Lot 2265 o
1923, 1¢ green, rotary sheet waste, "Kansas City, Mo." Bureau precancel, rich color, faint vertical crease at left, still Fine; with 1967 and 2008 P.F. certificates.Scott No. 596 $100,000 for the grade of fine.
AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 1¢ ROTARY SHEET WASTE PERF 11 (SCOTT 596) ISSUE - A GREAT 20TH CENTURY RARITY WITH ONLY FIFTEEN EXAMPLES RECORDED.
This is without question the rarest United States issue of the 20th century. It was probably produced during the middle of 1924 however it was only discovered in 1962. This issue was the result of "coil waste" but rather than made from horizontal coil sheets, such as Scott #578-579 and #594-595, this issue was made from vertical coil waste sheets. The difference being in the measurement of the design as the horizontal coil design is wider since the plates have been stretched by curving them in that direction in order to fit the cylinder on the rotary press. In the same fashion, the vertical coil plates were curved in the vertical direction causing the design to stretch vertically.
To date, the Siegel census now contains fifteen examples of this issue of which about half are deemed faulty.
Realized: $120,000
Lot
2187 
1901, Pan-American, 4¢ deep red brown & black, center inverted, bottom margin plate number single with siderographer's initials, o.g., lightly hinged which is normally encountered with disturbed o.g., deep color and wide margins, slightly rounded corner at top left not detracting, Very Fine; with 2010 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 296a $85,000.
A WONDERFUL PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE 1901 4¢ PAN-AMERICAN INVERTED CENTER - A GREAT RARITY AS ONLY FOUR PLATE NUMBER SINGLES ARE RECORDED.
The 4¢ invert was printed deliberately as the result of a misunderstanding. After the discovery of the 1¢ and 2¢ inverts in mid-1901, the Third Assistant Postmaster, Edwin C. Madden, decided to track down any additional errors. He had his assistant instruct the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to send any inverted Pan-American stamps to Madden's office. No inverted stamps in fact remained on hand, and interpreting Madden's communique as an unconditional demand for inverts, the Bureau produced four sheets of them from the 4 cent plates and sent 400 copies on to Madden. About about half were marked "Specimen" and between 1901 and 1904 Madden distributed 172 examples.
Lot 1943 o
1869, 24¢ green & violet, center inverted, neat circle of wedges cancel, rich vibrant colors and crisp detailed impressions on bright paper, attractively centered especially for the issue with perfs well clear of the design all around, F.-V.F., the only example to receive this grade width none higher, Scott value for fine centering and with minimal faults, ex-Drucker; with 1987 and 2015 P.F., 2011 P.S.A.G. & 2011 P.S.E. certificates, the latter two Graded (F-VF 75, SMQ $92,500).Scott No. 120b $37,500.
AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1869 24¢ PICTORIAL ISSUE WITH INVERTED CENTER.
Lot 1939 o
1869, 15¢ brown & blue, type II, center inverted, black cork and small portion of red transit cancels, rich bright colors, centered low with design clear of perforations all around, Fine and attractive, this being one of two examples to receive this grade with none higher, Scott catalog value for fine centered examples with only minimal faults; with1995 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (F 70, SMQ $90,000).Scott No. 119b $22,500.
AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1869 15¢ PICTORIAL WITH CENTER INVERTED.
Lot
993 (
)
Pony Express, San Francisco, Dec. 8, bold strike of blue Running Pony oval datestamp, along with "San Francisco Cal." cds ties 10¢ green (35), guideline s.e. at right, rich color, on blue large part folded cover with top flap to Messrs. A.A. Lows & Bros., New York, endorsed "pr Pony Express" at top left, manuscript "1/4" rating for $2.50 quarter ounce rate, bold "Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, San Francisco. Cal." oval handstamp applied, after a 15-day delayed trip due to snow, green "Pony Express, The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph, Mo. Dec 23" oval datestamp was applied on the day of arrival; tiny erosion spot in ink mark, Very Fine, Frajola-Walske Census E46. Trip ET-47.; with 1984 P.F. certificate. Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
AN ATTRACTIVE PONY EXPRESS COVER WITH CLEAR STRIKE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO RUNNING PONY HANDSTAMP. ONE OF THE FEW PONY COVERS THAT HAS NO REPAIRS OR RESTORATION OF ANY KIND AND SHOWS ALL RELEVANT PONY EXPRESS AND POSTAL MARKINGS.
This cover was carried on the Saturday, December 8, 1860, trip from San Francisco that was delayed due to snow, arriving at St. Joseph on December 23rd.
Realized: $19,000
Lot
2400 ()
Revenue, 1863, First Issue, 3¢ Playing Cards, imperf, large margins including huge left margin, intense shade with a proof-like impression, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Cunliffe; with 2008 P.F. certificate. Scott No. R17a $40,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 3¢ IMPERFORATE PLAYING CARDS ISSUE - ONE OF THE RAREST FIRST ISSUE REVENUE STAMPS IN ANY CONDITION, NEVER MIND IN SOUND CHOICE CONDITION WITH FOUR MARGINS.
This issue, both perforated and imperforate, saw comparatively little use as the total issued was only 368,106. There is evidence that a mere 7,000 out of the total issued where in imperforate format.
We note only two unused examples of the 3¢ Playing Card imperforate issue, the example offered here and one offered in the Wildhorse collection. The fact that this stamp possesses four margins and is sound makes it remarkable.
Lot
2377 ()
Newspaper, 1894, $6 pale blue, without gum, wide margins and especially well centered for this difficult issue, brilliant color on fresh paper, Very Fine and choice; with 2004 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (VF 80). Scott No. PR101 $25,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $6 NEWSPAPER ISSUE - REGARDED AS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.
Only fifteen unused examples have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. Of these examples, most have a variety of faults and only five examples that are potentially in sound condition.
Lot
2242
1916, 5¢ carmine error, o.g., never hinged, perfect centering amid large evenly balanced margins all around, rich radiant color and remarkable freshness, a Superb gem, the only example to receive this grade with none higher; with 2013 P.S.A.G. and 2015 P.S.E. Graded certificates (both Gem 100, SMQ $27,500). Scott No. 467 $850.
WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 5¢ CARMINE PERF 10 ERROR IN EXISTENCE.
This example is by far the finest known. The P.S.E. Population Report shows the next highest graded example being a 98 and the "Certificate Search" shows only a 95 XQ as the highest graded by the Philatelic Foundation.
Realized: $10,500
Lot
1959
1869 (1875 Re-issue), 12¢ green, o.g., lightly hinged, perfect centering and encompassed by large evenly balanced margins, intensely deep and rich color remarkably fresh paper, Superb, this being only one of four examples to receive this grade with no examples grading higher; with 1980 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (Superb 98, SMQ $19,000). Scott No. 128 $2,250.
WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1869 12¢ PICTORIAL RE-ISSUE - A STUNNING GEM.
Lot 2407 o
Documentary, 1871, Second Issue, $200 red, blue & black, neat 1871 manuscript cancel, exceptional centering amid evenly balanced margins all around, wonderfully rich colors not normally encountered on this issue, inconsequential minute natural inclusion not mentioned on clear certificate, a Superb gem, ex-Weill; with 2016 P.S.E. Graded certificate (Superb 98).Scott No. R132 $8,250.
CONSIDERED TO BE THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 1871 $200 "SMALL PERSIAN RUG" ISSUE IN REGARDS TO CENTERING, COLOR AND OVERALL CONDITION.
A P.S.E. Graded 90 example was sold for $17,000 hammer price in Siegel's March 2014 sale.