Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — Special Delivery, Postage Due, Officials, City Despatch Post
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E1). Original gum, single hinge mark at top, gorgeous deep color on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Merlin. With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo). This is one of only two examples to achieve this lofty grade, which is the highest awarded to any unused Scott E1.
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Original gum, barely hinged, near perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONALLY BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 FIRST BUREAU UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, Scott E4, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98). One other hinged stamp shares this grade and only two grade higher (at 98J).
10c Blue, Special Delivery (E5). Mint N.H., deep rich color and choice centering, Extremely Fine, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90), SCV $475
5c Red Brown (J18). Original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color, Jumbo margins and well-centered, Extremely Fine, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 1984 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90 Jumbo), only six grade higher
3c Bright Claret (J24). Mint N.H., vibrant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95), SCV $180
$2.00 Green & Black, State, Specimen Ovpt. (O68S). Without gum as issued, bright colors, unusually wide margins for this difficult issue
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 32 WERE SOLD.
Only 32 of the $2.00 State Department Special Printing were sold. Markovits estimated that approximately 20 are known (Bennett sale). Most seem to be strongly centered to one side. This example is one of the finest extant.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Inman, "Adventurer" and from our 1993 Rarities sale. With 1974, 1990 and 2023 P.F. certificates.
(Image Magnifier)$5.00 Green & Black, State (O69). Original gum, lightly hinged, nicely centered with bright colors
FRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-DOLLAR STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE.
Many of the large-format State Department stamps suffer from poor centering, faults, or both. This is a choice sound example with Very Fine centering.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 1992 and 2014 P.F. certificates.
(Image Magnifier)$10.00 Green & Black, State (O70). Original gum, lightly hinged, absolutely perfect centering and wide and balanced margins, proof-like impression and colors, pristine
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE $10.00 STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
The large format State Department dollar values are notorious for poor centering. Even well-centered stamps have slightly skewed vertical perforations which angle in toward the design at one spot or another. This stamp is perfectly "boxed" at all corners. We really see nothing to have justified anything less than a 95 grade, but we defer to the P.S.E. In any case, the other three original-gum stamps in the P.S.E. Population Report are graded 50, 75 and 80.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex "Adventurer". With 1988 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90). The SMQ value of $11,500 seems low as this stamp realized $14,000 hammer in our 2023 sale of the "Adventurer" collection.
(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Mint N.H., perfectly balanced large margins, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb Mint N.H. example of the first adhesive stamp issued in the Western hemisphere, from the Nathanael Greene collection, with 2022 P.F. certificate (Superb 98), by way of comparison, the highest graded Mint N.H. example by P.S.E. is also 95 (one example), SCV $350 as hinged
(Image Magnifier)(Greig's) City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Grayish (40L1). Position 42 from the bottom right corner of the sheet, huge margins, clear strike of red "FREE" in frame cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example of this historic issue, from the Nathanael Greene collection, ex "New Amsterdam" where this Gem realized $3,500 hammer in Sale 1005, with 2023 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95), SCV $350
(Image Magnifier)
U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Position 1L with massive top left corner sheet margins, other two sides large and even, unused (no gum)
EXTREMELY FINE GEM CORNER SHEET MARGIN UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT U.S. CITY DESPATCH POST ISSUE ON LIGHT BLUE UNSURFACED PAPER — THE FIRST STAMP PRINTED AND ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE FOR THE NEW YORK CITY CARRIER DEPARTMENT.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Caspary and Ambassador Middendorf. With 2023 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95 XQ). The "XQ" stands for "Extraordinary Quality". We certainly concur. SCV $1,500.
(Image Magnifier)U.S. City Despatch Post, New York N.Y., 3c Black on Light Blue Unsurfaced (6LB3). Large margins all around, orange-red "U.S." in frame cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM USED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT U.S. CITY DESPATCH POST ISSUE ON LIGHT BLUE UNSURFACED PAPER — THE FIRST STAMP PRINTED AND ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE FOR THE NEW YORK CITY CARRIER DEPARTMENT.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. Ex Ryterband. With 2004 and 2019 P.F. certificates. SCV $750.