Lot
257 
War Dept., 1873, 2¢ dark red, entire with "Official Business" imprint uprated with 1¢ War (O83) tied by "New-York 'F' Oct 19" duplex, preprinted address to The Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army, Washington D.C., blue "Office of the Chief of Engineers, Oct 20 1876" double-oval receiver and red crayon "Casey" at left; opened at top and right, Very Fine and choice, ex-Ackerman; with 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott No. UO19 Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED USED 2¢ REAY ENTIRE, A REMARKABLE RARITY THAT HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED SINCE THE 1935 ACKERMAN SALE OF U.S. OFFICIALS.
This entire has not previously been recorded by the Scott or UPSS catalogs. Scott lists a used cut square of UO19.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
258
Justice Dept., 1873, 1¢ purple, bright color, tied by "Washington D.C. Mar 6" duplex on legal-size cover with "Department of Justice Blanks" imprint and illustrated Eagle and Shield seal to Clarksburgh W.V., with Chief Clerk's signed statement that no written matter was enclosed for the 1¢ printed matter rate; slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and rare use, ex-Huggins. Scott No. O25 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A RARE USE OF THE 1¢ JUSTICE PAYING THE PRINTED MATTER RATE.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
259
Navy Dept., 1873, 7¢ ultramarine, cancelled by purple quartered cork as forwarding postage, matching purple "Washington D.C., Jun 18, 1878" cds on cover originally mailed bearing 3¢ green (158), faulty at bottom, tied by cork cancel duplexed with "Baltimore Md., Jun 18" cds to Midshipman W.S. Benson on the U.S. Flagship "Hartford", care of the U.S. Navy Department at Washington D.C., readdressed to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reverse with Rio de Janeiro (7.30) arrival cds, Very Fine. Scott No. O39 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
The 7¢ Navy stamp was added to the cover to make up the 10¢ UPU transition rate to Brazil effective July 1st, 1877.
Realized: $5,250
Lot 260 o
Post Office Dept., 1873, 3¢ black, printed on both sides, with reverse showing strong second impression of upper portion of stamp design and partial plate imprint above, light target cancels, sound with full intact perfs all around, Very Fine; with 2014 P. Scheller certificate.Scott No. O49a $7,500.
WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST OF THREE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 3¢ POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT PRINTED ON BOTH SIDES VARIETY - A GREAT OFFICIAL ISSUE RARITY.
Only two other examples of this printing variety are known, with both examples showing faint yet visible portions of four stamps. Both of these examples have internal tears and one with an additional crease. The last time one sold at auction (ex-Markovits) was in a 2006 the Matthew Bennett auction which realized $7,475 and is the basis for current catalog value. The stamp offered here with strong second impression, an additional plate imprint and completely sound is by far the finest example known of this extremely rare variety.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (880KB)
Realized: $6,000
Lot
261
Post Office Dept., 1873, 30¢ black, strip of five with right selvage, tied by quartered cork cancels duplexed with "Washington D.C., Dec" cds on large manila Post Office Department, Office of Third Assistant Postmaster General envelope to the Postmaster at Winchester N.H. prepaying; couple small stamp flaws and minor left edge restoration, Very Fine and choice. Scott No. O55 Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED 30¢ POST OFFICE COVER, THE HIGHEST POST OFFICE VALUE ON COVER. A STUNNING DEPARTMENTAL OFFICIAL COVER.
The other recorded 30¢ Post Office stamp used on cover, is actually used on a large piece that has been deemed a fake by experts. There are no 24¢ or 90¢ Post Office covers recorded.
Realized: $13,500
Lot
262 ()
State Dept., 1873, 90¢ dark green, used with two 10¢ State (O62) singles, and 30¢ State (O66), all tied by matching Circle of Vs cancel duplexed with "Washington D.C. Jun 17" cds on blue linen-lined package front to Matamoros, Mexico, endorsed "Via Brownsville, Texas" at bottom left, partial manuscript "45" at top; bottom 10¢ nick, 10¢ and 30¢ stamps with light creases, mended edge nicks, Fine and rare use; with 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott No. O67 Estimate $30,000 - 40,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED COMBINATION OF THESE VALUES, ONE OF ONLY TWO 90¢ STATE COVERS, ONE OF ONLY EIGHT 30¢ STATE COVERS AND ONE OF ONLY TWO OFFICIAL COVERS FROM ANY DEPARTMENT TO MEXICO.
This cover was has not been offered since a 1950 auction where it was sold along with the other recorded 90¢ package front (ex-Waud, Markovits). The manuscript "45" indicates 45 half-ounce units (1 lb. 6½ oz.) at the domestic letter rate of 3¢ per ½ oz. for a total of $1.40 to the border. The handstamped "3.50" indicates 3.50 pesos Mexican postage due assessed in pesos at 2½ times the U.S. postage in dollars.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (847KB)
Realized: $32,500
Lot 263 S
State Dept., 1875 Special Printing, $2 green & black, overprinted "Specimen", without gum as issued, wide margins, exceptional freshness with rich deep colors, natural fiber inclusion barely visible from front, Very Fine, a great rarity with only 32 examples issued; with 2015 P.F. certificate.Scott No. O68SD $25,000.
A WONDERFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 1875 $2 STATE DEPARTMENT SPECIAL PRINTING ISSUE WITH SPECIMEN OVERPRINT.
Lot 264 o
War Dept., 1873, 30¢ rose, cancelled by sharp bold strike of Skull & Crossbones in Coffin cancel (Cole SK-51) of Pittsburg Pa., an Extremely Fine gem; with 2017 P.F. certificate.Scott No. O92 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A PERFECT BOLD STRIKE OF THE PITTSBURGH SKULL & CROSSBONES IN COFFIN CANCEL OF PITTSBURG PA. ON THE 30¢ WAR ISSUE.
This cancel is known used only from November 25-29, 1873.
Realized: $5,750
Lot
265 (
)
Agriculture Dept., 1879, 1¢ yellow, exceedingly well centered with well-proportioned margins, radiant color, without gum as issued, choice and Very Fine to Extremely Fine, ex-Engel, Gorham; with 1992 P.S.E., 1957, 1992, 2003 and 2017 P.F. certificates, latter Graded (VF-XF 85, SSV $6,500). Scott No. O94 $6,000.
A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1¢ 1879 AGRICULTURE AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY PRINTING ON SOFT PAPER.
As discerning collectors know, the Officials can be extremely difficult to obtain in sound, centered condition. This is especially true of the American printings on soft porous papers, which are prone to faults.
Realized: $4,500