Lot
473 
Falkland Islands, 1964, 6d "H.M.S. Glasgow" vignette error. O.g., never hinged, well centered, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, a wonderful newly discovered never hinged example of this popular major 20th century Falkland Islands rarity. Scott No. 151a $17,000. SG No. 216a £21,000 ($32,970).
When the error first came onto the market, it was first discovered by a North American collector in 1970. The owner had acquired the set in 1965 and noticed the Glasgow vignette on the two values yet believed at the time it to be normal. It was not untill later, after reading an article in a British philatelic magazine, that he realized that the stamp was a major error. It is believed that only one sheet of 60 of this famous error had been produced. A note in the Stanley Gibbons catalog regarding this stamp states: "There have been seventeen reports of stamps showing this error, although it is believed that some of these may refer to the same example.".
Realized: $35,000
Lot 167 o
1867, 90¢ blue, F. grill. Light face free cancel, perfectly centered amid wonderfully large margins, complete full perforations, bold bright color enhancing a sharp proof-like impression, a Superb gem, quite certainly the finest known used example of the 1868 90¢ F. grill in existence; with 1977, 2004 P.F. certificates and 2005 P.S.E. graded certificate (Gem 100).Scott No. 101 $1,750.
We can not overstated the importance of this exquisite stamp. This is the highest graded stamp in the P.S.E. Population Report and will probably remain there. Many other issues will have the previous "highest grade" eclipsed, but a truly rare stamp such as this, has no equal.
Realized: $35,000
Lot
224
1898, $1 Trans-Miss. Immaculate "Post Office fresh" original gum which is never hinged, precision centering amid large evenly balanced margins all around, beautiful deep rich shade and remarkably fresh, an Extremely Fine gem, a truly outstanding mint gem in never hinged condition; with 2004 P.S.E. graded certificate (XF-Sup 95). Scott No. 292 $3,250.
This is one of two examples attaining the grade of "XF-Superb 95" in the P.S.E. Population Report, with none higher.
Realized: $32,500
Lot
258
1915, $1 violet black. Immaculate fresh original gum which is never hinged, perfectly centered amid large evenly balanced margins, deep color and sharp impression, wonderful Post Office freshness, Superb, a spectacular never hinged gem and condition rarity; with 2001 P.F. certificate for block, 2004 P.F. certificate for single and 2005 P.S.E. graded certificate (Superb 98). Scott No. 460 $1,850.
This is one of two examples attaining the grade of "Superb 98" in the P.S.E. Population Report, with none higher.
Realized: $26,000
Lot
240
1909, 4¢ orange brown, bluish paper. Left margin single, immaculate fresh original gum which has been lightly hinged only once, centering toward margin with large margins around, bright bold color and remarkably fresh, Extremely Fine and choice, a beautifully example of this bluish paper rarity and one of the few marginal copies known, with only approximately 90 examples released by Post Office Department; with 1978, 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 360 $24,000.
Realized: $24,000
Lot
237 
1907, 5¢ Jamestown. Top margin plate block of 6, o.g., never hinged, well centered and especially so for this notoriously off-centered issue, wonderful deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine and choice, possibly the finest known never hinged plate block of this elusive and rare issue; with 1989 P.F. certificate and 2006 P.S.E. certificate. Scott No. 330 $5,250.
Realized: $23,000
Lot
2 
Sitka, A.T., Nov. 29, '68. Manuscript postmark on legal size linen cover with "Official Business, H.H. McIntyre, Special Agent, Teas'y Dept." free frank, addressed to "Hon. Justin S. Morrill, U.S. Senate, Washington D.C.", with two 4-page enclosures from correspondence, one letter being with the First Federal Report on Alaska Territory; the first letter datelined "San Francisco, California, October 19, 1868" written in route to Alaska regarding the newly-appointed Collector of Customs, Hiram Ketchum Jr., recommending his position not to be confirmed by the Senate since Ketchum has proven himself thus far on the trip to be a drunkard and ignorant of his duty among other inadequacies (Ketchum had been appointed on August 20), second letter (original to cover) datelined "Sitka, Alaska, November 27, 1868" details Sitka, it's inhabitants, local government and a need for a official civil governing body, collecting revenue especially regarding the fur trade, manner of hunting and recommends only Aleuts be allowed to hunt, monopolizing the fur trade mentioning the attempt by Hutchinson, Kohl & Co. to exercise the same rights as the Russian American Co. over the trade, letter concludes with his intention to travel to the Sitkine, Kodak and the Berhing's Sea, Very Fine, a wonderful and historically important early Alaska Territory cover and enclosures. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
After the acquisition of Alaska in 1867, the first legislation dealing with the territory to pass Congress was the Customs Act of July 1868. McIntyre, along with Captain Charles Bryant, was appointed Special Agent to the Treasury Department to proceed to Alaska to report on resources and economic conditions there. They left from New York to Alaska on September, 16, 1868, arriving in Sitka in November. His first printed report to the Treasury Department is dated November 30, 1869 - a year after the above letter was written (see HR 41st Cong, 2nd Sess. Ex. Doc. No. 36 [Washington D.C. Jan 13, 1870 - copy included with letters]), though a letter to the Treasury Department exists dated one day after the letter offered here. Justin Smith Morrill, author of the Land Grant Act of 1862, was intensely interested in the natural resources of the vast new territory and may have secretly commissioned McIntyre to report directly to him.
Realized: $22,000
Lot
22
Pony Express, Silver City - March 7th/61. Manuscript origin endorsement on 1853, 10¢ Nesbitt entire to Nantick, Mass., with manuscript "$2.50" pony express rate and "Via Carson City - U.T., Mch 7/61" routing, additionally canceled by green grid and entering the mails with matching "Saint Joseph, Mo., Mar 21" cds, Wells, Fargo & Co. red printed frank at top, minor cover edge wear expertly restored, Very Fine, a wonderful east bound transcontinental Pony Express Way usage, the only second period pony express usage originating from Silver City, Utah Territory (Nevada), from a new find and unlisted in the Frajola, Kramer & Walske The Pony Express census. Scott No. U16 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
Realized: $21,000
Lot 101 o
1847, 5¢ red brown. Position 10R, light blue grid cancel, a lovely delicate impression on lovely blued paper, large to huge margins, a Superb jumbo gem, a spectacular condition rarity with the highest possible grade obtainable; with 1992 P.F. certificate (as a #1b) and 2005 P.S.E. graded certificate (Gem 100J).Scott No. 1.
What more can be said about this stamp, which has attained the ultimate grade of "Gem 100 Jumbo". This is the highest graded stamp in the P.S.E. Population Report and will probably remain there. Many other issues will have the previous "highest grade" eclipsed, but a truly rare stamp such as this, has no equal.
Realized: $19,000
Lot
285
Airmail, 1930 Graf Zeppelin set complete. A stunning matched set of top margin plate blocks of 6, o.g., never hinged, each wonderfully well centered amid large margins, all with rich bright colors and remarkably fresh, 65¢ with light natural gum wrinkle in top left stamp, Extremely Fine and choice, possibly the finest never hinged set of plate blocks of the 1930 Graf Zeppelin issue; each with 2006 P.S.E. certificate. Scott No. C13-C15 $22,100.
Realized: $19,000