Sale 1351 — The Vaquero Collection of Gem-Quality 19th and 20th Century United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 May, 2025
Category — Air Post Issues
6c Orange, 1918 Air Post (C1). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, mathematically perfect centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ORANGE AIR POST ISSUE, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
Ex Morton. With 2009 and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100). Only one grades higher at 100J (last offered by us in 2009) and only one other shares this perfect grade.
16c Green, 1918 Air Post (C2). Mint N.H., exceptional centering with perfectly balanced margins, rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, ex Laehder, with 1992 P.F., 2015 P.S.E. and 2011 P.S.A.G. certificates (100 ogNH), while the lack of a grade on the P.S.E. certificate may indicate they would not grade it 100 (they have only graded one at that level), this is still a spectacular stamp
24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich colors and proof-like impressions
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ICONIC 24-CENT 1918 AIR POST ISSUE, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
Ex Morton. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). Only three other Scott C3s share this perfect grade, with none higher. Remarkably, despite offering the majority of the existing Scott C3a 24c inverts over the years, this is the only Gem 100 Scott C3 the Siegel firm has offered at auction.
8c Dark Green, 1923 Air Post (C4). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, beautiful rich color on fresh white paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT 1923 AIR POST, SCOTT C4, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). Only one grades higher and eight share this grade.
16c Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, phenomenal centering with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 16-CENT 1923 AIR POST, SCOTT C4, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. — ONLY TWO GRADE HIGHER AND NONE SHARE THIS GRADE.
With 1988 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo). Only two grade higher (at 100, we last sold one in 2020 for $6,000 hammer) and none share this desirable grade.
24c Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6). Mint N.H., intense color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 24-CENT AIR POST, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only eight others.
10c Map, Air Post (C7). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, bright shade, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2008 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100), of 293 Mint N.H. C7's submitted to P.S.E., only three other examples have achieved a perfect Gem 100 grade (plus two Gem 100 Jumbo, one of which realized $6,500 hammer in a 2024 auction)
15c Map, Air Post (C8). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color, long and full perforations
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT MAP STAMP, GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo). This is the highest grade possible and it is shared by only two others. One of the others recently brought $6,000 hammer in our Sale 1339.
20c Map, Air Post (C9). Mint N.H., phenomenal margins and perfect centering, bright color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100), of 473 Mint N.H. C9's submitted to P.S.E., only seven other examples have achieved a perfect Gem 100 grade (plus two Gem 100 Jumbo)
10c Lindbergh, Air Post (C10). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT LINDBERGH AIR POST, GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE.
With 1988 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo). This is the highest grade possible and only one other has achieved it. Unpriced in this grade in SMQ, which prices the 100 (9 at that grade) at $1,800.
5c Beacon, Air Post (C11). Mint N.H., near perfect centering with Jumbo margins, rich colors, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo), only five grade higher and six others share this grade, a miniscule population for such a common stamp
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C12). Mint N.H., exceptional wide margins and perfect centering, rich color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT, THIS IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2012 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only eight others.
65c Green, Graf Zeppelin (C13). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.F. and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
$1.30 Brown, Graf Zeppelin (C14). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice
$2.60 Blue, Graf Zeppelin (C15). Mint N.H. with top plate no. F 20090 selvage, intense shade and impression, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Mint N.H. top plate no. blocks of ten, part arrows at left, rich colors, choice centering throughout, usual light natural gum skips and bends
EXTREMELY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE AND ULTRA HIGH-QUALITY SET OF LARGE-SIZE PLATE BLOCKS OF THE POPULAR GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Most Graf Zeppelin plate blocks are found in the format of plate blocks of six. The plate blocks of ten offered here, from the top plate positions, are truly spectacular.
Scott value as plate blocks of six and singles.
5c Winged Globe, Air Post (C16). Mint N.H., gorgeous wide margins and mathematically perfect centering, strong color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB STAMP, GRADE GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — ONLY TWO GRADE HIGHER AND ONLY THREE OTHERS SHARE THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2011 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100). Only two grade higher and only three others share this perfect grade. These are very low population numbers.
50c Chicago Zeppelin, Air Post (C18). Mint N.H., outstanding centering with wide margins, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
6c Winged Globe, Air Post (C19). Mint N.H., vibrant color, mathematically perfect centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT WINGED GLOBE ISSUE IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES THIS GRADE WITH ONE HIGHER.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). Only one grades higher (we have never sold it) and one other shares this perfect grade. We recently offered the other example graded 100 in April 2024 where it realized $5,500 hammer.
25c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C20). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 21475 selvage, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, brilliant color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THIS ISSUE THAT IS WITHOUT PEER — THIS IS GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO, THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE, AND IT IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo). This is the highest grade possible on the grading chart. While 28 examples of C20 have been graded Gem 100 by P.S.E., this is the first and only example to achieve the Gem 100 Jumbo grade.
20c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C21). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT TRANS-PACIFIC ISSUE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). Only four others share this perfect grade with one higher (we have never offered it).
50c Trans-Pacific, Air Post (C22). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), only seven others have achieved this grade with none higher
6c Eagle, Dark Blue & Carmine, Air Post (C23). Mint N.H., rich colors, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only two grade higher (one each at 98J and 100J)
30c Winged Globe, Air Post (C24). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide margins, fresh in every respect, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
8c Transport, Air Post (C26). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100), one of only five at this lofty grade, which is the highest awarded, we are unsure why SMQ value is so low given the low population numbers, this is the first at this grade we have offered since 2019
15c Transport, Air Post (C28). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), the highest grade awarded and shared by ten others
20c Transport, Air Post (C29). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), this is the highest grade awarded for this issue
30c Transport, Air Post (C30). Mint N.H., deep rich color, mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), this is the highest awarded
50c Transport, Air Post (C31). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, brilliant color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), this is the highest grade awarded and five others share it, this stamp recently realized $2,700 hammer so we feel SMQ value is too low, we have never offered any others at this grade
10c Moon Landing, Air Post (C76). Mint N.H. pane of 32, signed in selvage by Neil Armstrong, Very Fine, an attractive pane commemorating the first man on the moon and signed by the first man on the moon