Sale 1320 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Thursday, 22-25 April, 2024
Category — Officials including Special Printings
1c-30c Agriculture, Small Die Proofs on Wove (O1P2-O9P2). Complete set of nine on original page from a Roosevelt presentation album, with "1873" label between, vivid colors, Very Fine and scarce on the complete page
10c Carmine, Executive (O14). Original gum, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine
24c Navy (O43). Original gum, well-centered with wide and balanced margins, bold color, Very Fine and choice, ex Curtis, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80 Jumbo), only three grade higher
1c-10c, 15c-24c State Department, Plate Proofs on India (O57P3-O62P3, O64P3-O65P3). Set of panes of 100, complete thru the 24c except missing the 12c, also includes the 1c Navy Dept. pane of 100 (O35P3), no marginal markings and the 1c State missing one corner proof, otherwise intact, some minor India paper flaws to be expected, overall Very Fine and rare group, accompanied by two 1970s Siegel lot cards originating with the consignor's acquisition (hammer was $2,400+), total Scott value approximately $18,000
2.00-$20.00 State, Large Die Proofs on India (O68P1-O71P1). Hybrid as always, on 80 x 92mm cards with full die sinkage, $2.00 with slight dampstain at bottom of India paper, otherwise Very Fine
7c Dark Green, State (O61). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine
90c Dark Green, State (O67). Unused (no gum), rich color, incredibly wide margins at sides and choice centering, Extremely Fine, ex Curtis
$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
$20.00 Green & Black, State (O71). Unused (no gum), particularly wide margins, sharp impressions, some slight offset on reverse which just bleeds thru in top margin, otherwise Fine
$20.00 Green & Black, State (O71). Unused (regummed), rich colors, reperfed at left, Fine appearance, with 2007 P.F. certificate
6c Brown, Treasury (O75). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 51 block of 20, with side selvage and comprising the bottom two rows of the plate, deep rich color, natural gum skips in two stamps at bottom right (outside the plate block), nicked in selvage below the imprint, some natural paper bends and some perf separations mostly confined to selvage
FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF 20 OF THE 6-CENT TREASURY OFFICIAL ISSUE.
A Power Search review failed to find any other Mint N.H. blocks of this issue — plate blocks or otherwise. Scott value as plate block of 12 and singles $5,500.
90c Brown, Treasury (O82). Block of six, deep rich color, neat strikes of cork cancels, few reinforced perf separations at left, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an exceedingly scarce block, ex Twigg-Smith and Curtis
1c-30c War Department, Multiples. Large collection of mostly multiples, range of sizes with strips and blocks including some with imprints, the 1c-6c are hinged on quadrille pages but we presume most or all are the soft paper issue, the higher denominations are either the cheaper choice between hard and soft paper or hard paper for denominations that only come that way, all that we checked have original gum and obviously some h.r., perf separations are numerous and some faults to be found as well, overall Fine, a rough estimate of Scott value just for the 10c-30c denominations exceeds $6,000
$1.00 Postal Savings (O123). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and bright paper, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Myerson, with 2005 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF 90), with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95), this is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a hinged example and it is shared by no others (one Mint N.H. grades 100J)
1c-90c Officials, Specimen Ovpt. (O1S-O67S, O72S-O93S). Complete set of all 1c-90c Continental Bank Note Co. Officials Special Printings, without gum as issued, most sides with full perfs, some affected by the usual scissors separation, bright colors, small flaws to be found as usual
OVERALL FINE OR FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE ONE-CENT THRU 90-CENT OFFICIAL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ALL DEPARTMENTS COMPLETE EXCEPT FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOLLAR VALUES.
Although these stamps bear a "Specimen" overprint, they are in fact Special Printings and were issued at the same time and for the same reason as the other Continental Bank Note Co. Special Printings (Scott 167-177). The overprint was necessary for the Official stamps, as these were issued to the public and could only be used in an official capacity. Complete sets for several of these Departments are scarce and seldom seen — especially the Interior and Treasury sets, which were sold in quantities mostly in the 70s and 80s.
1c-30c Agriculture, Specimen Ovpt. (O1S-O9S). Complete set, without gum as issued, bright colors, centering to just touched, a few small flaws may be found but this set was compiled by selecting attractive examples without obvious faults from numerous sets owned by Mooz, 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). Complete set, without gum as issued, bright colors, centering to touched, 24c and 30c straight edge at right, a few small flaws may be found but this set was compiled by selecting attractive examples without obvious faults from numerous sets owned by Mooz, 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
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
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, 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, 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, nearly all sides with full perfs, few typical small flaws including 10c slight soiling, 2c stain, Fine appearing set, 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, the sold quantities of the 3c-90c denominations in this set range from from 150-178
90c Purple, Justice, Specimen Ovpt. (O34S). Without gum as issued, bright color, small central thin spot, Fine appearance, only 152 sold
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 were selected from a large group owned by Mooz, 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-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 were selected from a large group owned by Mooz, 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 were selected from a large group owned by Mooz, 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 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 was selected from a large group owned by Mooz, picking examples without obvious or major flaws, Fine-Very Fine set
1c State on 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
1c-90c Treasury, Specimen Ovpt. (O72S-O82S). Complete set, without gum as issued, deep rich colors, a few with nice centering, nearly all sides with full perfs, a few small flaws including 10c regummed but the stamps in this set were selected from a large group owned by Mooz, picking examples without obvious or major faults, overall Fine complete set, 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 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 were selected from a large group owned by Mooz, 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)