Sale 1315 — The Eugene L. Grace Collection of United States and Confederate States Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 12-14 March, 2024
Category — Special Delivery thru Parcel Post
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95)
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins and nearly perfectly centered, vivid color on post office fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE OF 1888. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- only one GRADES HIGHER.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only one grades higher (at 98, realized $25,000 hammer in 2016) and only four others share this desirable grade. This is the first in this grade we have offered since 2011.
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., vibrant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), only seven grade higher
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Original gum with left selvage, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, striking deep color on bright white paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 FIRST BUREAU UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate. 2016 P.F. certificate graded XF-Superb 95 XQ no longer accompanies. With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only four grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (two each at 98 and 98J) and three others share this desirable grade.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Original gum, single small hinge mark at top, rich color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), only four grade higher (at 98) and none share this grade for this gum category
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, wide margins and precise centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E6.
With 2011 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95).
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 4916 selvage, detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10c Ultramarine (E9). Mint N.H., radiant color on crisp paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., huge margins and gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery, "Pink Back" (E11). Mint N.H., back with deep Pink hue, rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, this variety is caused when the aniline ink used on some printings permeated the paper, with 1992 and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E12). Mint N.H. with plate no. 17239 selvage at bottom, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H., vibrant color, near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only five grade higher (all 98J)
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 5729 selvage, rich color, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1991 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ), the "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality"
1c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q1). Mint N.H., bright shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
2c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q2). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
3c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q3). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 6254 selvage, rich color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q4). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q5). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide margins and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1993 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q6). Mint N.H. with left plate no. 6168 selvage, brilliant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q7). Mint N.H., deep rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
50c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H., radiant color, detailed impression, unusually choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, this is one of the most difficult denominations to obtain in superb condition, with 1999 P.F. certificate
75c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q11). Mint N.H., with bottom plate no. 6287 selvage, brilliant color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. (as block) and 2018 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
$1.00 Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q12). Original gum, intense shade and impression, wide balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95)
2c Dark Green, Parcel Post Postage Due (JQ2). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, almost perfectly centered, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
10c Dark Green, Parcel Post Postage Due (JQ4). Original gum, single hinge mark, rich color and detailed impression, outstanding centering, small natural gum skip, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95)
25c Dark Green, Parcel Post Postage Due (JQ5). Mint N.H., beautifully centered, wide margins, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. (as block) and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)