., multiple h.r. around the selvage and in top row, also some h.r. along middle, all of that reinforcing perf separations or sensibly strengthening the edges, more significant vertical perf separations along the middle and between stamps and selvage of bottom right plate block, also a few places with gum-soaked perfs, overall Fine-Very Fine appearance, a scarce full pane of 100 of the 1c Columbian Issue, all of the 1c Columbian stamps (and some of the 2c) were printed in sheets of 200 and cut into two panes of 100 along the horizontal guide arrow, these full panes were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.
2c Brown Violet, Columbian (231). Bottom pane of 100 with imprint selvage at sides and two imprint, plate no. 21 and letter "B" blocks at bottom, original gum, the vast majority are Mint N.H., multiple h.r. around the selvage and in top row, also some h.r. along middle, all of that reinforcing minor perf separations or sensibly strengthening the edges, perf separations in selvage of bottom left plate block and some in center vertical column where there is some slight perf telescoping, overall Fine-Very Fine appearance, a very scarce full pane of 100 of the 2c Columbian Issue, all of the 1c Columbians (and some of the 2c, including this example) were printed in sheets of 200 and cut into two panes of 100 along the horizontal guide arrow, these full panes were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C., for the 2c offered here the presence of the half arrow means it came from the sheet of 200
5c Chocolate, Columbian (234). Mint N.H. complete sheet of 100, bottom with double "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY." imprint, "No. 7" plate number and letter "B", sides with full imprint, top natural straight edge, deep rich color and proof-like impression, incredible condition for such an artifact
FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED SHEET OF 100 OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS FORMAT WAS AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON D.C.
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, which contained two plate blocks as offered here, were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.
Scott value as plate blocks and singles.
6c Purple, Columbian (235). Complete sheet of 100, bottom with double "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY." imprint, "No. 104" plate number and letter "Z", sides with full imprint, top natural straight edge, most stamps are Mint N.H., hinge slivers all along the edges of stamps at top and the ungummed and gummed selvage for sensible perf separation prevention, centering is mostly Fine with some toward the middle of the sheet along with the left plate block Very Fine
AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF 100 OF THE 6-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS FORMAT WAS NOT SOLD IN POST OFFICES AND WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON. THIS IS THE FIRST SHEET WE HAVE OFFERED IN DECADES.
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 as plate blocks and singles.
8c Magenta, Columbian (236). Complete sheet of 100, bottom with double "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY." imprint, "No. 129" plate number and letters "I I", sides with full imprint, top natural straight edge, most stamps are Mint N.H., hinge slivers all along the edges of the top row and the ungummed selvage for sensible perf separation prevention, centering is mostly Fine with some toward the upper left of the sheet Very Fine
AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF 100 OF THE 8-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS FORMAT WAS NOT SOLD IN POST OFFICES AND WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON. THIS IS THE FIRST SHEET WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE 1984.
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 as plate blocks and singles.
10c Black Brown, Columbian (237). Block of 90, nearly complete for the full sheet of 100, missing only the ten stamps at right, bottom with double "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY." imprint, "No. 99" plate number and letter "Y", left side with full imprint, top natural straight edge, most stamps are Mint N.H., hinge slivers all along the edges of the top row and the ungummed or gummed selvage for sensible perf separation prevention, centering is Fine-Very Fine with plenty in the latter category
AN EXTREMELY RARE 90-STAMP MULTIPLE OF THE 10-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE WITH TWO COMPLETE PLATE BLOCKS. THIS FORMAT WAS NOT SOLD IN POST OFFICES AND WAS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON.
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, which contained two plate blocks as offered here, were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.
Scott value as plate blocks and singles.
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Large Die Proofs on India (230P1-245P1). Complete set, die sunk on approximately 234 x 146mm cards, brilliant colors, including interleaving sheets (from a salesman's book no doubt), a few with some small waterstain spots not affecting the India paper, including the 15c (at bottom edge of card ), $2.00 (very small spot to left of India paper), $4.00 (at top left corner of card) and $5.00 (at top left corner of card and small spot near left edge)
OVERALL VERY FINE. A beautiful and SCARCE SET OF LARGE DIE PROOFS FOR THE 1893 COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION ISSUE DIE SUNK ON CARD.
The fully die sunk set is scarcer than the set printed directly on card.
4c Blue, Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, exceptional centering with balanced margins, gorgeous deep color
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR, OFF THE MARKET SINCE OUR 1978 RARITIES SALE. IT IS GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.—THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from other panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
This example has long been regarded as one of the few finest centered. It was last offered in our 1978 Rarities of the World sale, where it was purchased by the current consignor for double the Scott Catalogue value at the time.
Ex Brown, Engel and our 1978 Rarities sale. With 1960 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded to a 4c Blue Columbian error in any condition category and it is equaled by only one other. SCV $20,000.
5c Chocolate, Columbian (234). Mint N.H., crisp impression, gorgeous centering with unusually Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WITH UNUSUALLY WIDE MARGINS.
With 1977 P.F. and 2023 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,600). We are surprised this did not grade higher and we have included it in the Rarities sale because it is an extraordinary stamp.
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins, the term "Jumbo" barely does the side margins justice, rich color and choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A COLOSSAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY THE P.F.
Ex Curtis. With 1991, 2005 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo).
$1.00 Salmon, Columbian (241). Mint N.H., beautifully centered, glowing color on post-office fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED $1.00 COLUMBIAN.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only eight others share this grade and three grade higher (highest is 95).
$3.00 Yellow Green, Columbian (243). Block of four, original gum with few small h.r., brilliant color
A FINE AND FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The $3.00 Columbian, depicting "Columbus Describing Third Voyage," is based on a painting by Francisco Jover y Casanova, reported to be in a museum in Spain. The vignette was engraved by Robert Savage and the frame and lettering by Douglas S. Ronaldson. 27,652 stamps were printed from Plate 106, and according to Luff 2,937 were destroyed.