Sale 1334 — The Dr. George Haikel Collection: Stamps and Covers of Exceptional Beauty and Rarity
Sale Date — Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
Category — Panama-Pacific thru Unique Red Cross Missing Error
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Bottom plate no. 6139 block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp small h.r., radiant color, gorgeous centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT ORANGE PANAMA-PACIFIC PERF 12 ISSUE. RARE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
Ex Weisman. With 1990 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6130 block of six, brilliant color, detailed impression, gorgeous centering throughout with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT ORANGE PERF 12 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE.
This is one of the most difficult commemorative plate blocks to obtain in Mint N.H. condition, especially with such choice centering.
With 1994 P.F. certificate.
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 6143 block of six, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, each stamp almost perfectly centered
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT PERF 10 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE, SCOTT 404, IN EXISTENCE. ABSOLUTE PERFECTION IN EVERY RESPECT—MINT NEVER-HINGED GUM, FRESH COLOR, PERFECTLY FORMED PERFORATIONS ALL AROUND AND CHOICE CENTERING THROUGHOUT.
The Panama-Pacific Exposition commemorative set was originally released in late 1912 and officially placed on sale on January 1, 1913, two years in advance of the actual exposition (the stamps are inscribed "San Francisco 1915"). The stamps were first issued with 12-gauge perforations. When the Bureau of Engraving and Printing changed to 10-gauge perforations in late 1914, sheets of Panama-Pacific stamps were issued in Perf 10 form. This modification was not officially announced or widely recognized by stamp collectors; therefore, the Perf 10 stamps are much scarcer than their Perf 12 counterparts.
The 10c design depicts the "Discovery of San Francisco Bay," based on a painting by Charles F. Mathews (Johl, Vol. 1, pp.69-70). It depicts the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola and his crew with the Muwekma Ohlone natives. In 1769 Portola led the first expedition and observed San Francisco harbor. In 1775 Juan Manuel de Ayala, captain of the Spanish ship San Carlos, was the first to enter the harbor, which led to the establishment of the earliest European settlements.
The 10c Panama-Pacific Perf 10, Scott 404, typically comes poorly centered. It is also plagued by short perfs—for a reason. The wide-spaced 10-gauge perfs were introduced by postal officials to strengthen the sheets during handling. Postmasters complained that the Perf 12 sheets broke apart too easily, but the move to Perf 10 went too far, and postmasters then started complaining that they were tearing apart stamps while trying to separate them (Perf 11 ended up being just right). Scott 404 is also much scarcer than its Perf 12 counterparts, Scott 400 and 400A.
Dr. Haikel acquired this remarkable plate block in a June 11, 1992, Christie's auction, where it was the only item on the front cover of the catalogue. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
$1.00 Violet Brown (423). Wide top "Bureau, Engraving & Printing" imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM WIDE TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 1912 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 423. ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Scott 423 was printed from a single plate, which had plate numbers at top and bottom. This is one of the rarest of the Washington-Franklin Issue plate blocks in any gum condition. Lewis Kaufman records seven top and three bottom plate blocks.
Ex Fogelson. With 2005 P.F. certificate.
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Wide top "Bureau, Engraving & Printing", plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1915 $1.00 PERF 10 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED ISSUE, SCOTT 460. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Lewis Kaufman records only six top and six bottom plate blocks for this issue. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518).
Ex Todd and Fogelson. With 2005 P.F. certificate.
2c Red Cross Omitted (702a). Single error in block of 36, with double plate nos. 20434/20490 at bottom and arrow at left, the red cross printed on back on bottom left selvage tab, the error stamp Mint N.H., caused by foldover at bottom left of the error, the error creased at lower left from foldover, one normal stamp with small thin spot not noted on certificate
THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE RED CROSS OMITTED ERROR—ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ERRORS IN 20TH CENTURY PHILATELY. OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS.
The 2c Red Cross stamp commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Red Cross by Clara Barton. The design features a cross printed in red, and a nurse and globe printed in black. The nurse was inspired by a poster titled "The Greatest Mother in the World," designed by Earl Alonzo Foringer and published in 1917. This unique error was reportedly found in 1931 in a Mississippi post office.
Illustrated in Life Magazine's May 3, 1954, issue titled "Eight Pages of World's Rarest Stamps", on a page with blocks of four of the Pan-American Inverts, the unique 24c 1869 Pictorial Invert block, the Inverted Jenny centerline block and unused singles of the 15c and 30c 1869 Pictorial Inverts.
Ex Lilly (Sale 327, Feb. 1968, lot 617, realized $18,000) and Dr. Test ("Westport", Christie's Robson Lowe Feb. 1994 sale, lot 101, where acquired by Dr. Haikel). With 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott value $40,000.