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Sale 69: The Robert Markovits Collection of Special Delivery

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10 Select Items

Lot 1207    

Philippines, Special Delivery, 1907, 10¢ Ultramarine, Bureau of Insular Affairs Special Printing, o.g., bottom plate number 1774 and imprint block of 8, rejoined between blocks and some other separation, three stamps with tiny thin spots, Fine and excessively rare multiple, ex-Todd; with 1978 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. E2A    Estimate $30,000 - 40,000.

THE STUNNING REJOINED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10¢ PHILIPPINES SPECIAL DELIVERY SPECIAL PRINTING, THE LARGEST KNOWN SURVIVING MULTIPLE. A GREAT RARITY OF PHILIPPINES PHILATELY.

In the summer of 1907, at the request of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, the issue 1903-1904 was specially printed on very white paper. Bob Markovits' original research indicated that two panes of 50 of this stamp were originally overprinted on plate 1774. Both bottom plate blocks exist but this plate block of eight is not only the largest known plate block, but the largest known multiple of this issue. Five blocks of four are recorded as well as the other bottom plate block of six, the latter of which realized $143,750 in the Whitpain auction in 2009. It is believed that the top portion of each of the two panes were never broken and disappeared so that no more than a total of 16 singles, five blocks of four, and the plate blocks of six and eight for a total of 50 stamps existing.

Both known plate blocks were acquired by J. Murray Bartels and sold to Economist Stamp Company prior to November 1917, when both were sold to one of the earliest Special Delivery collectors, W. Parsons Todd, long-time mayor of Morristown N.J. The plate block of six was purchased directly by Markovits from Mr. Todd 30 days prior to his death and this second plate block of eight was acquired in the 1978 Todd auction. The plate block of six was subsequently sold a decade later by Markovits and then resold to Wampler in the 1990s, where Whitpain purchased it. This plate block shows the characteristic damaged "N" variety in the word "Cent" and is easiest to identify because it was printed on U.S. no. E6, which only exists as a special printing.

Realized: $28,000

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Lot 1077 P   

Special Delivery, 1895, 10¢ Blue, Imperf Proof on Stamp Paper, Top Plate Number 257 and Imprint Block of Six, o.g., never hinged except bottom center stamp with hinge remnant, large margins all around, intense color and impression, top left stamp with natural gum wrinkle, fresh and Extremely Fine; with 2016 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. E5P5    Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.

THE STUNNING UNIQUE IMPERFORATE TOP PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 1895 WATERMARKED 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, THE ONLY IMPERFORATE PLATE BLOCK AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

One imperforate pane of 50 imperforates originally traded to Gilbert E. Jones for work done at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. There were two plate blocks, the top offered here and the bottom that permanently resides in the Knight Collection at Brown University, Providence R.I.

Realized: $25,000

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Lot 1023    

Special Delivery, 1885, 10¢ Blue, First Day of Service Cover, tied by "Clifton Spring N.Y. Oct 1, 1885" first day of service duplex along with 2¢ red brown (210) on cover to Orange N.J., reverse with "Orange N.J., Rec'd., Oct 2, 1PM, 1885" arrival cds; flap tear, Very Fine.
Scott No. E1    $27,500.

ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FIVE RECORDED FIRST DAY OF SERVICE COVERS OF THE 1885 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.

Orange N.J. was one of the 555 authorized post offices that offered service starting on October 1, 1885. The stamps however would have been available across the country to prepay the Special Delivery fee on letters to one of the 555 towns that offered service.

References: Illustrated and discussed in Robert L. Markovits article in Collectors Club Philatelist, May-June 2001, pp. 133-139.

Realized: $17,000

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Lot 1022    

Special Delivery, 1885, 10¢ Blue, tied by octagonal "Floyd C.H. Va. Sep 29 1885" duplexed with cork cancel along with 2¢ red brown (210) tied by matching cork, on cover to Columbus Oh., reverse with "Columbus. O. Rec'd. Oct 1, 5PM, 1885" arrival cds; light stain, F.-V.F.; with 1979 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. E1    Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

THIS IS THE EARLIEST KNOWN USE OF THE 1885 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, DELIVERED ON OCTOBER 1, 1885, THE FIRST DAY OF SERVICE.

This letter was mailed two days prior to the first day of stamp issuance and inauguration of the special delivery service. It was deliver on the first day of special delivery service.

References: Illustrated and discussed in Robert L. Markovits article in Collectors Club Philatelist, May-June 2001, pp. 133-139.

Realized: $17,000

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Lot 1066 P   

Special Delivery, 1894, 10¢ Blue, Unwatermarked, Imperf Proof on Stamp Paper, block of four, margins all around, intense color and impressions, slightly disturbed o.g., top left stamp with thin speck, otherwise Very Fine.
Scott No. E4P5    $13,000 as two pairs.

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED 1894 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IMPERFORATE BLOCKS, THIS BEING THE ONLY ONE WITH ORIGINAL GUM.

The two recorded recorded blocks of the 10¢ 1894 Special Delivery imperforate on stamp paper are:
1. Block of Four, original gum, the block offered here.
2. Block of Six, without gum, some creases and bends, ex-Whitpain, realized $13,800.

Realized: $11,500

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Lot 1040    

Special Delivery, 1888, 10¢ Blue, bottom imprint and plate no. 552 block of eight with wide selvage; perf separations, o.g., never hinged, Fine.
Scott No. E2    $25,000.

AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 1888 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.

Each of the first four Special Delivery Issues (E1-E4) is rare in plate block form. There are maybe ten known of the 1888 Issue.

Realized: $6,250

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Lot 1075 P   

Special Delivery, 1895, 10¢ Blue, Imperf Proof on Stamp Paper, left margin arrow pair, extra large margins all around, intense color and impression, full o.g., neatly hinged once at top, bottom stamp n.h., fresh and Very Fine, a unique position multiple; with 1978 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. E5P5    $4,500.

Realized: $3,000

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Lot 1092 P   

Special Delivery, 1902, 10¢ Rose Red, Trial Color Large Die Proof on India, die sunk on 188x153mm card, brilliant radiant color and impression, backstamped "61556" proof number; light hinge mark, Extremely Fine.
Scott No. E6TC1ag    $4,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED 1902 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE LARGE DIE TRIAL COLOR PROOF IN ROSE RED.

Realized: $3,250

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Lot 1090 P   

Special Delivery, 1902, 10¢ Salmon, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India, die sunk on full size 204x153mm card, intense color and impression, backstamped "60846" proof number, Extremely Fine.
Scott No. E6TC1a; $4,000 as similar    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED 1902 10¢ SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE LARGE DIE TRIAL COLOR PROOF IN SALMON.

Realized: $2,900

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Lot 1178 P   

Airmail Special Delivery, 1936, 16¢ Red & Blue, Small Die Proof on Wove, measuring 43.5x28mm, large margins all around, deep rich color; couple trivial light tone specks, Very Fine, ex-Matthews.
Scott No. CE2P2    $4,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED SMALL DIE PROOF OF THE 16¢ BI-COLOR AIR POST SPECIAL DELIVERY.

Realized: $2,800

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