Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — Air Post thru Postal Stationery
10c Map, Air Post (C7). Mint N.H. with right plate no. 18905 selvage, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, bright shade, Extremely Fine Gem, a truly exceptional stamp, with 2025 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above Gem 100, SMQ $1,500 for Gem 100), there have been 296 Mint N.H. examples of this stamp submitted to P.S.E. and only two others have attained this ultimate grade, we offered one of them in our Sale 1320 in 2024—without the plate number—it realized $6,500 hammer
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. blocks of six, 65c no. 20078, $1.30 no. 20085, $2.60 no. 20090, bright colors, $1.30 natural gum skips mostly in bottom row, also gum bends, $2.60 natural gum creases
VERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED MATCHING BOTTOM PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Desirable as a matched set from the bottom positions.
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Rich colors, tied by easily readable "Washington D.C. Apr. 19 5PM 1930" First Day of Issue duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on cacheted flown cover to Midland, Texas., backstamps of Friedrichschafen, New York and Midland
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE FLOWN FIRST DAY COVER WITH A COMPLETE SET OF THE GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
First Day covers with the complete set of the 1930 Graf Zeppelin issue on one cover are much rarer than sets of individually stamped covers. They are especially coveted when on a small-size cover that was actually flown such as the one offered here. Only a small number of such first day covers exist.
5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon, Tête-Bêche Pair (CL1a). One stamp Type III showing plate flaws, other Type II, 6mm spacing between stamps, original gum, Type II Mint N.H. and with stitch watermark, large margins
extremely fine. one of the finest known TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIRs OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON POST ISSUE.
The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, Lillard wrote that only 23 were used.
Based on previous examples we have handled, at least some of the Buffalo Balloon stamps were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed. This accounts for the fact that only two of the tête-bêche pairs certified by The Philatelic Foundation are sound. The others are mostly thinned or scuffed in one corner where they were stuck together.
With 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott value without premium for the Mint N.H. stamp.
5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon, Tête-Bêche Pair (CL1a). Both stamps Schoendorf Type II, 6mm spacing between stamps, original gum, lightly hinged, one with horizontal stitch watermark, other with minor margin scuffs along left side—based on previous examples we have sold we believe some were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIR OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON STAMP WITH BOTH STAMPS TYPE II.
The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John F. B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tenn. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, only 23 were used.
Approximately one dozen tête-bêche pairs have been certified as genuine by The Philatelic Foundation. The Schoendorf pamphlet lists nine, most of which are a combination of Types II and III. The book illustrates one other with both stamps Type II.
With 2013 P.F. certificate.
1911, 25c Black, Rodgers "Vin Fiz", Unofficial Air Post (CL2). Margins cut close to just in as always, small corner crease and nick at bottom right corner, uncancelled and affixed to picture side of postcard depicting the Vin Fiz Flyer with inset of Calbraith Rodgers, used with 1c Green tied by "El Paso, Tex. Oct. 30 12:30PM 1911" machine cancel and addressed to Arden Tex., lightly struck receiving datestamp, message reads "Dimensions of aeroplane 32ft. long 21 wide 7ft height, weight 903 lbs, speed 55 mi. or better per hr. Sanderson Tx. 10/28-11. Wish you could have seen it. It's absurd. They have a special train for the remainder of people with aviator. He stays in car at night. Your friend ASM", also "This card will be saved" at left and "7 mi mid air from here to El Paso where this gets mailed"
VERY FINE. ONE OF THIRTEEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE VIN FIZ STAMP, WHICH WAS USED DURING THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHT. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY EXAMPLE POSTMARKED AT EL PASO, TEXAS.
Although Calbraith Rodgers is less famous than other American pilots such as Earl Ovington, Charles Lindbergh, or Amelia Earhart, he was in fact the first person to fly from one coast to the other. Rodgers was one of four contestants in a race sponsored by William Randolph Hearst, who offered $50,000 to the first person to fly coast to coast in 30 days or less. Rodgers completed the journey first, flying from Sheepshead Bay, New York, on September 17, 1911 and arriving at Pasadena, California, on November 5; the last leg to Long Beach was completed on December 10. Because Rodgers took 49 days to reach the California coast, he lost the prize.
The flight was nothing less than a spectacle. The erratic path of his 4,231-mile journey followed transcontinental railroad lines. The airborne Rodgers was followed on land by a three-car train, the Vin Fiz Special, which transported his rather large entourage. Adopting a novel form of product endorsement, his Wright Model EX aircraft was emblazoned with the name of a new grape soda, Vin Fiz, and the trip was sponsored and heavily promoted by the beverage maker, the Armour Meat-Packing Company.
The Vin Fiz stamp was issued by pilot Calbraith Rodgers' wife, Mabel. At each of the 75 stops along the route, a crowd gathered around Rodgers and his flying machine, and Mabel and her assistants would circulate, hawking souvenir cards and "air post" service for 25 cents per card or letter.
The postcard offered here was written in Sanderson, Texas. Calbraith Rodgers arrived in Sanderson Oct. 26 and departed Oct. 28, delayed by a day due to heavy winds. He suffered several mishaps on this leg of his journey to El Paso, including a punctured tire and a cracked engine; the gas tank also fell on his neck. After this was repaired he had a major oil leak 60 miles from El Paso, with oil spraying all over his face and goggles. A crowd of 7,000 mobbed the runway, so he was forced to land in a nearby cemetery. This postcard was mailed at the El Paso post office after the landing.
The postcard offered here is the only recorded example carried on this eventful leg of the journey. A total of thirteen examples of the Vin Fiz stamp are recorded. Ten are on postcards, one is on a cover, one is on a piece and one is off card. They can all be seen at our census at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/cl2.
Census no. CL2-PC-11. From the Estate of Arthur "Vince" King. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 on $1.00 Violet Brown, Offices in China, Double Surcharge (K16a). Block of four, top stamps Mint N.H., bottom stamps with blue crayon and light pencil notation on gum, deep rich color, clear doubling of the surcharge
FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 OFFICES IN CHINA DOUBLE SURCHARGE ERROR, WITH TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS.
The Offices in China double surcharge error occurred during the overprinting of stamps for use at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai. It has been reported that the errors were among the last stamps to be put on sale before the agency closed on December 31, 1922. The Deputy Postal Agent, Mr. E. H. Murray, knew of the error but allowed it to be put on sale, as he was retiring and the Agency was closing. The top pair of this block contains the only two Mint N.H. examples of K16a we have offered since keeping computerized records 30 years ago.
Ex "Whitpain" and "Magnolia". Scott value as two Mint N.H. and two hinged singles.
1c-90c Officials, Specimen Ovpt. (O1S-O67S, O72S-O93S). Complete set of all 1c-90c Continental Bank Note Co. Officials Special Printings, without gum as issued, most sides with full perfs, some affected by the usual scissors separation, bright colors, small flaws to be found as usual
OVERALL FINE OR FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE ONE-CENT THRU 90-CENT OFFICIAL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ALL DEPARTMENTS COMPLETE EXCEPT FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOLLAR VALUE RARITIES.
Although these stamps bear a "Specimen" overprint, they are in fact Special Printings and were issued at the same time and for the same reason as the other Continental Bank Note Co. Special Printings (Scott 167-177). The overprint was necessary for the Official stamps, as these were not issued to the public and could only be used in an official capacity. Complete sets for several of these Departments are scarce and seldom seen — especially the Interior and Treasury sets, which were sold in quantities mostly in the 70s and 80s.
Ex Mooz.
3c Yellow, Agriculture, "Sepcimen" Error (O3Sa). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, scissors-separated at top and left but perfs largely intact
FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT "SEPCIMEN" ERROR SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS ONE OF TWO IN SOUND CONDITION.
Only 389 copies of the 3c Agriculture Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then at most four errors were sold. We record only two others — one ex Mooz (tear and nibbed perfs) and the other ex Inman (similar scissors-separated perfs to this example).
Ex Lewenthal, Sheriff and Markovits. With 2006 P.F. certificate.
2c Purple, Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O26Sa). Without gum as issued, well-centered, deep rich color, couple barely nibbed perfs at top
VERY FINE. A WELL-CENTERED AND FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH "SEPCIMEN" ERROR. only 16 are recorded.
Although the volume of sales of the 2c Justice Special Printing (3,395) indicates that stamps from 34 sheets were sold, potentially equating to 34 "Sepcimen" errors, we actually do not know how sheets were separated or if an entire sheet was sold before the next sequential sheet. The rarity of the 2c Justice "Sepcimen" error—with 16 examples recorded in our census—does not accord with the quantity of stamps sold.
Ex Golden (possibly ex Col. Green).
3c Purple, Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O27Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color and attractive centering, scissors-separated perfs as usual which are complete except for a portion at upper right
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT "SEPCIMEN" ERROR. THIS IS THE ONLY SOUND EXAMPLE AMONG THE THREE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Only 178 copies of the 3c Justice Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only two would have been sold, but we are aware of three: 1) ex Markovits and Inman, well-centered, small thin spot (Sale 1135, lot 622); 2) ex Sheriff and Mooz, perfs to touched at right, crease and re-attached perf (Sale 1274, lot 635); and 3) sound with scissors-separated perfs, ex Lewenthal and Lockyear, the example offered here. An additional example from our 2007 Rarities sale was deemed not genuine.
Ex Lewenthal and Lockyear. With 2004 P.F. certificate.
1c Bluish Green, State, "Sepcimen" Error (O57Sa). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, unusually wide margins for this difficult issue, completely sound
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS EASILY THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT STATE DEPARTMENT WITH "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. we record 23 examples, MORE THAN HALF OF WHICH HAVE FAULTS.
Our census of the 1c State Dept. "Sepcimen" error contains 23 examples. The majority have one or more faults. This is easily the finest we have encountered.
With 2003 P.S.E. and 2019 P.F. certificates.
7c War, "Sepcimen" Error (O87Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, three wide margins, in at top, light horizontal crease and few ink stained perfs at top
FINE APPEARING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT WAR DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE "SEPCIMEN" OVERPRINT ERROR. ONE OF ONLY THREE EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Only 539 copies of the 7c War Special Printing were sold, but it is not known how the stamps were taken from the sheets or if full sheets were exhausted before breaking a subsequent sheet. If full sheets were used, then only seven errors were sold. We record only three examples. The other two are ex Mooz (slight fading and a nibbed perf, Sale 1274, lot 824) and ex "Adventurer" (Extremely Fine and sound).
Ex Stone, Dr. Lobdell and Inman. With 2010 P.F. certificate.
50c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H., brilliant color, detailed impression on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PARCEL POST, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The 50c and $1.00 stamps are the key values to the set of 1913 Parcel Post stamps and the 50c is regarded as the most challenging to find in superb condition.
Ex Morton. With 2006 and 2020 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). Only three grade higher (two at 98J and one at 100).
50c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6428 and "FIFTY" block of six, from the bottom right pane, brilliant color and choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED BOTTOM OR TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 50-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
Since the new Parcel Post service was intended to compete with private express companies in transporting farmers' products, the three high values pictured scenes of rural agricultural industry. The 50c value paid tribute to American dairy farmers with a bucolic scene of grazing cows.
The Parcel Post issues were printed from plates of 180, consisting of four panes of 45. According to Johl, the uniform color of the twelve denominations confused postal clerks, who complained that they were forced to examine the stamps in detail to ensure they had the correct values. In response, on January 27, 1913, large capital letters were added to the margins near each plate number. At the top and bottom of each plate, the imprint is in the selvage next to the plate number; on the sides it is separated by stamp-size blank selvage for some values, depending on the length of the imprint. The plate block offered here comes from the bottom right pane.
We have offered only two Mint N.H. Q10 plate blocks of six or more from top or bottom positions since keeping computerized records in 1993, and in our Rarities sales dating back to 1964. The other was a bottom plate block of ten, most recently offered in our Sale of the Zoellner collection (Sale 1335, lot 366).
With 2024 P.S.E. certificate.
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Mint N.H. pair with massive top right corner margins, including 25mm at top, detailed impression on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM PAIR OF THE 1842 3-CENT CITY DESPATCH POST STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION, GRADED GEM 100 — THE FIRST ADHESIVE STAMP ISSUED IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.
With 2002 P.F. and 2009 P.S.A.G. certificates (Gem 100). Scott value as hinged pair $800.
Philadelphia Despatch Post, Philadelphia Pa., (3c) Black on Grayish, "R & Co" Initials (15L3). Huge bottom margin showing part of adjoining stamp below, two other margins ample to large, in at left, cancelled by clearly struck outline "3" cancel (impression ties thru paper), matching lightly struck "Phila. Despatch Post" circular handstamp on Harnden & Co.'s Express printed circular with illustration of Striding Messenger, datelined Boston, Nov. 11, 1843, a very early use of the new Striding Messenger stamp (earliest is Oct. 10, 1843), to Stephen Baldwin at southwest corner of Front and Walnut Streets, file fold passes thru stamp and creases it
FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE AND REMARKABLE USE OF THE PHILADELPHIA DESPATCH POST STRIDING MESSENGER STAMP—THE WORLD'S FIRST PICTORIAL ISSUE—ON A PRINTED CIRCULAR FOR HARNDEN & CO., SHOWING A SIMILAR STRIDING MESSENGER LOGO.
This printed circular advertising Harnden's "Continental" (European) service was carried by Harnden to Philadelphia and given to the Philadelphia Despatch Post for local delivery. A similar cover with the same circular and November 11, 1843, dateline was offered in Sale 820 (lot 915).
From the Roland H. Cipolla II collection.
2c Brown on Orange entire, Die 48, Centennial Special Printing (U125; UPSS 299). Size 7, knife 30u, watermark 2, unused, intense shade and sharp impression characteristic of the Centennial Special Printing
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED ENTIRES OF THE 2-CENT BROWN ON ORANGE CENTENNIAL SPECIAL PRINTING, AND ONE OF THREE RECORDED OF UPSS NO. 299. A GREAT RARITY IN THE FIELD OF POSTAL STATIONERY COLLECTING.
Reproductions of the Plimpton Manufacturing Company stamped envelope issues were specially made for display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. They were likely made from new dies with extreme care and show fine impressions and clearer ink than the regular issues. None are known used. The 2c Die 48 was also used on regular issues but the impressions from this die on Orange paper are exclusively Centennial Special Printings. Only three full entires are recorded of No. 299 and six total among the three UPSS numbers under the umbrella of Scott U125.
Ex White, Floyd and Venn. With 2001 P.F. certificate.