Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1901 Pan-American Issue (Scott 294-299)
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, h.r., unusually choice centering and wide margins for this popular invert error, deep rich colors on post-office fresh paper
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. VERY RARE IN THIS CONDITION.
According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut. Most examples are off-center and/or have disturbed gum. The example offered here is remarkably fresh.
Ex "Laila" and "Hampshire". With 1993 P.S.E. and 2009 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Original gum with an area of disturbance at center from hinge removal, phenomenally bright color, as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4) and 64 unused singles for a total of 72 unused. There are also seven used singles. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. The example offered here was kept in a safe deposit box for more than 70 years (sharing space with the Mint N.H. 95-graded Inverted Jenny Position 49), before it was offered in our Sale 1192 in 2018. It is exceedingly fresh.
With 2018 P.F. certificate.
2c-10c Pan-American (295-299). Mint N.H. set missing only the 1c, choice centering and margins throughout, bright colors, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, each with 1999-2003 P.F. certificate
2c-4c Pan-American (295-296). Both with outstanding margins and centering, bright colors, neat machine cancels, Extremely Fine Gems, with 2007 and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
5c Ultramarine & Black, Pan-American (297). Mathematically perfect centering, intense colors, neat vertical bars machine cancel, absolutely pristine
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN INCOMPARABLE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, with THE PERFECT p.s.e. GRADE OF GEM 100—THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IS EQUALED BY NO OTHERS.
Ex Depew. With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). This is the highest grade awarded to a used 5c Pan-American and it is the only example to achieve this grade. The next highest are two graded 98. In fact, the only other Pan-American which has been graded Gem 100 in used condition by P.S.E. is the 2c, with two examples. When quantities issued are factored in, this 5c Gem 100 becomes even more extraordinary. More than 200 million of the 2c were issued, versus just 7.2 million of the 5c This is a used early commemorative of exceptional beauty.
8c Brown Violet & Black, Pan-American (298). Mint N.H., well-centered, rich colors, Very Fine and choice, with 2016 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
8c Brown Violet & Black, Pan-American (298). Rich colors, unusually wide and balanced margins, purple cancel leaves design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Gorham, with 1998 P.F. and 2022 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98), this is the highest grade awarded to a used example and it is equaled by only two others
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American (299). Wide margins and near perfect centering, rich colors, neat Buffalo N.Y. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only one used example grades higher (at 98J, Sale 1172, lot 613) and no others share this grade
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American (299). Outstanding centering and margins, rich colors, corner strike of circular datestamp cancel leaves the steamship vignette fully visible, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Gorham, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only two used examples grade higher — the 98J we offered in our Sale 1172 in 2017 and the 98 offered in the previous lot — the 98J has a much heavier cancel, this example with precise centering and an unobtrusive cancel is very desirable