Sale 1320 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Thursday, 22-25 April, 2024
Category — Columbian Issue (Scott 230-245)
1c-50c Columbian (230-240). Blocks of four, original gum, h.r., few such as 50c hinged on top stamps only, few faults such as 6c crease, most are sound and Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as hinged blocks
1c-$5.00 Columbian (230-245). Complete unused set, the 1c-50c original gum with a couple lower denominations Mint N.H., the $1.00-$4.00 regummed, the $5.00 appears to have original gum (redistributed), bright colors, few small faults but overall a solid set in better condition than often seen
1c-$5.00 Columbian (230-245). Used set, fresh colors, $3.00 light crease, $2.00 small pinhole, Fine-Very Fine set
3c Green, Columbian (232). Top imprint, plate no. 57 and letter "L" strip of four, stamps Mint N.H., hinged only in ungummed portion of selvage, Fine-Very Fine, the left stamp is particularly nice, Scott value as singles without premium for the positions
4c Ultramarine, Columbian (233). Mint N.H., rich color and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Blue, Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, single hinge mark, the deeper and more intense of the two Blue error shades (this has been kept in the dark since at least 1931), choice centering for this difficult issue, faint toned spot in top right margin is barely noticeable
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM 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 more than one pane 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. There are two shades; this is the deeper of the two.
With 1972 P.F. certificate. Accompanied by original invoice from 1931 — this stamp has been held by the same family since 1931 and is offered to the market for the first time.
5c Chocolate, Columbian (234). Mint N.H., wide margins and precise centering, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Mint N.H., deep rich color, nicely centered with balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2022 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright white paper, choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 2023 P.S.E. certificate, SCV $600
15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95)
15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Mint N.H. block of four, gorgeous color on fresh paper, Very Fine, with copy of 2023 P.F. certificate for a block of eight, specifically stating these four stamps are Mint N.H., Scott value $2,400 as singles
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color on fresh paper, precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95)
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Outstanding centering with balanced margins, pastel color, handstamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Two multiples, first top imprint, plate no. 59 and letter "N" strip of four, original gum, couple h.r., bright color, tiny thin spot in selvage above plate no., few minor perf separations in middle selvage, Fine and attractive plate strip, second block of four, original gum, bottom stamps Mint N.H., fresh and Fine
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Block of four from the center of the sheet of 100 with double plate no. 59 bottom selvage, unused (no gum), trivial internal crease top left stamp, still Very Fine, this is a very rare position multiple, the sheets of 100 were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C., otherwise the sheets were divided into panes of 50 before delivery to post offices — each pane of 50 would have one plate block — this block with two plate numbers could only come from one of the undivided sheets of 100, with 1999 P.F. certificate
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Block of four with full imprint top selvage, rich color, "West Brooklyn N.Y. Feb 1 1894" circular datestamp cancels, thin spots, appears Very Fine, Scott value as normal block
30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Top imprint and plate no. 59 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, gorgeous color, unusually choice centering, selvage slightly reduced
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
Ex Fox, "Lake Shore" and Przybyl.
50c Slate Blue, Columbian (240). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide margins and essentially perfect centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2023 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98). Only four examples grade higher and four others share this grade.
$1.00 Salmon, Columbian (241). Mint N.H. with left sheet selvage, beautifully centered, deep rich color, small tear in far left edge of selvage could be easily trimmed
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN.
The $1.00 Columbian is a very difficult stamp to find in such choice Mint N.H. condition. The P.S.E. Population Report records only seven others graded 90 and three graded 95, with none higher.
With 2002 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
$1.00 Salmon, Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2016 P.S.A.G. and 2019 P.S.E. (OGph, F-VF 75) certificates
$2.00 Brown Red, Columbian (242). Unused (regummed), outstanding centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine
$2.00 Brown Red, Columbian (242). Wide margins and well-centered, rich color, double-oval registry cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. (ungraded) and 2019 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Original gum, deep rich color, short corner perf at top left, Very Fine centering, with 1995 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, F-VF 75)
$4.00 Crimson Lake, Columbian (244). Original gum, brilliant color, choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90)
$4.00 Crimson Lake, Columbian (244). Unused (no gum), vivid color, unpunched perf at upper left, Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate as No. 244 (looks more like 244a to us)
$4.00 Crimson Lake, Columbian (244). Pretty shade, bold strike of registry oval cancel, Very Fine
$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Original gum, detailed impression, slight toning at right, otherwise Fine
$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Slightly disturbed original gum, detailed impression on fresh paper, choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (DOG, VF-XF 85)
$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Nice margins, unusual circle of "V"s cancel, Fine, unusual cancel, with 2007 P.F. certificate declining opinion on whether the cancel is contemporary