Sale 1354 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 May, 2025
Category — Officials
Officials Collection and Plate Varieties. Extensive collection in five binders, formerly part of the George Sayers collection (known for his Departmental Plate Varieties studies and binders), majority of departments are represented to a lesser or greater degree with numerous varieties, including notes from Sayers next to many items, large number of "Specimen" Special Printings including some denominations above the 1c-2c and Scott values in the mid-hundreds of dollars for both regular issues and Specimens, many proofs interspersed including large number of Atlanta trial color proofs, we also note a set of large die proofs for Navy Dep., blocks, some covers including 6c State, etc., somewhat mixed condition, overall a fascinating collection which helped Sayers create his Departmental Plate Varieties publications, high Scott catalogue value (multiples of our estimate) even without taking into account the huge number of plate varieties
90c Vermilion, Interior (O24). Horizontal strip of four with bottom corner selvage, original gum, vibrant color, Very Good-Fine, a scarce multiple, Scott value as singles
$2.00 Green & Black, State (O68). Bold cork cancel, faults including creases and short perfs, otherwise Fine, scarce stamp used and almost none are sound
$5.00 Green & Black, State (O69). Mount disturbed original gum, rich colors
FRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-DOLLAR STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE.
With 2006 P.F. certificate.
$20.00 Green & Black, State (O71). Unused (regummed), rich colors, reperfed at left, Fine appearance, with 2007 P.F. certificate
7c Brown, Treasury (O76). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, 1995 P.F. certificate no. 295697 no longer accompanies
6c Rose, War (O86). Block of four (horizontal perfs rejoined), original gum, fresh and Fine, Scott value as singles
1c Yellow, Agriculture, Soft Paper (O94). Without gum as issued, bright color, filled thin in Franklin's head, appears Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate
24c Vermilion, Interior, Soft Paper (O103). Unused, regummed with perhaps some portion of the gum original and disturbed, large sealed tear, otherwise Fine and presentable, Scott value as no-gum $2,200
3c Bluish Purple, Justice, Soft Paper (O106). Block of four, original gum, rich color, bottom pair horizontal creases, Very Fine appearance, ex Curtis, with 2011 P.F. certificate
1c-30c Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O1S-O9S). Two complete sets, without gum as issued, bright colors, centering to just touched, a few small flaws may be found but these sets, originally from the Mooz estate, were compiled by selecting attractive examples without obvious faults from numerous sets, overall fresh and Fine-Very Fine appearance, of the 3c to 30c values a range of 352 to 390 each were sold
1c-30c Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O1S-O9S). Two complete sets, without gum as issued, centering to touched or just in with some scissors-separated perfs, flaws essentially throughout including one set largely thinned and a 10c defective, Fine appearance, of the 3c to 30c values a range of 352 to 390 each were sold, Scott value $5,774
1c Yellow, Agriculture, "Sepcimen" Error (O1Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color, almost Fine, approximately 20 known, small backstamp
1c-2c Yellow, Agriculture, "Sepcimen" Errors (O1Sa, O2Sa). Without gum as issued, both with faults including 2c deep thin, otherwise Fine and scarce, only about ten of the 2c are known, Scott value $5,500
2c Yellow, Agriculture, "Sepcimen" Error (O2Sa). Without gum as issued, vivid color, fresh and Fine, rare with only approximately ten known, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c-10c Executive, Specimen Ovpt. (O10S-O14S, O10Sa). 13 complete sets, without gum as issued, bright colors, some straight edges and mostly minor perf flaws, just a few are faulty, overall Fine-Very Fine or appear so, while the Executive is the most common of the Official Special Printings, one rarely encounters them in this quantity, ex Mooz
1c-90c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O25S-O34S). Complete set, without gum as issued, bright colors, nearly all sides with full perfs, few typical small flaws including 10c slight soiling, 2c stain, Fine appearing set, ex Mooz, the sold quantities of the 3c-90c denominations in this set range from from 150-178
1c-90c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O25S-O34S). Complete set, without gum as issued, bright colors, all but a few sides with full perfs, a couple small flaws and 3c clipped corner, Fine appearing set, ex Mooz, the sold quantities of the 3c-90c denominations in this set range from from 150-178
1c-90c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O25S-O34S). Complete set, without gum as issued, bright colors, all but a few sides with full perfs, several with attractive margins, a few of the usual small flaws including short or nibbed perfs, Fine appearing set, ex Mooz, the sold quantities of the 3c-90c denominations in this set range from from 150-178
1c-90c Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O25S-O34S). Complete set, without gum as issued, bright colors, all but a few sides with full perfs, 30c natural straight edge, margins to in and a few of the usual small flaws including short or nibbed perfs, Fine appearance, ex Mooz, the sold quantities of the 3c-90c denominations in this set range from from 150-178
1c Purple, Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O25Sa). Without gum as issued, wide margins and choice centering, faint hinge glue stain is not very evident on front, pulled perf at left, otherwise Very Fine, ex Golden
1c Purple, Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O25Sa). Sharp impression on fresh paper, two tiny violet handstamps on back do not show thru, Very Fine, 1976 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies
1c Purple, Justice, "Sepcimen" Error (O25Sa). Without gum as issued, bright color, trace of a diagonal crease at top left only visible in fluid, appears Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O32S). Without gum as issued, deep color, attractive wide margins and centering but reperfed at right, appears Very Fine, a scarce issue with only 150 sold
1c Ultramarine, Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O35Sa). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, faint corner creases, Fine appearance
2c Ultramarine, Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O36S). Block of four, without gum as issued, bright color, Very Fine
10c Ultramarine, Navy, Specimen Ovpt. (O40S). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine, scarce with all perfs intact, only 112 sold
1c-90c Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O47S-O56S). Complete set, without gum as issued, detailed impressions and several with attractive centering, nearly all sides with full perfs, a couple sides affected by scissors separation, a few small flaws may be encountered including 24c slight toning but the stamps in this set, previously in the Mooz estate, were selected from a large group picking examples without obvious or major faults, Fine-Very Fine appearance, most of the values of the Post Office Special Printing above 2c were sold in quantities in the 80's and 90's, with the 30c sold in a quantity of only 81, this gives the Post Office set third-place ranking in rarity among the 1c to 90c complete set Official Special Printings
1c-90c Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O47S-O56S). Complete set, without gum as issued, detailed impressions and a number with attractive centering, most sides with full perfs, a few sides affected by scissors separation, a few small flaws may be encountered including 3c with scuff but the stamps in this set, previously in the Mooz estate, were selected from a large group picking examples without obvious or major faults, Fine-Very Fine appearance, most of the values of the Post Office Special Printing above 2c were sold in quantities in the 80's and 90's, with the 30c sold in a quantity of only 81, this gives the Post Office set third-place ranking in rarity among the 1c to 90c complete set Official Special Printings
1c-90c Post Office, Specimen Ovpt. (O47S-O56S). Complete set, without gum as issued, detailed impressions and mostly attractive centering, nearly all sides with full perfs, a few sides affected by scissors separation, a few small flaws including 3c crease and 15c clipped corner but the stamps in this set, previously in the Mooz estate, were selected from a large group picking examples without major faults, Fine-Very Fine appearance, most of the values of the Post Office Special Printing above 2c were sold in quantities in the 80's and 90's, with the 30c sold in a quantity of only 81, this gives the Post Office set third-place ranking in rarity among the 1c to 90c complete set Official Special Printings
1c Black, Post Office, "Sepcimen" Error and Inverted Ovpt. (O47Sa, O47Sb). One of each error, without gum as issued, first about Fine, second with a single short perf not mentioned on certificate, appears Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
1c-2c Bluish Green, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O57S, O58S). Blocks of four with left selvage, without gum as issued, bright and fresh, Fine-Very Fine
1c-90c State, Specimen Ovpt. (O57S-O67S). Complete set, without gum as issued, rich colors, nearly all sides with full perfs, some small flaws but this set, formerly in the Mooz estate, was selected from a large group picking examples without obvious or major flaws, Fine-Very Fine set
1c-90c State, Specimen Ovpt. (O57S-O67S). Complete set, without gum as issued, rich colors, all sides with full perfs, some small flaws as typical, Fine-Very Fine set
1c Bluish Green, State, "Sepcimen" Error (O57Sa). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, light horizontal crease thru forehead, Fine appearance
1c Yellow Green, State, Soft Porous Paper, Specimen Ovpt. (O57xS). American Bank Note Co. printing, block of four with top plate no. 55 selvage, without gum as issued, bright color, top right stamp small thin spot at right, bottom right stamp tiny pinhole, still Very Fine and scarce, ex Golden, Scott value as normal block of four without premium for the position
$2.00 Green & Black, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O68S). Without gum as issued, bright colors, centered to bottom left, tiny thin spot at bottom right
FINE APPEARING AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 32 WERE SOLD.
Only 32 of the $2.00 State Department Special Printing were sold. Markovits estimated that approximately 20 are known (Bennett sale). Most seem to be strongly centered to one side.
With 2007 P.F. certificate.
1c-90c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O72S-O82S). Complete set, without gum as issued, deep rich colors, a few with good centering especially the 3c, nearly all sides with full perfs, a few small flaws including 6c small tear but the stamps in this set, formerly in the Mooz estate, were selected from a large group picking examples without obvious or major faults, overall Fine or appear so, only 72 of the 90c were sold — the lowest among all the 1c-90c Special Printings, meaning no more than 72 complete Treasury sets can exist, between 74 to 99 of the other values were sold (excluding the common 1c and the slightly more available 2c and 7c), for a total of 646 stamps, this makes the Treasury Department Special Printing one of the two rarest sets overall of the 1c to 90c issues, along with the Interior Department, which has 635 sold
1c-90c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O83S-O93S). Complete set, without gum as issued, rich colors, generally Fine centering and with full perfs, some flaws to be found but most are non-obvious, Fine appearing set, other than the 1c, 2c and 7c values, between 104 and 119 copies of the War Department Special Printings were sold (the 30c has the smallest sale quantity with 104)
1c-90c War, Specimen Ovpt. (O83S-O93S). Complete set, without gum as issued, rich colors, better centering than often seen with full perfs, a couple tiny flaws may be encountered including short perfs on the 12c, but this set is particularly fresh, Fine-Very Fine, other than the 1c, 2c and 7c values, between 104 and 119 copies of the War Department Special Printings were sold (the 30c has the smallest sale quantity with 104)
7c Deep Rose, War, Specimen Ovpt. (O87S). Block of four with narrow left selvage, without gum as issued, rich color, Fine-Very Fine
Official Special Printings, Balance. Four better stamps, best in terms of catalogue value is 1c Navy, "Sepcimen" Error (O35Sa), defective, also 1c State, Horizontally Ribbed Paper with Dotted "i" in "Specimen" (O57Sc), short perfs, finally 10c and 24c War (O88S, O91S), the former with few short perfs and the latter nearly Fine, overall a useful group which would yield all individual lots in better condition