Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Plate Blocks: The Dr. Joseph Leadon Collection (Scott 114-523)
3c Ultramarine (114). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 26 block of 10, bright color on fresh white paper
FRESH AND FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND IMPRESSIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF ten OF THE 3-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
With 1986 P.F. certificate. Scott value as hinged plate block.
2c Carmine (220). Top right imprint, plate no. 304 and letter "G1" block of twenty, original gum, most stamps Mint N.H., large h.r. reinforces perf separations in middle selvage at top and between pos. 5-6, bright color, light crease in selvage at right, overall Fine-Very Fine, this was at one time in the recent past an unreported plate number, it is now listed in Durland but this may be the only example extant, Scott value $1,410 as hinged plate block and Mint N.H. singles, from the Dr. Sollenberger collection
2c Carmine, Cap on Left "2", Cap on Both "2"'s (220a, 220c). Bottom blocks of ten of each with part imprint and plate no., original gum, h.r. reinforcing some perf separations, particularly in the No. 220c block at right, brilliant colors, Fine-Very Fine, the "near plate block" of 220c is very rare, we have not offered a multiple larger than a block of four since keeping computerized records, Scott value $8,000 as singles without premium for the multiples, from the Dr. Sollenberger collection
2c Carmine, Cap on Both "2"'s (220c). Bottom block of ten with part imprint and plate no. 249, original gum, multiple h.r. reinforcing significant perf separations essentially throughout, Very Good-Fine, a rare "near plate block" of Scott 220c, we have not offered a multiple larger than a block of four since keeping computerized records, Scott value $7,800 as singles without premium for the multiple, from the Dr. Sollenberger collection
90c Orange (229). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 25 block of ten, deep color, each stamp has wide margins and the block is beautifully centered, few trivial natural inclusions, a bit fragile with perf separations in selvage and between second and third stamps at bottom
EXTREMELY FINE. PROBABLY THE ONLY MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE PLATE BLOCK IN EXISTENCE.
Plate 25 was the only plate used to print the 90c 1890 Issue, and plate blocks of this high value are exceedingly rare. This is the only Mint Never-Hinged example we have offered since keeping computerized records.
Ex "Silver Lake". With 2004 P.F. certificate.
5c Chocolate, Columbian (234). Top right imprint, plate no. 7 and letter "B" at right block of ten, original gum, seven stamps Mint N.H., small selvage crease at top, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as plate block of eight and singles
15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 58 and letter "M" block of eight, rich proof-like shade and impression, superbly centered, as bright and fresh as the day it was issued
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT COLUMBIAN. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
We have offered fewer than ten Mint N.H. plate blocks of eight or larger since keeping computerized records.
1c Dark Yellow Green, Trans-Mississippi (285). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 591 block of four, vibrant color and attractive centering, Very Fine and choice
2c Copper Red, Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 648 block of six, fresh color, choice centering throughout, Extremely Fine, very rare as a top position plate number block in this choice Mint N.H. quality, with 2001 P.F. certificate
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Pan-American (296). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 1145 block of six, rich color with only the barest trace of oxidation at right, exceptional centering throughout, Extremely Fine plate block
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Pan-American (296). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate nos. 1145/1142, and arrow block of ten, deep rich colors and choice centering throughout
Extremely FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BOTTOM PLATE BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. ASTONISHING CENTERING AND PROBABLY THE FINEST PLATE BLOCK OF THIS ISSUE EXTANT.
Bottom plate blocks are particularly desirable as they are the only positions to show both plate numbers.
With 2001 P.S.E. certificate.
8c Brown Violet & Black, Pan-American (298). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 1150 block of six, string of plate printers' initials at top, deep rich colors, superb centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE QUALITY.
A Power Search review shows we have offered only five others in Mint N.H. condition from the top position since 2003.
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Pan-American (299). Mint N.H. top plate no. 1151 block of six, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions, choice centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate.
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 3835 block of six, deep rich color, choice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, a magnificent Mint N.H. top position plate block
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320A). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4701 block of six, large margins, deep rich color in this distinctive shade, fresh and Very Fine, we located only one other Mint N.H. top plate block using Power Search
1c Green, Bluish (357). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 4892 block of six, intense shade on characteristic deeply watermarked paper, pencil notation in ungummed selvage only
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED FULL TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Lincoln, Imperforate (368). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4977 block of six, vibrant color and bright white paper, pencil notation in ungummed selvage only, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H. wide top imprint, plate no. 4977 and small solid star block of six, rich color
FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT LINCOLN ON BLUISH PAPER.
Mint N.H. full top plate blocks of the 2c Lincoln on Bluish are rare and typically off-center. This is among the finest we have ever encountered.
With 2005 P.F. certificate.
2c Carmine, Hudson-Fulton, Imperforate (373). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 5391 block of eight with half-arrow at right, few wrinkles in margin only, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, Scott value as plate block and a pair
2c Carmine, Panama-Pacific (398). Mint N.H. wide right plate no. 6310 block of six, extraordinarily well-centered, vivid color, Extremely Fine, a superb plate block — in fact, each stamp is Gem quality — with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H. right plate no. 6135 block of six, proof-like impression
VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT ORANGE PERF 12 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE.
This is a challenging commemorative plate block to obtain in choice Mint N.H. condition.
$1.00 Violet Brown (423). Mint N.H. wide top imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, absolutely pristine gum without skips or bends, rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL PLATE BLOCK RARITY OF THE WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ISSUES. THIS IS ONE OF POSSIBLY TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCKS EXTANT OF THE $1.00 1912 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE.
Scott 423 was printed from a single plate, which had plate numbers at top and bottom. This is one of the rarest of the Washington-Franklin Issue plate blocks in any gum condition. Lewis Kaufman records seven top and three bottom plate blocks, including another top plate block that was described as Mint N.H. in a 1947 sale held by H. R. Harmer (Bauer collection). After 66 years that plate block has not reappeared for sale or certification.
With 2013 P.F. certificate.
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Mint N.H. wide top imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, dark shade on bright fresh paper, beautifully centered and absolutely pristine
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1915 $1.00 PERF 10 WITH DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK.
Lewis Kaufman records only six top and six bottom plate blocks for this issue. Among that small population is a tiny number with Mint N.H. gum. We have encountered only two others since keeping computerized records. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518).
With 2008 P.F. certificate.
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. F 13468 block of six, bottom center stamp with transitional Perf 11/10 at bottom, bottom right stamp Perf 10 at bottom, bottom left stamp normal Perf 11, rich color
Extremely FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK CONTAINING two EXAMPLEs OF THE SCARCE 11-CENT PERF 10 AT BOTTOM VARIETY.
Our records contain only five other plate blocks with this variety. We are aware of only three others with wide top selvage, two of which are Mint N.H.
Scott value $22,500 as hinged plate block with bottom three stamps the variety (unlisted Mint N.H.).
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H. full top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, light natural gum crease
VERY FINE and extremely rare MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST DESIRABLE UNITED STATES 20TH CENTURY PLATE BLOCKS.
We have offered only three other Mint N.H. plate blocks since keeping computerized records, including one each in both the Gross and Zoellner collections.
With 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate.