Sale 1351 — The Vaquero Collection of Gem-Quality 19th and 20th Century United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 May, 2025
Category — Special Delivery, Registration
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, essentially perfectly centered with wide margins, long and full perforations
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
The first Special Delivery is easily distinguished from those that follow because the explanatory text at center is straight. In subsequent issues the text at center is altered. It is extremely difficult to obtain in sound, centered and Mint N.H. condition.
Ex "Hanover". With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and no others share this grade. Only one other has graded above 95.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E2). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE OF 1888, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
This issue was released in 1888 with the last of the American Large Bank Note issues. Collectors of that series know the challenge of locating Mint Never-Hinged examples in superior grades.
Ex "Hanover". With 2009 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded by far (next highest is 95) and this is the only example to achieve this grade.
10c Orange, Special Delivery (E3). Mint N.H., brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1893 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.F.
The 10c Orange Special Delivery, Scott E3, is the only Special Delivery issue printed in this color. It was issued concurrently with the Columbian issue.
Ex "Hanover". With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is scarce in the higher grades; by way of comparison, only one grades higher than 95 in the P.S.E. Population Report (at 95J), only four are awarded this grade by P.S.E. and only one other shares this grade at the P.F.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., deep rich color nicely contrasted by bright white paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS A NOTORIOUSLY CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE — P.S.E. HAS GRADED THIS STAMP XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO.
The 1894 Unwatermarked Issue, the first postage stamps printed by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, was plagued by production problems. Most 1894 Issue stamps are poorly centered and have small margins.
With 2010 and 2025 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only one grades higher (at 100, we have never offered it) and no others share this grade.
10c Blue, Special Delivery, Dots in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a). Mint N.H. with huge bottom selvage showing a bit of the imprint, exceptionally choice centering with wide margins, rich color and fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE WITH DOTS ABOVE THE MESSENGER VARIETY. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY WITH THE LOFTY GRADE OF SUPERB 98 — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The Dots in Curved Frame above Messenger variety (E5a) comes only from plate 882. It is priced in Scott at approximately double the normal E5 value.
Ex Morton. With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). The normal Scott E5 has an SMQ value of $7,000 for Superb 98. Given the relative rarity of Scott E5a versus E5, the SMQ value for this stamp should be well in excess of that for E5. This is the highest grade awarded for Scott E5a and it is shared by no others. The normal E5 has two at Superb 98 with none higher.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E6). Mint N.H. with plate no. 1776 and wide selvage at top, brilliant color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with unusually wide margins on all sides
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E6, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. — THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Scott E6 is the first of the "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery designs. It was released as part of the Bureau of Engraving & 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 "Helmut of Mercury" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, 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. Changes in the paper and perforation gauge for the issues from 1909 until 1922 mirror the changes in the Washington-Franklin series of the same period.
Scott E6 is not particularly scarce (it has a Scott value of $500 as Mint N.H.), but experienced collectors and professionals know that very few examples of the 1902 Issue exist with wide and balanced margins. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics support this statement, and a review of our auction records with Power Search provides visual confirmation. None of the stamps (singles or in blocks) in our database compare to this Mint N.H. Gem 100 Jumbo example.
Ex "Hanover". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). With 2025 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo). After an additional 16 years P.S.E. has more data points for measurements on borderless Special Delivery stamps and so the grade on this was raised to 100 Jumbo. This is the highest grade possible and the only example to achieve this desirable grade. Further down the scale, one has graded Superb 98 and one 98J, and four have graded 95, low population numbers at the high end of the grading scale. Unpriced in this grade in SMQ. SMQ $16,000 as 100.
10c Green, Special Delivery (E7). Mint N.H. with plate no. 4920 selvage at top, rich color and crisp impression, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT E7, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Ex "Hanover". With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). Only two grade higher (both 100J) and only two others share this desirable grade. In our opinion SMQ is too low given the low population numbers.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E8). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and exceptional centering, bright color and proof-like impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E8, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). Only one stamp grades higher (at 100J, ex Whitman and last offered by us in 2014). Only three others equal this lofty grade.
10c Violet Blue, Special Delivery (E8b). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY IN THE VIOLET BLUE SUB-SHADE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
With 2004 and 2021 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded only two Mint N.H. examples of this stamp, at 85 and 95.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9). Lightly hinged, huge Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, pretty pastel color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100 Jumbo), this is the highest grade possible and only one other hinged example has achieved it, the highest Mint N.H. grade is a 98
10c Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10). Mint N.H., almost perfectly centered with wide margins, rich color on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, SCOTT E10, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Morton. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only three grade higher (two at 98J, one at 100J) and only two others share this lofty grade.
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and precise centering, pretty pastel color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge and stunning stamp, with 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo), only one stamp grades higher (at Gem 100, offered in our Sale 1014) and one other shares this desirable grade
10c Ultramarine, Special Delivery, "Pink Back" (E11 var). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), a footnote in Scott states that Pink Backs are "valued at approximately five times more than the normal stamp", SMQ value as normal
10c Deep Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E12a). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
Ex Whitman. With 1995 P.F. (as Scott E12) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100). Only one example grades higher and three others share this Gem 100 grade.
10c Gray Violet, Special Delivery (E12). Mint N.H., detailed impression, beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), only twelve grade higher (ten at 98, two at 100) and only two others share this grade
15c Deep Orange, Special Delivery (E13). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and exceptionally choice centering, vivid color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 and 2001 P.F. certificates, with 2006 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo), this is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and only four others share it, we are surprised that none have graded Gem 100 considering there are 100s for a number of the earlier and scarcer Special Delivery issues, very underpriced in SMQ at $550, this is the only example in this grade we have offered and it brought $1,700 hammer in 2019
20c Black, Special Delivery (E14). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, fresh in every respect, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), only two Scott E14 grade higher and this is the only example at the Gem 100 grade, underpriced in SMQ at $500 considering this brought $1,700 hammer in 2020
10c-30c 1925-57 Special Delivery (E14-E21). Mint N.H., each selected for superior centering and each with graded P.S.E. certificate from 2006-2008, Nos. E19 and E21 graded Superb 98, others graded XF-Superb 95, E15 is Red Lilac sub-shade, Extremely Fine Gem group, ex Morton
10c Ultramarine, Registration (F1). Mint N.H., intense color on bright paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, ex "Hanover", with 2006 P.F. certificate (Superb 98), by way of comparison P.S.E. has graded only two higher (at 98J) and ten equal