Sale 1339 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 12-13 December, 2024
Category — Columbian Issue
2c Brown Violet, Columbian (231). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
3c Green, Columbian (232). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), with 2011 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95 XQ), SMQ value as 95J
3c Green, Columbian (232). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Ultramarine, Columbian (233). Mint N.H., bright shade, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Ultramarine, Columbian (233). Bottom imprint, plate no. 17 and letter "D" block of eight, original gum, lightly hinged, couple reinforced perf separations at left, Very Fine
4c Blue, Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, margins clear of design all around
FRESH AND FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.
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 additional 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.
With 2002 P.F. certificate.
8c Magenta, Columbian (236). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, choice centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
10c Black Brown, Columbian (237). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2013 P.S.E. (Superb 98). certificate. Only three grade higher (all 98J).
10c Black Brown, Columbian (237). Mint N.H., dsetailed impression, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo)
15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
50c Slate Blue, Columbian (240). Mint N.H., choice centering and margins, intense shade
EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2024 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
50c Slate Blue, Columbian (240). Original gum, single hinge mark, deep rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90)
50c Slate Blue, Columbian (240). Unused (regummed), deep rich color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (RG, XF-Superb 95, unpriced in SMQ as regummed or no gum)
50c Slate Blue, Columbian (240). Bottom imprint, plate no. 77 and letter "S" block of eight, original gum, three stamps on bottom row Mint N.H., deep rich color, some reinforced perfs between stamps at right
VERY FINE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE WITH SEVERAL MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
The 50c Columbian is the first value of the series that was printed in much more limited quantities, with 243,750 copies versus more than 617,000 of the 30c and millions of each of the 1c-15c (or more than a billion in the case of the 2c). It is scarce as a plate block -- especially in the larger eight-stamp size -- and it exists only from the bottom position due to the way the sheets from the 100-subject plates were cut and perforated (the $4.00 also exists only as a bottom plate block -- all the other Columbian values have top and bottom plate blocks).
Ex Petersen. With 2008 P.F. certificate.
$1.00-$5.00 Columbian (241-245). Mostly unused (regummed), few small faults, Fine appearing set of the dollar-value Columbians
$1.00 Salmon, Columbian (241). Original gum, two hinge marks, radiant color, fresh and Fine
$2.00 Brown Red, Columbian (242). Mint N.H. block of four, deep rich color and detailed impression, few partly punched perfs, bottom right stamp small natural inclusion
FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value as singles.