Sale 1334 — The Dr. George Haikel Collection: Stamps and Covers of Exceptional Beauty and Rarity
Sale Date — Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
Category — Pan-American Issue thru Orangeburg Coil
1c-10c Pan-American (294-299). Complete set arranged in order of denomination, tied by "Washington D.C." registry ovals, purple "Sub-Sta. No. 37, Wash. D.C., Registered, May 1, 1901" double-circle datestamp on registered First Day cover to Munich, Germany, New York registry label at left, New York (May 2) and Munich (May 13) backstamps struck on top of one another
VERY FINE. ONLY FIFTEEN FIRST DAY COVERS ARE KNOWN BEARING A COMPLETE SET OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
In an article in the June 1999 issue of First Days, Alan Berkun records eleven covers bearing complete sets of the Pan-American Issue, including four from the District of Columbia, four from Massachusetts, two from New York and one from Seattle, Washington (sold in our 2001 Rarities sale). An additional four covers have been added to the census. A total of six are used from Washington D.C., including four to Germany, one to Switzerland and one to Finland.
Ex Rosenthal. With 1987 and 1999 P.F. certificates.
5c Ultramarine & Black, Pan-American (297). Tied by "Worcester, Mass. Sta. A May 1 2:30 PM" First Day duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel on European-size cover to Munich, Germany, clear New York N.Y. May 2, 1901 machine cancel and German receiving datestamps on back, couple short perfs and faint toning around a few perf tips
VERY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE FIRST DAY COVERS, WITH ONLY TWO SINGLE FRANKINGS OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE RECORDED.
The McCusker firm sold the other 5c Pan-American single-franking First Day Cover in its Sale 203 in February 2005 for $30,000 hammer. A single 5c Pan-American stamp paying the UPU rate to a foreign country, postmarked on the First Day, ranks among the greatest of 20th Century rarities.
Ex Dr. Martin and Price. With 1982 AFDCS and 2016 P.F. certificates.
1c Green & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (294a). Original gum, rich colors and fresh, perfs touch at top
A FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut. Most examples are off-center and/or have disturbed gum. The example offered here is remarkably fresh.
With 1990 P.S.E. certificate.
2c Carmine & Black, Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color, single tiny perf tip thin at top
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A WONDERFULLY WELL-CENTERED AND FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. ONE OF THE MOST CELEBRATED INVERT ERRORS IN AMERICAN PHILATELY.
The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. This Extremely Fine centered stamp has a tiny perf tip thin, but it is among the finest-appearing examples.
Ex Dr. Maffeo. With 1991 and 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates.
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H. block of four with part imprint and plate no. 1629 selvage at bottom, intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering throughout with wide and balanced margins, few perf separations in bottom selvage
EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR WITH PART IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER FOR THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 1986 and 1994 P.F. certificates. Scott value $7,200 as singles.
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Bottom "Bureau, Engaving & Printing" imprint and plate no. 1630 block of six, original gum, small h.r. in selvage where perf separations sensibly reinforced, top left stamp Mint N.H., top right stamp small gum glazing spot, top center stamp small translucency described on certificate as natural inclusion, top right stamp few minor perf separations expertly reinforced, choice centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR PLATE BLOCKS OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, THIS PLATE BLOCK HAS THE BEST CENTERING OF ANY OF THE FOUR.
Lewis Kaufman records only four plate blocks of Scott 312 in private hands (each of six stamps):
1) Top plate block (only top position available), few minor perf separations, enlarged staple holes, pencil notation on two stamps on back, ex Todd, "MLG" and Gross
2) Wide bottom plate block, small thin in one stamp, 1967 Rarities of the World sale (Sale 313, lot 105)
3) Bottom plate block, few small faults, 2017 Rarities of the World sale (Sale 1159, lot 216)
4) Bottom plate block, one stamp minor gum glazing, paper spot in margin of top center stamp, few minor perf separations, ex Wampler, offered in this sale
5) Top plate block, Miller collection, The New York Public Library, unavailable to collectors.
Ex Wampler. With copy of 1975 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine, Louisiana Purchase, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (324a). Block of four with selvage showing half arrow and interpane guideline in straight edge at left, Positions 41-42/46-47, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, typical centering for this error
FINE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. ONLY ONE PANE OF 50 WAS DISCOVERED, AND AT MOST FIVE BLOCKS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. THIS BOTTOM SELVAGE BLOCK WITH PART ARROW IS UNIQUE.
It is well-established that only one pane of 50 of this commemorative error was discovered. It was purchased as a new issue at the post office in Cleveland, Ohio, by A. W. Weigel of the Ohio Stamp Company. Very shortly thereafter, the pane, or at least a large part of it, became part of the George H. Worthington collection. The pane had been divided prior to the Worthington sale, to allow multiple collectors to obtain an example of the variety. In the Worthington auction, 26 of the 50 stamps were offered; the remaining 24 stamps were sold privately.
Our reconstruction of the pane of 50 includes six blocks of four, twelve pairs proven by photos and a pair from Positions 3/8 that we have not been able to verify with a photo. Among the blocks, the right arrow block is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, and the unique plate block was sold in the Gross collection. This block comes from the positions adjoining the plate block. The block in the Lilly collection (Positions 31-32/36-37) has not been seen in years and might have been divided into pairs.
Ex Weisman. With 1992 P.S.E. and 1998 P.F. certificates.
Digital reconstruction of the pane is available at: https://siegelauctions.com/legacy/324a-digitalreconstruction.jpg
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Choice centering with balanced margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like impression showing every detail of the engraving, neat wavy-line machine cancel used at Orangeburg N.Y.
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL IN EXISTENCE.
The 3c Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. They were used to send product samples to physicians and were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. Due to the coil stamps' use on mass mailings, many of the surviving copies are faulty to some extent. The most common defects are corner creases or tears. This sound copy is the exception to the condition norms for this issue.
With 1956 A.P.S and 1992 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others. This is the first in this grade we have offered since 2009.