Sale 1332 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 October, 2024
Category — Imprint and Plate Number Multiples: Special Delivery
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Top imprint and plate no. 73 block of eight, original gum, multiple h.r. including rejoined along center vertical row, rich color, erased pencil notation in selvage
FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 1888 SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.
All of the first four Special Delivery Issues (E1-E4) are rare in plate block form. There are perhaps ten known of the 1888 Issue, Scott E2, from plates 552 and 73.
Scott value $17,500 as intact plate block of eight.
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Top imprint and plate no. 552 block of six, vibrant color, each stamp with cork cancel, light natural paper wrinkle, Fine-Very Fine, a rare used plate block of the Columbian Special Delivery issue, unpriced in Scott
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 5513 block of six, radiant color in the Pale Ultramarine sub-shade, phenomenal centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK FROM THE 1909 PRINTING OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP. WE HAVE OFFERED ONLY ONE OTHER IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
Scott E6 is the first of the "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery designs. It was released as part of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's "Series of 1902" regular postage issues (Scott 300-313). Scott E6 is printed on double-line "USPS" watermarked paper with 12-gauge perforations. In 1908 the "Merry Widow" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, after public criticism the Messenger on Bicycle design was re-issued in 1909 from new plates, and the same basic design was issued continuously until the Motorcycle Delivery design replaced it in 1922.
Power Search contains only one other plate block in Mint N.H. condition, offered in our Sale 1305 in 2023, plus the example offered in the following lot. That example was the main Ultramarine shade.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 1482 block of six, deep rich color approaching the Blue shade
FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK FROM THE 1909 PRINTING OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP.
Power Search contains only one other plate block in Mint N.H. condition, offered in our Sale 1305 in 2023, plus the example offered in the previous lot.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Top imprint and plate no. 5240-09 block of six, original gum, h.r. reinforcing a few separated perfs at top, uncharacteristically well-centered, deep proof-like color and impression, one staple hole into the imprint, trivial selvage crease at top left, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, despite the minor imperfections, this is an attractive example of this scarce plate block
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1774 block of six, original gum, h.r., rich color, some perf separations sensibly reinforced, Fine-Very Fine and scarce plate block
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Top imprint and plate no. 1775 block of six, original gum, top center stamp single hinge mark, others Mint N.H., fresh and Fine-Very Fine plate block, with 2016 P.S.A.G. certificate as the Dark Ultramarine shade
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4916 block of six, rich color, fresh and Very Fine
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4917 block of six, rich color but some slight overall toning, otherwise Very Fine
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Bottom imprint and plate no. 4916 block of six, original gum, very lightly hinged, deep color, Fine-Very Fine
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Left imprint and plate no. 4921 block of six, extra-wide selvage, original gum, top left stamp with h.r., others Mint N.H., well-centered, rich color in a dark shade, Very Fine
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Right imprint and plate no. 4921 block of six, original gum, five stamps Mint N.H., top right lightly hinged, Very Fine
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 5863 block of six, radiant color, choice centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT 1914 SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, SCOTT E9.
Scarce in such choice condition.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Top plate no. 5854 block of six, Mint N.H. except where few perf separations expertly reinforced, radiant color, Very Fine
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9, E11). Left imprint and plate no. 5520 blocks of eight, original gum, lightly hinged, bright colors, No. E9 with natural vertical gum skip on two, No. E11 with natural gum bends
FINE-VERY FINE. THE SIDE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF EIGHT OF THESE SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUES ARE EXTREMELY RARE. THESE ARE OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME SINCE OUR 1978 TODD SALE.
The side imprint and plate blocks are rarer than other positions for one simple reason: on the sides the imprint stretches across four stamps, rather than three. Therefore, in order to get the full imprint at sides, this issue needs to be collected as a plate block of eight.
Ex Todd and our 2009 Rarities sale. Both are listed but unpriced in Scott. Scott does list No. E9a as a side plate block of eight, for $6,500.
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Right imprint and plate no. 5520 block of six, original gum, brilliant color, insignificant natural gum bend at bottom right
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1916 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, SCOTT E10.
This is the only right position plate block we have offered since keeping computerized records.
10c 1917-25 Special Delivery (E11-E13). Mint N.H. plate blocks of six, first two top positions, some gum skips and E12 with uneven "gum rivers", E13 bottom plate block, natural inclusion, overall Very Fine
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H. top plate no. F16834 block of six, vibrant color, natural short gum at top, Extremely Fine
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H. top imprint, letter "A" and plate no. 5723 block of six, reduced selvage, attractive color, Very Fine
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Top imprint, letter "A" and plate no. 5729 block of six, stamps Mint N.H., light hinge mark in the selvage, rich color, Very Fine
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Bottom imprint and plate no. 5726 block of six, original gum, barely hinged except where few minor perf separations expertly reinforced, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, pencil notation in selvage
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Imprint, letter "A" and plate no. 5729 blocks of six from the right and bottom positions, original gum, right block lightly hinged, bottom block Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine
30c Red Brown (J20). Top imprint and plate no, 332 block of six, all ten stamps Mint N.H., few perf separations in ungummed selvage expertly reinforced
VERY FINE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 30-CENT LARGE NUMERAL POSTAGE DUE ISSUE, SCOTT J20.
Scott value as hinged plate block $3,500. Scott value as singles.