Lot 1696 o
1851-57, 3¢ orange brown and dull red (Plate Reconstruction), complete plating reconstruction comprising the five plates used to produce the 1851 orange brown shades (Scott #10, 10A) namely plates 1E, 1I, 2E, 0 and 5E, and all eight plates that yielded the myriad of 1852-57 shades (Scott #11, 11A): plates 1L, 2L, 3, 4, 5L, 6, 7 and 8; some mixed condition but also some sound four margin examples present, generally F.-V.F.Scott No. 10, 10A, 11, 11A; $184,000 ++ Estimate $30,000 - 40,000.
A REMARKABLE COMPLETE 1851-57 3¢ IMPERFORATE PLATING RECONSTRUCTION.
There are a total of the 1,000 3¢ orange brown (10, 10A) stamps present and 1,600 3¢ dull red (11, 11A) stamps present. We cataloged all the orange brown stamps as the cheaper 10A stamp. The Scott value given does not take into account the many premium positions or possible better shades present. All-in-all, this monumental achievement by the owner represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the current or would-be student of the 3¢ 1851-57 imperforates.
Realized: $30,000
Lot
2448 (
)
Newfoundland, Airmail, 1921, 35¢ "Halifax", narrow "AIR MAIL", without period after "1921", inverted overprint, shift in overprint to top slightly splitting, bottom stamp in vertical pair with top stamp period after "1921", inverted overprint variety (positions 15/20), without gum, rich color and some hint of toning, otherwise Very Fine, bottom stamp with only eight examples of this variety produced; with 1994 V.G. Greene certificate. Unitrade No. C3g-C3c C$25,000 ($18,750). Scott No. C3g-C3c $19,000 for singles.
AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE INVERTED 1921 35¢ HALIFAX OVERPRINT ISSUE SHOWING TWO DIFFERENT OVERPRINT VARIETIES.
Lot
2102 
Hawaii, 1857 (Jun. 16) Hong Kong, China to Honolulu, Hawaii via San Francisco, blue folded letter datelined "Hong Kong, 16th June 1857" addressed to L.H. Anthon Esq. at Honolulu in care of Messrs. G.B. Post & Co., San Francisco, endorsed "p Mary Whitridge", red "Jas. Stephenson / Commission Merchant / Hong Kong" framed handstamp (Rowe/Orsetti type 58a), carried by Mary Whitridge that departed Hong Kong June 19th 1857 to San Francisco arriving Aug. 14th 1857, "San Francisco Cal Aug 14 1857" cds and matching "Ship / 6" clamshell rating handstamp and additional "3" cent handstamp overstruck, forwarded by G.B. Post probably on Am. Ship John Land from San Francisco Aug. 22nd to Honolulu arriving Sep. 4th, Very Fine. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS JAS. STEPHENSON, HONG KONG FORWARDER'S FRAMED HANDSTAMP, THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE ON MAIL TO HAWAII.
This San Francisco "3" cent due handstamp is only the second recorded example of this marking on mail to Hawaii.
The Mary Whitridge became one of the most famous of the clippers launched in 1855. She was built in Baltimore, where she was owned by Thomas Whitridge & Co., and was commanded by Captain Robert B. Cheeseborough, also of that port. She was 877 tons, length 168 feet, breadth 34 feet, depth 21 feet. On her first voyage she made the remarkable run of 13 days 7 hours from Cape Charles to the Rock Light, Liverpool. She was engaged for many years in the China trade under the command of Captain Benjamin F. Cutler and bore the reputation of being the finest and fastest ship sailing out of Baltimore.
Realized: $9,500
Lot
2478 
Canada, 1930, 50¢ Grand Pré, imperf, left plate number "1" block of four, large margins all around, o.g., never hinged, an Extremely Fine showpiece, ex-Brigham. Scott No. 176a Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A RARE NEVER HINGED IMPERFORATE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50¢ GRAND PRÉ.
Lot
2631
France, 1870, Bordeaux, 4c very dark gray, horizontal strip of five, mostly large margins, tied by "2549" lozenge cancels, matching "Morteau, 18 Janv. 71" on 1871 folded letter from Morteau to Besancon, reverse with Besancon (1.18) arrival cds; light tone spot, file fold slightly affects strip, F.-V.F.; with 2015 Roumet certificate. Yvert No. 41 var. Maury No. 41 II e. Scott No. 40 var. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 4C GRAY BLACK 1870 BORDEAUX ISSUE ON COVER.
Lot
2305
Hawaii, Kahului Railroad, 1894, 5¢-$1 complete, red A.B.N.Co. "Specimen" overprint, serifed letters, matched position set of right margin blocks of 4 (positions 14-15/19-20), o.g., never hinged, each pristine with rich vibrant color, nice overall centering, Very Fine; signed and plated A. Chang. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A WONDERFUL SPECIMEN EXHIBITION SET OF THE AMERICAN BANKNOTE COMPANY KAHULUI RAILROAD ISSUE.
In our 2015 Westpex sale, a matched set of singles sold for $4,750 hammer.
Realized: $4,750
Lot
2373
Great Britain, 1908-13 The Daisy Theakston Correspondence, a superb collection of 54 small hand-drawn and hand-painted covers measuring about 4¾" x 3¾". They were all mailed to one "Daisy Theakston" in Essex, and possibly were all illustrated by the same artist (a number have the artist's initials "SS"). Their subject matter includes a wide array of themes, ranging from landscapes to motor-bikes and speed boats. All have previously been mounted in an album with glue so their backs are stained and/or scuffed to varying degrees, but all are complete envelopes. 40 have the stamp, address and postmark on the front with the illustration; the other 14 have them on the reverse so that the address and stamps have suffered somewhat, but in only one case has the stamp been lost. This is one of the largest single pictorial correspondences to have survived and is quite impressive to behold. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
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Realized: $3,750
Lot
1981
California State Telegraph Co., 1870, black & blue, complete sheet of 12 comprising two panes of six with horizontal interpane gutter, original gum, handstamped serial no. 104 on all stamps (some double strikes incl. top two stamps); slightly toned, light horizontal crease and central crimping at center as usual since these were folded and stapled into booklets, top right corner rounded, Fine. Scott No. 5T1 $9,500 as two panes.
ONE OF THREE RECORDED COMPLETE SHEETS OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE TELEGRAPH COMPANY 1870 "BUSINESS" FRANK STAMP. THIS IS THE LARGEST POSSIBLE MULTIPLE, A GREAT TELEGRAPH STAMP RARITY.
The California Telegraph Company was the product of the 1861 consolidation of four companies responsible for the first transcontinental telegraph line. The 1870 Blue & Black typeset "Business" frank was the first issue. The black type was printed from a setting of six subjects repeated twice in a sheet of 12, with a blue background of ornaments also arranged in six subjects repeated twice in a sheet. Position 1 (top left in each pane of six) has an inverted ornament in the blue background at lower left (bottom row, second ornament), which breaks the pattern of diamond shapes. Position 3 has a repeating flaw in the "F" of "Free".
Booklets of 100 stamps were made by inserting 16 panes of 6 (96 stamps total) plus four additional stamps. The Kramer book speculates that stamps with red crayon serial numbers were added to the the booklets to make up the 100 count.
Realized: $2,100
Lot 2006 P
Caterson Brotz & Co., 5¢ black, large die proof on India, mounted in full card (151x228mm), with blue "18188" control number on reverse, bright and very fresh, Very Fine and choice, ex-Joyce (accompanied by his original album page).Scott No. RU1P1 $4,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE LARGE DIE PROOF OF THE UNISSUED 5¢ CATERSON, BROTZ & CO. PRIVATE DIE PLAYING CARD.
This stamp's die was approved in December of 1882 and 25,500 stamps were printed, however the law imposing tax on playing cards was repealed. All the stamps were sent to be destroyed, with three examples known to have escape this fate. Only four die proofs are known to exist. One of which resides in the B.E.P. archives.
Realized: $3,750
Lot
2094
Hawaii, Wells, Fargo & Co's. Express., printed brown Hawaiian paid frank on paste-up blue on the inside cover bearing 5¢ ultramarine (39) tied by purple "G.W. MacFarlane & Co., Honolulu, Jun 30 1885" (Gregory AUXFWDR-MACFAR, rarity 1RRRR) double oval datestamp with additional strike cancelling the paid frank, purple "Wells Fargo & Co., San Francisco, Jul 8, 1885" oval datestamp; some staining at bottom, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Jarrett. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED USE OF THE G.W. MACFARLANE & CO. OVAL HANDSTAMP AS A CANCELLATION AS AGENTS FOR WELLS FARGO & CO.
This cover was carried by the Oceanic Steamship Co. "Alameda" departing Honolulu July 1, 1885. G.W. MacFarlane & Co. was agent for Wells Fargo & Co. in the 1870s and therefore his company handstamp could be used to cancel the Hawaii stamp as agents for Wells Fargo & Co.
This cover is the basis for the Meyer-Harris listing M-H 656 on pg. 293 and illustrated in plate 4 on pg. 269.
Realized: $1,600