Sale 1347 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 6-7 March, 2025
Category — Air Post
6c-24c 1918 Air Post (C1-C3). Set of plate blocks, 6c and 16c of six, 24c of twelve, original gum, lightly hinged, 24c natural gum creases and natural inclusion in selvage, Fine-Very Fine set of plate blocks
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Mint N.H. top arrow and plate no. 9155 block of ten, vibrant color except barely oxidized at top left (not affecting plate block), Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott value as plate block and four singles
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Fast Plane (C3 var). Original gum, vignette shifted strongly to the left with plane wing even with outer frameline and with additional blue printing to the left of the frameline, Fine and dramatic shift
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H., with vignette shifted significantly upwards, Fine example showing a dramatically shifted vignette
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Fast Plane (C3 var). Two blocks of four, one center line, other with right arrow, both with vignettes shifted significantly to the left, printed blue of vignette either touching or past the frameline on almost all stamps, original gum, arrow block small h.r. between stamps, center line block bottom stamps Mint N.H., Fine, rare in block form and with the vignettes shifted so dramatically
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Blue "TOP" Only (C3 var). Complete sheet of 100 with top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and blue "TOP" only, also with arrow at right, original gum, eleven stamps (including two in plate block) previously hinged, others Mint N.H., bottom right stamp in sheet thin spot, faint toning mostly in right selvage away from plate block
VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF 100 OF THE 24-CENT 1918 AIR POST ISSUE WITH BLUE "TOP" ONLY VARIETY.
The first sheets of the 24c Air Post issue prepared for sale on May 14, 1918, were trimmed at top and right so that they would fit in post office drawers. In the process the plate numbers at top, the right selvage and the guide arrow were removed, resulting in a straight edge at top and right. Immediately after the invert error was discovered on one of the first printed sheets, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing officials decided to add the word "TOP" to the plates and modify the perforating/trimming process, so that when new sheets were printed, the word "TOP" would appear in the selvage. This would help prevent more errors from slipping past BEP employees in the printing and examination process.
A small number of sheets printed with the Carmine frame from the plate lacking the word "TOP" were finished with Blue vignettes printed from the plate with "TOP" added. This resulted in the so-called "Blue Top Only" plate blocks. They are extremely rare. The vast majority of plate blocks have the two "TOP" imprints in Carmine and Blue. Only 24 Blue Top Only plate blocks are recorded in Joe Kirker's ongoing census.
Scott value as hinged plate block of twelve, 79 Mint N.H. singles and nine hinged singles
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Blue "TOP" Only (C3 var). Top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and blue "TOP" only block of 16, original gum, most stamps Mint N.H., rich colors
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF 16 OF THE 24-CENT 1918 AIR POST ISSUE WITH BLUE "TOP" ONLY.
The first sheets of the 24c Air Post issue prepared for sale on May 14, 1918, were trimmed at top and right so that they would fit in post office drawers. In the process the plate numbers at top, the right selvage and the guide arrow were removed, resulting in a straight edge at top and right. Immediately after the invert error was discovered on one of the first printed sheets, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing officials decided to add the word "TOP" to the plates and modify the perforating/trimming process, so that when new sheets were printed, the word "TOP" would appear in the selvage. This would help prevent more errors from slipping past BEP employees in the printing and examination process.
A small number of sheets printed with the Carmine frame from the plate lacking the word "TOP" were finished with Blue vignettes printed from the plate with "TOP" added. This resulted in the so-called "Blue Top Only" plate blocks. They are extremely rare. The vast majority of plate blocks have the two "TOP" imprints in Carmine and Blue. Only 24 Blue Top Only plate blocks are recorded in Joe Kirker's ongoing census.
With 1969 P.F. certificate.
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Top arrow, double plate nos. 8492/8493 and double "Top" block of twelve, original gum, barely hinged and with natural gum creases, Very Fine
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, Center Inverted, Peter Winter Reproduction (C3a var). Block of four with horizontal guideline, without gum as produced, Very Fine, a far more affordable alternative to the real thing, according to an article at stamps.org, Peter Winter was an opera singer from Germany who reproduced many different stamp issues, apparently these were produced in sheets of four but he stopped making them once he realized they were still valid for postage as he did not want to get into trouble with the authorities, he announced only 672 were made
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Top plate no. 14828 bock of six, rich color on bright paper, Fine-Very Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 14828 block of six, rich color, Fine
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 14841 block of six, bright color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 14842 block of six, bright color, natural gum crease bottom row, Fine
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Mint N.H. except for 65c with single hinge mark, bright colors, $1.30 Fine, other two Very Fine
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Top plate no. blocks of six, Mint N.H. except $2.60 faintly hinged in the ungummed selvage where a few perfs were reinforced, uncommonly well-centered throughout, brilliant colors, $2.60 with small closed tear in top selvage
EXTREMELY FINE or extremely fine appearing. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF GRAF ZEPPELIN PLATE BLOCKS FROM THE TOP POSITION.
Matched sets, especially from the top position, are scarce.
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Mint N.H. bottom selvage blocks of six, bright colors, 65c and $2.60 usual natural gum skips and bends with the latter small area of natural short gum at left, 65c small tear in selvage
FINE-VERY FINE SET OF MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Desirable as a matched set from the bottom positions.
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Top plate no. blocks of six, original gum, 65c natural gum skips (somewhat large) and reinforced in ungummed portion of selvage (counted as hinged), $1.30 two small prior adherence spots on gum, small tear in top of selvage, $2.60 natural gum skips, top left stamp small area of gum disturbance, small sealed tear in selvage at top and and reinforced perf separations in ungummed selvage
FINE-VERY FINE APPEARING MATCHED SET OF GRAF ZEPPELIN PLATE BLOCKS FROM THE TOP POSITION.
Matched sets, especially from the top position, are scarce.
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Mint N.H. blocks of four with plate no. selvage, 65c at left, $1.30 and $2.60 at right, the $1.30 natural gum crease affecting right stamps, $2.60 natural inclusion on bottom right stamp
VERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED SET OF BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, WITH PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.
Scott value as singles.
$1.30 Brown, Graf Zeppelin (C14). Mint N.H., rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), SCV $575
$2.60 Blue, Graf Zeppelin (C15). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, near perfect centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.60 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only two grade higher.
50c Carmine, Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C22). Mint N.H. wide top plate number F 21625 block of six, vivid color and choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT CLIPPER ISSUE.
Advanced collectors of U.S. plate blocks understand that this issue is far rarer as a wide top Mint N.H. plate block than even the $2.60 Graf Zeppelin. The Scott Catalogue notes "wide full selvage top margin plate blocks of No. C22 are extremely scarce and sell for $3,000.00 or more" (versus $85.00 price for regular plate block).
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; plate blocks unpriced in SMQ)
50c Carmine, Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C22). Single with wide top plate no. F 21624 selvage, original gum, single hinge mark on gum and in selvage, Fine, wide top plate blocks of this issue are very rare, this single is also rare and is the only wide top plate no. single listed in Power Search, accompanied by a No. C22 plate block which was also at one time a wide top but has been trimmed smaller, Very Fine
6c Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (C23a). Full top plate nos. 21843 and 21835, double "TOP" and arrow block of four, original gum, small h.r. in top selvage and lightly hinged at bottom, Fine and scarce error plate block
6c Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (C23a). Block of four with right selvage, original gum, lightly hinged at top of both pairs, well-centered for this, Very Fine, Scott value as two pairs
6c Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (C23a). Bottom right corner selvage block of four, original gum, hinged between perfs at top and pencil position notations on gum, fault in selvage far from design likely original to its issuance, Fine position block, Scott value as two pairs
6c Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (C23a). Six, position pairs, including top arrow, top, bottom, bottom left, left arrow and left, original gum, couple Mint N.H., one disturbed gum, Fine-Very Fine and nice variety of positions for this error
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Mint N.H. wide top plate nos. 21911 and 21950, double "TOP" and registration marker block of four, top right stamp gum skip and natural gum creases as usual for these, bright fresh colors in these distinct shades, Fine and scarce plate block, each stamp signed Bloch, with 1996 P.F. certificate
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Mint N.H. wide top plate nos. 21912 and F 21949, double "TOP" and registration marker block of four, natural gum creases as usual for these, rich colors, slight toning, each stamp signed "Ok Rumbal/10-" with position numbers following each "10-" (2-3/7-8), Rumbal was an initial discoverer of the color errors and signed the stamps from this pane as the 10th he had acquired or examined, Fine-Very Fine appearance, each stamp also signed Bloch
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Mint N.H. block of four with wide bottom right selvage, brilliant colors in these distinct shades, Fine-Very Fine, each stamp signed Bloch, with 2020 P.S.A.G. certificate and accompanied by Harry G. Brittain FTIR color analysis, Scott value as singles
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Mint N.H. block of four with right selvage, usual natural gum bends, fresh colors, Fine, signed in selvage "Ok Rumbal", (he was an initial discoverer of the color errors), Scott value as singles
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Mint N.H. pair with left arrow selvage, usual natural gum creases, Fine, signed Bloch, with 1993 P.F. certificate, Scott value as singles
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Mint N.H. with top left corner selvage and marker, brilliant colors, usual natural gum creases, fresh and Fine, signed Bloch
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Three Mint N.H. singles with bottom or bottom left corner selvage, collected to recreate the bottom left of the pane, bright colors, Fine-Very Fine, two with Bruechig backstamps, two accompanied by Harry G. Brittain FTIR color analyses
6c Ultramarine & Carmine, Error of Color, Air Post (C23c). Balance of 13 singles, six with selvage at sides, original gum, mostly Mint N.H. with a few hinged, all with consistently bright colors in the error shades, Fine with a couple Very Fine, seven certificates accompany and a few are also accompanied by Harry G. Brittain FTIR color analyses
6c Eagle, Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post (C23). Collection of 1,392 different plate no. combination blocks of four out of a possible 1,527 combinations, without duplication, this collection is 91% complete and includes quite a few which have premiums up to ten times the normal value according to the Durland plate block catalog, spot check showed Mint N.H. though there may be an occasional hinged, Fine-Very Fine, a wonderful challenge for continuation in the hunt to find the remaining 135 or so missing combinations, owner's calculated Durland value $30,896, Scott value $9,744
6c Eagle, Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post (C23). Collection of 889 different plate no. combination blocks of four out of a possible 1,527 combinations, without duplication, this collection is 58% complete and includes quite a few which have premium values according to the Durland plate block catalog, spot check showed Mint N.H. though there may be an occasional hinged, Fine-Very Fine, owner's calculated Durland value $13,794 Scott value $6,223
6c Eagle, Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post (C23). Collection of 1,291 plate blocks of four, wide range of combinations but does include duplication, many have premiums in the Durland plate block catalog, spot check showed Mint N.H. though there may be an occasional hinged, Fine-Very Fine, owner's calculated Durland value $14,277, Scott value $9,079
6c Eagle, Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post (C23). Collection of 232 plate blocks of ten, range of combinations but does include duplication, some have premiums in the Durland plate block catalog, spot check showed Mint N.H. though there may be an occasional hinged, Fine-Very Fine, owner's calculated Durland value $4,606, Scott value $3,480
10c Carmine, Air Post, Booklet Pane of Eight, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Between (C72d). Mint N.H., caused by a sizeable foldover with a ninth stamp constituting the error pair with normal Position 4, also small to huge parts of three other stamps, the foldover crease passes through the bottom stamp of the error pair and is slightly broken
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS AIR POST ERROR RARITY.
Only two examples of this error are recorded, according to the Scott Errors catalogue. The other is similar to this and we sold it in our 2010 sale of the of the Philip R. Beutel collection (Sale 991, lot 1377).
21c USA, Air Post, Black Engraved Omitted (C81b). Mint N.H. pane of 50, Position 45 with black omitted and Position 50 with black printed on the gum side, both caused by a foldover
VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE PANE OF 50 CONTAINING THE ONLY TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS COLOR-OMITTED ERROR.
Ex Floyd. With 2001 P.F. certificate. Also with letter from Stephen R. Datz. The Scott value is based on this specific sheet.
31c Wright Brothers, Air Post, Vertical Pair, Black, Yellow, Magenta, Blue & Brown Litho Omitted (C92d). Mint N.H., Extremely Fine, a striking and outstanding Air Post error, Scott Errors catalogue states only 15 pairs are reported
25c Octave Chanute, Air Post, Vertical Pair, Ultramarine & Black Engraved Omitted (C94b). Mint N.H. top right selvage transition block of four, the right vertical pair the error, the left vertical pair missing part of its engraved colors but otherwise normal
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THE SCOTT ERRORS CATALOGUE STATES ONLY FIVE PAIRS REPORTED AND ADDS THAT TRANSITION MULTIPLES SUCH AS THIS SELL FOR A PREMIUM.
We have sold only one other since keep computerized records.
With 1992 P.F. certificate.
40c Philip Manzzei, Air Post, Imperforate Pair (C98b). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, large margins, Very Fine, rare with only 15 pairs reported in Scott Errors catalogue
28c Blanche Stuart Scott, Air Post, Imperforate Pair (C99a). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, large margins, Very Fine and choice, a rare Air Post error, only one other listed in Power Search
39c Sperry Brothers, Air Post, Imperforate Pair (C114a). Mint N.H. vertical pair, large margins all around, Extremely Fine sound example of this scarce error, Scott Errors catalogue states 11 of the 25 reported pairs are faulty
60c Grand Canyon, Air Post, Pair, Die Cutting Omitted (C135a). Mint N.H. vertical pair, Very Fine, the Scott Errors catalogue states only 15-20 pairs reported, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
16c Red & Blue, Air Post Special Delivery (CE2). Collection in two parts, first contains 190 plate blocks of four, each different, marginal markings include Ty. I (69 with sub-types), Ty. 2 (31), Ty. 3 (32) and Ty. 4 (58), the vast majority Mint N.H. but perhaps an occasional hinged block as well, second part is 149 extra plate blocks of four which represent the duplication, nearly all are the cheaper Ty. I and Ty. 4 with a handful of Ty. 2 and Ty. 3, Fine-Very Fine, owner's calculated Durland value $13,505, Scott value approximately $13,000 as all Mint N.H.
16c Red & Blue, Air Post Special Delivery (CE2). Collection of plate blocks of ten for Ty. 2-4 and plate blocks of eight for Ty. 1, 81 total plate blocks, we presume Mint N.H. but possibly an occasional hinged, Fine-Very Fine, owner's calculated Durland value $5,640 as blocks of four, also includes six sheets of No. CE2, one sheet of No. CE1 and one sheet of No. 703