Sale 1326 — 2024 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 27 June, 2024
Category — United States Possessions
Canal Zone, 1904, 2c Rose, "Canal Zone" Inverted (10a). Block of 50 with right imprint selvage, representing half of a pane of 100, Stage 1 ovpt. (CZSG No. 10Aa), showing the varieties associated with this stage and accompanied by a typed list identifying them (see website PDF), original gum, 86 stamps Mint N.H. including the imprint block, h.r. straddles the blocks of four at three corners and the pair at top right corner, pencil notations on back of selvage including "4/09/09 Burger & Co.", bright and fresh
VERY FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BLOCK OF 50 OF THE 1904 2-CENT CANAL ZONE ISSUE WITH INVERTED OVERPRINT. A WONDERFUL RARITY.
Canal Zone Stamps discusses the debate over how many of this overprint invert error were released, which has been estimated at 240 by some authors. Whatever the number, this block contains a large percentage of the population and is by far the largest we have encountered.
Ex Justi and Dr. Helme. Scott value as hinged singles, which does not take into account the Mint N.H. imprint block or the other Mint N.H. stamps.
Canal Zone, 1904, 8c on 50c Bister Brown, "Canal Zone" Inverted (14b). Block of 50 with right imprint selvage, representing half of a pane of 100, Stage 1 ovpt. (CZSG No. 14Ab), showing the varieties associated with this stage and accompanied by a typed list identifying them (see website PDF), original gum, 90 stamps Mint N.H. including the imprint block, h.r. straddling ten stamps in the corners, pencil notation on back of selvage "4/09/09 Burger & Co.", bright and fresh
VERY FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE BLOCK OF 50 OF THE 1904 8-CENT ON 50-CENT BISTER BROWN CANAL ZONE ISSUE WITH INVERTED OVERPRINT. A WONDERFUL RARITY REPRESENTING FULLY 25 PERCENT OF THE EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
Canal Zone Stamps states that two panes of 100, or 200 copies of this overprint invert error were released. They were first sold into the philatelic market in 1908 by an individual who claimed to have purchased them at the administration building in Ancon.
Ex Justi and Dr. Helme. Scott value as hinged singles, which does not take into account the Mint N.H. imprint block or the other Mint N.H. stamps.
Canal Zone, 1924, 12c Brown Violet, "Zone" Inverted (76a). Rich color, essentially face-free cancel, natural straight edge at right (all known examples have this)
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT WITH "ZONE" INVERTED OVERPRINT. ONLY SEVEN USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
According to Canal Zone Stamps, this error was not noticed until June 1926, almost two years after it was issued. Only three unused and seven used copies are recorded. Of the used, we have encountered only one other sound example.
With 1956 P.F. certificate.
Cuba, Puerto Principe, 1898-99, 3c on 1c Black Violet (196). Third printing, Position 3, tied by partly clear strikes of double-circle datestamp on Leganoa & Co. corner card cover addressed locally, cover with file folds and some edge splitting not affecting the stamp
VERY FINE AND RARE ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THIS PUERTO PRINCIPE ISSUE, SCOTT 196, offered to the market for the first time in at least 50 years.
With 1976 P.F. certificate.
Cuba, Puerto Principe, 1898-99, 3c on 1c Black Violet (197). Third printing, Position 2, tied by double-circle datestamp on cover addressed to Havana, bold "3" handstamp and blue "Correos Habana 23 Ene 99" double-circle backstamp, reduced at left and light file folds
VERY FINE AND VERY RARE ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THIS PUERTO PRINCIPE ISSUE, SCOTT 197, offered to the market for the first time in at least 50 years.
Ex Tows. With 1976 P.F. certificate.
Hawaii, 1857, 5c on 13c Dark Red (7). Type I (Clark) numeral, unused (no gum), large margins to clear, deep rich color and detailed impression on bright paper
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND UNUSED AND FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 1857 5-CENT ON 13-CENT PROVISIONAL SURCHARGE.
The 5c provisional surcharge was necessary due to a shortage of 5c stamps just after the transition from Postmaster Whitney to Jackson. Most were made by Jackson's clerk, Alvah Clark, around the start of 1857. New supplies of the 5c stamp (Scott No. 8) were received at the end of June 1857.
With 2006 P.F. certificate.
Hawaii, 1859, 1c Light Blue, Bluish White (12). Plate 2-A, Type I (Westerberg Position 3) unused (no gum), ample margins all around, beautiful pastel Light Blue shade and sharp impression, tiny tear at lower left which is negligible
VERY FINE APPEARING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 ONE-CENT BLUE HAWAIIAN NUMERAL ISSUE.
Ex Admiral Harris and Lilly.
Hawaii, 1859, 1c Light Blue, Bluish White (12). Plate 2-B, Type IX (Westerberg Position 9), unused (no gum), ample margins to barely touched, darker shade than the example offered in the previous lot, couple thin spots
VERY FINE APPEARAING UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 ONE-CENT BLUE HAWAIIAN NUMERAL ISSUE.
This issue is normally plagued by faults. The example offered here is better than many we have encountered.
Hawaii, 1859, 2c Light Blue, Bluish White (13). Plate 3-A, Type V (Westerberg Position 5), huge margins to clear at bottom, faint red cancel, corner crease at bottom left
VERY FINE APPEARING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1859 2-CENT BLUE HAWAIIAN NUMERAL ISSUE.
Ex Wilcox and Honolulu Advertiser.
Hawaii, 1859, 2c Light Blue, Dark Blue, Bluish White (13, 13a). Left stamp Plate 3-A, Type VI (Westerberg Position 6) in Light Blue shade, right stamp Plate 3-A, Type V (Westerberg Position 5) in Dark Blue shade, margins clear to just slightly in, tied together by perfect strike of red "Honolulu Hawaiian-Islands Sep. 27" circular datestamp on circa 1859 cover to Mrs. P. G. Taylor in Kailua, one-inch tear at top center from opening and missing part of top flap
VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER BEARING MORE THAN ONE COPY OF THE 1859 2-CENT BLUE NUMERAL ISSUE. THE TWO STAMPS IN CONTRASTING LIGHT AND DARK SHADES BOTH COME FROM PLATE 3-A AND PAY THE DOUBLE 2-CENT INTER-ISLAND RATE FROM HONOLULU TO KAILUA. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ITEMS OF THE NUMERAL ISSUE AND IN ALL OF HAWAIIAN PHILATELY.
Before August 1859, Hawaiian inter-island mail was carried free of charge by schooners, and there was no charge for letters delivered locally. With the rise in inter-island correspondence came a greater need for collecting postage. In 1859 the postal laws were amended to include a 2c per half-ounce postage rate for inter-island letters (and 1c for printed matter), effective August 1. Drop letters left at and picked up at the same post office were not subject to postage, nor were consignee letters handled by ship captains, as long as they did not go through the post office.
The stamps available in 1859 were 5c and 13c denominations that were unsuitable for inter-island mail. In July 1859 the 1c and 2c Numeral stamps were put on sale through post offices. The stamps were printed from newspaper type on a small hand-operated Ruggles card press. The early printings were made at the offices of Henry M. Whitney's newspaper, the Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Later printings were made by another private printer and at the Government Printing Office. The different settings of type are called "Plates" by collectors, but the correct printer's terminology would be typeset "forms."
The 1859 Numerals were printed in blue ink on bluish white paper. The 2c Blue was printed from Plate 1-A (and possibly two variations, 1-B and 1-C), Plate 3-A and 3-B. Each plate (or setting) comprised ten subjects, forming a complete pane. It is known that some, and possibly all, of the different Numeral stamps were issued in sheets of 50 (five impressions of the setting of ten).
The 1859 Blue Numeral Issue is quite rare on cover. No example of the 1c Blue has been found on cover, and it has been reported that approximately 15 covers exist with the 2c Blue (excluding fronts from the Catholic Mission correspondence). Double-rate inter-island covers with any of the 2c Numerals are extremely rare (off-cover used pairs of 2c Numeral stamps are also very rare). This extraordinary cover is the only double-rate franking with the 1859 2c Blue Numeral Issue.
The addressee, Mrs. Persis Goodale Thurston Taylor (1821-1906), was a painter and sketch artist who was born in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, on September 28, 1821. Her parents, Reverend Asa Thurston and Lucy Goodale Thurston, were in the first company of missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands (and the great-great-grandparents of collector Thurston Twigg-Smith). In 1847 she married Rev. Townsend Elijah Taylor of LaGrange, New York, who was serving as the seaman's chaplain for the Port of Lahaina. As an artist, Taylor is best known for her landscapes and silhouettes of both missionaries and Hawaiian royalty. The writing on this cover closely resembles that of Lucy Goodale Thurston.
Ex Golden. With 1976 and 2011 P.F. certificates.
Hawaii, 1863, 2c Black, Grayish (16). Vertical pair, Plate 3-C, Types IV/VI (Westerberg Positions 4/6), huge margins to full at top with frameline of adjoining stamp at bottom, tied by beautifully clear strike of blue Lahaina Customs House seal with full-rigged ship on blue linen-lined cover to Louis Maigret at the Catholic Mission in Honolulu, interesting contemporary notes on back including the conversion of a district in Bulgaria to Roman Catholicism
EXTREMELY FINE PAIR AND COVER, AND A REMARKABLY DETAILED STRIKE OF THE LAHAINA CUSTOMS HOUSE SEAL USED AS A CANCELLATION. THIS FAMOUS COVER FROM THE wORTHINGTON, CASPARY, BOKER AND HAUB COLLECTIONS, BEARS THE ONLY PAIR OF SCOTT 16 known ON COVER. TRULY MAGNIFICENT QUALITY AND ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE OF ALL HAWAIIAN COVERS.
This is the only recorded cover with a pair of 2c Numeral Issue stamps. In addition to the franking, it has one of the finest strikes of the Lahaina Customs House seal on a Numeral cover. It is impressed in a crisp blue ink with full details. This marking was used by Cornelius S. Bartow, the Lahaina postmaster, before he received cancelling devices ordered through the Honolulu post office. In a letter to the postmaster-general, he refers to this provisional cancellation: “Did you order a stamp for the department of this place? It seems to me to be very necessary, as I am now compelled to use the Custom House seal.”
The recipient, Louis Désiré Maigret (1804-82), served as the first vicar apostolic of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Hawaiian Islands, now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu. Born in France, Maigret was ordained to the priesthood as a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in September 1828 at the age of 24. As part of his missionary work, Father Maigret sailed to the Kingdom of Hawaii to help build its Catholic community of native Hawaiians. When the Vicar Apostolic of Oriental Oceania, Etienne Jerome Rouchouze, was lost at sea on board the ill-fated Marie Joseph, the Holy See appointed Father Maigret as the first vicar apostolic of the Sandwich Islands in September 1846 at the age of 42. He was officially ordained as a bishop in November 1847. As bishop, Maigret oversaw the construction of what would become his most lasting legacy, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. After his death, Bishop Maigret was entombed in the crypt below the sanctuary (source: Wikipedia).
Illustrated in Meyer-Harris (p. 67). Ex Worthington, Caspary, Boker and Haub. With 2021 P.F. certificate.
10c Green (68). Perfs scissors-separated but intact at bottom and trimmed at top, used with Hawaii, 1866, 5c Blue (32), 5c tied by penstrokes and target, red "Honolulu U.S. Postage Paid Dec. 10" circular datestamp on cover to Miss Lucy Tillman in San Francisco, 10c stamp tied by "San Francisco Cal. Dec. 23" circular datestamp and circle of wedges, strike of red "Hawaiian Steam Service" oval handstamp, slightly reduced at left
VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE UNITED STATES AND HAWAII MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH THE "HAWAIIAN STEAM SERVICE" HANDSTAMP, USED TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Carried on the American steamer Idaho, departing Honolulu Dec. 10, 1867, and arriving San Francisco Dec. 23. On arrival, mail for local delivery was postmarked on the 23rd; overland mail was postmarked Dec. 24 and Panama route mail was postmarked Dec. 30.
10c Yellow Green, F. Grill (96). Used with horizontal pair and single of Hawaii, 1866, 5c Blue (32), 10c tied by segmented cork cancel, 5c tied by target cancels, "Honolulu Hawaiian-Islands May 28" (1869) circular datestamp on cover to Master Frank Burnham in Boston, magenta "Hawaiian Steam Service" oval handstamp, "San Francisco Cal. Jun. 11" transit circular datestamp, right 5c tiny perf faults and light toning, slightly reduced at left
VERY FINE. A DESIRABLE UNITED STATES AND HAWAII MIXED-FRANKING COVER WITH THE "HAWAIIAN STEAM SERVICE" HANDSTAMP. THIS WAS CARRIED ON THE NEWLY OPENED TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD.
Carried on the American steamer Idaho, departing Honolulu May 28, 1869, and arriving San Francisco Jun. 10. It was then carried on the transcontinental railroad, which opened May 10, 1869.
Ex Bilden. His note on back hypothesizes that the additional two Hawaii 5c stamps were affixed to indicate the 10c postage was paid, and that the 10c stamp was then affixed in San Francisco. With 1998 P.F. certificate.
Philippines, 1901, $1.00 Black, Ty. II (223A). Tied by grid cancels on Department of Posts of the Philippines, Manila, Official Business registered penalty cover to Mr. John Zug in Everett, Wash., part of purple registered handstamp at left dated 1908, blue typed "C.S. Stocking" at top
VERY FINE AND INCREDIBLY RARE ON-COVER USE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II 1901 PHILIPPINES OVERPRINT ISSUE. THIS MAY WELL BE THE ONLY EXAMPLE ON A COMPLETE COVER.
We offered a large piece of a package front in our 2009 sale of the "Whitpain" collection which contained several stamps including a single $1.00 Ty. II (it has a heavy broken crease). We speculated at the time that the package piece might be unique as a front or a cover. This complete cover has been off the market since at least 1976 and is the only example we have encountered.
With 1976 P.F. certificate. Listed but unpriced in Scott.
Philippines, 1901, $2.00 Dark Blue (224). Tied by blurry strike of oval cancel on registered European-size cover to Dresden, Germany, from the same correspondence as the Nos. 225 and 238 covers in this sale, magenta "Registered Manila P.I. Jul. 6, 1905" handstamp and numbered "781", bold strike of Deuben backstamp and manuscript receipt docketing
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE $2.00 1901 PHILIPPINES OVERPRINT ISSUE ON A COVER TO GERMANY.
Any use of the 1901-03 dollar value Philippines overprints on cover is a rarity. We have offered only three $2.00 Scott 224 covers or fronts since keeping computerized records and in our Rarities sales since 1964. None of those was to a destination outside the U.S. or Philippines. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation list only two $2.00 covers to Germany and none to any other destinations.
Philippines, 1901, $5.00 Dark Green (225). Tied by "Manila P.I. Jun. 9 '5 6 PM" duplex oval grid cancel on European-size registered cover to Dresden, Germany, from the same correspondence as the Nos. 224 and 238 covers in this sale, magenta "Registered Manila P.I. Jun. 9, 1905" handstamp and numbered "29629", address crossed out and forwarded to Bad Nauheim, bold strikes of Dueben and Bad Nauheim backstamps, manuscript receipt docketing and pencil notations on back, cover is reduced at top not affecting stamp or markings
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE $5.00 1901 PHILIPPINES OVERPRINT ISSUE ON A COVER TO GERMANY.
Any use of the 1901-03 dollar value Philippines overprints on cover is a rarity. This is the only example of the $5.00 we have offered since keeping computerized records and in our Rarities sales since 1964. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation list only one other $5.00 cover, also to Germany.
With 1976 P.F. certificate. Scott value on cover is $12,500.
Philippines, 1907, 1c-15c Philippines Overprints, Bureau of Insular Affairs Special Printing (226SP, 228SP-235SP, 240SP). Original gum, lightly hinged, each with bright colors on very white paper
FINE-VERY FINE AND RARE SET TO THE 15-CENT VALUE OF THE 1907 BUREAU OF INSULAR AFFAIRS SPECIAL PRINTING.
Little is known about these special printings. An article in a 1938 edition of The Philatelic Gazette reproduces a letter from the War Department's Bureau of Insular Affairs regarding an inquiry into these special printings. The letter notes that "In May 1907, the bureau had printed one hundred sets of each denomination of stamps formerly used in the Philippines -- that is United States stamps surcharged across their face with the word 'Philippines'. These stamps were printed at the suggestion of the United States Post Office Department for the purpose of supplying requests, which were then frequent, for specimen Philippine stamps. Of the one hundred sets printed, seventy-five were delivered to the Post Office Department for distribution, and I am unable to say whether that department now has any of them". According to the article, the 75 sets received by the Post Office department were turned over, intact, to the National Postal Museum.
Each with clear 1975 P.F. certificate.
Philippines, 1903, 6c Brownish Lake (231). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1598 block of six, warm shade, well-balanced margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE PHILIPPINES 1903 6-CENT OVERPRINT ISSUE.
With 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate. Scott value as hinged $3,000.
Philippines, 1903, $2.00 Dark Blue (238). Tied by blurry strike of oval cancel on European-size registered cover to Dresden, Germany, from the same correspondence as the Nos. 224 and 225 covers in this sale, magenta "Registered Manila P.I. Jun. 30, 1905" handstamp and numbered "33841", Naples, Italy transit backstamp and bold strike of Dueben backstamp, manuscript receipt docketing
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE $2.00 1903 PHILIPPINES OVERPRINT ISSUE ON A COVER TO GERMANY.
Any use of the 1901-03 dollar value Philippines overprints on cover is a rarity. This is the only example of the $2.00 1903 issue we have offered since keeping computerized records and in our Rarities sales since 1964. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation list only one other $2.00 No. 238 cover, addressed to Boston.
With 1976 P.F. certificate. Listed but unpriced on cover.
Philippines, 1944, 2c Rose, Booklet Pane of Six, "Victory" Ovpt. (463a). Adhering to interleaving, rich color, tab with small stain from staples as almost always
FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE INTACT BOOKLET PANE OF SIX OF THE 2-CENT "VICTORY" OVERPRINT.
Only 28 panes were produced. The census compiled by Geoffrey Brewster and published in Possessions lists 18 full examples. We have offered only one other example in twenty years.
Signed "I. Heiman". With 1974 P.F. certificate.
Philippines, 1944, 6c Dark Brown, "Victory" Ovpt. (466). Original gum with some paper adherence, rich color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine and choice, only 64 were produced, the census compiled by Geoffrey Brewster and published in Possessions lists 31 known examples, with 1982 P.F. certificate
Philippines, 1944, 6c Dark Brown, "Victory" Ovpt. (468). Adhering to interleaving, rich color, natural straight edge at top, small scuffs at top, appears Fine, rare with only 206 produced, the census compiled by Geoffrey Brewster and published in Possessions lists only 47 known examples, each of the few examples we have offered over the last 20 years had tropicalized gum or interleaving adhering to the gum, ex Plass, Kessler backstamp and signed "B,M. Cooney"
Philippines, 1926, 2c-10p Madrid-Manila Flight Air Post Overprints (C1-C6, C9-C15, C17). Complete set of fourteen values with two examples of many values and six of the 4c, tied by Manila May 18, 1926 duplex cancels on cover, back signed by Captain Joaquin Loriga, pilot Eduardo Gallarza and one other, long tear on back of cover, a couple very minor stamp flaws but overall fresh condition for such a large franking, Very Fine, very few sets are known on cover and this is particularly desirable signed by the captain and pilot, Scott value for the stamps alone exceeds $4,000
ADDENDA: This is used on May 18 and not May 13. It was not flown on first day, and is not AAMC 11.
Philippines, 1926 Air Post, 4c Carmine, Inverted Ovpt., 16c Light Olive Green, Violet Overprint (C2a, C7). Used together and tied by three strikes of 5-point Star in Circle fancy cancel on legal-size cover reduced by about half, addressed to Manila (notation on back states addressee was Sir Gabriel de Ubago), purple "Registry Section Manila Post Office Jun. 21, 1926" backstamp, cover with some slight toning not mentioned on certificate
A REMARKABLE DUAL USE ON COVER OF TWO OF THE RAREST PHILIPPINES AIR POST STAMPS — the 2-cent CARMINE WITH invertED OVERPRINT and the 16-cent light olive green sampson, with only 100 and 300 STAMPS issued respectively.
Scott does not even price the No. C2a inverted overprint in used condition. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation list two other C2a covers, one a solo use and one used with the common C9 stamp. This use of No. C2a with the rare No. C7 16c Sampson issue is very likely unique and has been off the market for more than 50 years.
Ex Sheldon (Mercury Stamp Co. June 1970 auction, where acquired by the consignor). With 1972 P.F. certificate. Scott value for an unused C2a and a used C7 is $5,850, which hardly does justice to this rarity.
Philippines, 1926, 16c Olive Bister, Air Post (C8). Used with 1926, 2c Green, Air Post (C1), both tied by plane pictorial cancel on Walter Bruggmann corner card cover, San Jose P.I. Apr. 7, 1928 duplex datestamp, blue and red handstamped cachets for U.S. Army Air Service, backstamped Manila Apr. 8 duplex and U.S. Army Apr. 8 blue oval receiving datestamps, both stamps have usual climatic toning, 16c natural straight edge at left and pulled perf at bottom
FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE ON-COVER USE OF THE 16-CENT SAMPSON WITH RED MADRID-MANILA FLIGHT OVERPRINT.
Two of the rarest stamps of the Philippines 1928 Madrid-Manila Overprint set are the 16c Sampson with overprints in Violet (C7) or Red (C8). The Red overprint is valued in Scott at $5,000 for unused or used (no value is given for a cover). In searching dozens of major Air Post sales, we have located only one other cover. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation also list only one other cover, with faults in the C8 stamp. The example offered here is typical of souvenir covers created by Walter Bruggmann.
Signed Heiman.
Philippines, 1926, 26c Blue Green, Wmk. PIPS, Perf 12 (C16). Natural straight edge at right, used with 1926, 26c Blue Green, Perf 11, Air Post (C11) affixed to right, both tied by plane pictorial cancels, "Manila P.I. Sep. 24 6 PM 1927" duplex datestamp on cover with Walter Bruggmann corner card on flap, addressed to Bruggmann in San Jose, handstamped cachet for U.S. Army Air Service and purple "Via Army Sea Plane", backstamped San Jose Sep. 25, pen guarantee on back signed by Bruggmann
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE ON-COVER USE OF THE 1926 6-CENTAVOS PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK AIR POST ISSUE. THIS COVER IS PROBABLY UNIQUE.
Only 100 of this stamp were issued and we have not encountered a used example, much less an example on cover. The online records of The Philatelic Foundation do not list any used examples or other covers. The cover offered here is typical of souvenirs created by Walter Bruggmann.
With 1983 Alcuri and 1983 P.F. certificates. No. C16 is unlisted in Scott as used or on a cover. Scott value as unused is $5,000.
Philippines, 1944, 4c Rose Carmine, Air Post, "Victory" Ovpt. (C63). Unused (no gum), natural straight edge at top, well-centered with bright color, Very Fine and choice, only 122 stamps were overprinted and only 71 examples are recorded in the Brewster census, with 1972 P.F. certificate on interleaving, which has subsequently been removed
Philippines, 1903, 4c Chocolate entire, Double Overprint (U26a, UPSS 39a). Size 21, knife 100, watermark 14, unused, clear doubling of overprint, return corner card for Guillermo Montanes, Manila
VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE 1903 4-CENT ENTIRE WITH DOUBLE "PHILIPPINES" OVERPRINT. A GREAT RARITY OF POSTAL STATIONERY AND U.S. POSSESSIONS.
The 2009 UPSS catalog lists this entire as "1" known. Ex Tows, White and Plass.
Puerto Rico, 1899, 8c Violet Brown (213). Bottom imprint and plate no. 249 block of six, top center stamp lightly hinged, other five Mint N.H., h.r. in selvage, bright color, choice centering with well-balanced margins, top position is unlisted combination 36, 25, 25 degree angles, bottom position all 36 degree
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1899 8-CENT "PORTO RICO" OVERPRINT ISSUE.
Ex "Whitpain". With 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott value $5,000 as normal plate block.