UNITED STATES STAMPS continued...
1869 PICTORIAL ISSUES continued...
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 21 |
P/P |
129aP4-122aP4 |
 #129aP4-122aP4, 15c-90c 1869 Pictorials, Centers Inverted, plate proofs on card, the phenomenal and truly breathtaking complete set of full sheet-margin imprint and
plate number blocks of eight, being the only complete set of such imprint and plate number blocks in existence, incredibly bright and fresh, radiant colors and impressions on immaculate proof paper, exceptionally wide and balanced margins all around,
the 15c, 24c and 90c are top sheet-margin positions, while the 30c is a bottom sheet margin position, each block with small mounting thin spot in corner of the extreme outer edge of sheet selvage and of little consequence, 15c with light diagonal
bend, overall extremely fine.Only one sheet of 100 of each of the four values were produced with inverted impressions. At one time the famous collector, the Earl of Crawford, owned the complete set of sheets. These were subsequently broken into
the imprint and plate number blocks of eight (two of each from the top and bottom of the sheets), only two sets of blocks of four and the remainder into singles. Just like the blocks of four offered in the previous lot, we know for a fact that one
set of imprint and plate number blocks of eight has not remained intact, leaving those from the magnificent Cunliffe Collection as the only complete set of these spectacular plate blocks in existence.Just this past April (2009) we had the
pleasure to sell one of the four values from the other known set of imprint and plate number proof blocks of eight that has been broken into four individual values. The 90c value was offered as lot #131 in our marvelous sale of the William J.
Ainsworth "Lincoln" related collection. Its appearance at auction elicited spirited bidding interest and realized a record $75,000.00 hammer (plus the buyer's premium), fully double its current catalog value of $37,500.00, which the Scott catalog has
assigned to each value. We expect that the appearance of this unique set of imprint and plate blocks will attract equally spirited bidding and when the hammer falls only one lucky collector will be able to claim ownership of one of the most
spectacular sets of Inverted Center multiples in the world. (imagea)
(imageb)
(imagec)
(Image) |
$150,000.00
SOLD for $230,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 22 |
O |
119b |
 #119b, 15c Brown and blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted, an especially handsome example of this popular 19th century error rarity, of which approximately 90 examples
exist, three of which are unused, possessing particularly intense colors and strong detailed impressions on bright paper, centered just a bit to top but perforations clear, lightly cancelled at top left leaving most of the inverted vignette
showing clearly, a couple of light diagonal creases at top left which seem to be endemic to most existing copies, otherwise nearly very fine for this; the Scott catalog value quoted is "for copies with only minimal faults"; 1982 PF certificate. (Image) |
$20,000.00
SOLD for $9,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 23 |
O |
119b |
 #119b, 15c Brown and blue, Ty. II, Center Inverted, another used example, this one centered a bit to bottom, relatively lightly cancelled, warm rich colors and
impressions, two small tears at right do not detract from this rarity's fine appearance; 1965 PF certificate. (Image) |
$20,000.00
SOLD for $6,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 24 |
O |
120b |
 #120b, 24c Green and violet, Center Inverted, used, wonderfully bright and fresh, intensely rich colors and strong detailed impressions on especially clean
paper, light and unobtrusive black cut cork postmark which leaves the inverted central vignette clearly visible, plus there is a portion of a red foreign transit postmark at bottom further complementing this stamp's overall eye appeal, unusually even
and intact perforations all around, centered just slightly to bottom, but clearly this stamp is among the finest centered available, very fine and choice.Only 88 copies of the perforated Twenty Four Cent 1869 Pictorial with the Center Inverted
exist. This number includes four unused stamps, two used pairs, one block of four and a single on cover - reducing the number of available single used examples to 75. Of this small existing population only a select few are completely fault free as is
the stamp offered here. Fewer still possess the overall beauty and eye appeal of this impressive stamp. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the premier quality examples, that also boasts a colored cancellation, of one of the most famous errors
in United States philately. The Scott catalog value quoted is "for fine centered examples with only minimal faults". Accompanied by a 1965 PF certificate. (Image) |
$25,000.00
SOLD for $37,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 25 |
O |
121b |
 #121b, 30c Blue and carmine, Center Inverted, a handsome appearing example of this important rarity, quite well centered within large margins, warm rich colors, neat
portion of a segmented cork cancel, small closed tear at left (certificate erroneously calls the tear at right), very fine appearance; only 45 examples of the Thirty Cent 1869 Pictorial Invert are recorded, of which 7 are unused and 38 used,
of this small total a large majority have faults more severe than the Cunliffe example; 1965 PF certificate. (Image) |
$110,000.00
SOLD for $25,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
1893 COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION ISSUE
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 26 |
 |
236 var. |
 #236 var., 8c Columbian, Printed on Both Sides, One Impression Inverted to the other, a pristine mint example of this controversial variety, with a rather clear
(right reading) second impression of the design on the gum side, which is inverted to the normal printing on the front, strong rich color, o.g., never hinged, nearly very fine; despite the presence of a 1979 PF certificate, which accompanies this
stamp, there is some dispute over whether this is a true double printing or some sort of offset, nonetheless a highly collectible variety for the inverted printing collector. (imagea)
(Image) |
Est. $400-500
SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 27 |
PB |
236 var. |
 #236 var., 8c Columbian, partial Second Impression Inverted, bottom right corner sheet-margin imprint, double letter "II" and plate "No. 130" block of fifteen (5x3),
with several areas on the face showing a very light but discernible second impression of the plate which is also inverted to the normal impression, particularly noticeable in the margins between several stamps, deep rich color, centered a bit to
bottom but still quite attractive, just a few separated perforations, pristine o.g. with some minor natural gum wrinkling, never hinged, fine; catalogs $4,305.00 as just a normal never hinged plate block of eight, plus five singles; 1978 PF
certificate specifically mentioning the "partial inverted 'SECOND IMPRESSION' (emphasis theirs) on the face." (Image) |
Est. $2,000-3,000
SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction |
1901 PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 28 |
 |
294a |
 #294a, 1c Pan-American, Center Inverted, a wonderfully fresh and crisp mint example of this rare and popular stamp, boasting especially deep rich colors and
strong detailed impressions on bright paper, attractively centered, full clean o.g. that has been relatively lightly hinged, very fine; in far superior condition to the vast majority of One Cent Pan-American Inverted Centers, many of which have
faults or lack gum; 1966 PF certificate. (Image) |
$12,500.00
SOLD for $10,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 29 |
O |
294a |
 #294a, 1c Pan-American, Center Inverted, a seldom offered used example of this popular error, possessing exceptional centering within uncharacteristically large
margins, deep luxuriant colors and strong impressions, unobtrusive central strike of a double oval Syracuse, N.Y. town postmark, some mild toning at right and a few inconsequential corner perf. tip creases, very fine appearance; any One Cent
Pan-American Inverted Center is rare, but used examples are especially difficult and under appreciated, as perhaps only 25 to 30 used examples exist; photocopy of a 2004 APS certificate. (Image) |
$16,500.00
SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 30 |
u |
295a |
 #295a, 2c Pan-American, Center Inverted, marvelously well centered amid unusually large margins, deep luxuriant colors and sharp detailed impressions, full o.g. which
has been relatively lightly hinged, very fine and quite choice. A magnificent and highly desirable example of this important 20th century error rarity. In a quality which places it among the very finest in existence - as it is among the scant few
that are not only well centered, but sound as well. There were originally approximately 200 of these inverts issued, but the number of examples which still survive today has yet to be determined with certainty, as the Datz catalog estimates a total
of 150 unused, a mint block of four and 3 to 5 used copies (we know of seven used examples). However, there are other estimates from knowledgeable sources which place the total number of surviving unused singles at less than half the Datz estimate.
In any case, the immense rarity of this popular stamp is unquestioned. The catalog value quoted in Scott is for copies with slightly disturbed gum and, of course, those in premium quality with full original gum such as this often command
substantial premiums over the catalog price. Accompanied by a 2009 PSE certificate grading the stamp VF 80 (OGh); SMQ $83,000.00. (Image) |
$55,000.00
SOLD for $47,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 31 |
O |
295a |
 #295a, 2c Pan-American, Center Inverted, an immensely rare used example, possessing exceptional centering within uncharacteristically large margins, deep
colors, neat oval registry cancel, small thin spot, a few slight creases and a corner crease ending in a small tear at top right, extremely fine appearance.Used 1901 Two Cent Pan-Americans with Inverted Centers are considered among the rarest used
stamps in United States philately. As, to date, there are only seven recorded examples. Each of the seven have small to severe faults, but only one other boasts the outstanding centering that the Cunliffe example possesses. This stamp laid
undiscovered for decades until it came to light in the late 1990's when a collection formed by a missionary during the first part of the 20th century was dispersed.An important rarity for either the serious collector of used United States stamps
or for the advanced collector of Inverted Centers of the World. (Image) |
$60,000.00
SOLD for $35,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 32 |
S |
296aSE |
 #296aSE, 4c Pan-American, Centered Inverted, with "Specimen" type E overprint, an unusually fresh and choice example of this rare Center Inverted specimen, with
neat violet "Specimen." handstamp placed vertically in right hand margin (reading down), deep luxuriant colors on uncharacteristically bright paper, plus its full original gum is not at all disturbed as is so often the case, relatively lightly
hinged, very fine for this; it has been reported that a total of approximately 200 Four Cent Pan-American Inverts were released, both with and without the "Specimen." overprint; very few of the "Specimen." overprinted examples are found fault free
such as the one offered here, let alone in such an unusually pristine state of freshness; also accompanied by very scarce original Post Office envelope which bears the handstamp "Specimen." and "Pan-American Series/4 cent inverted" two line handstamp
on front, both in violet; 1961 PF certificate. (Image) |
$10,000.00
SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 33 |
S |
296aSE |
 #296aSE, 4c Pan-American, Center Inverted, with "Specimen" type E overprint, an extremely rare bottom margin plate no. 1145 single, believed to be one of only two
known plate number singles with a "Specimen" overprint, with the overprint placed vertically in the left margin (reading down), completely free of the many faults often associated with this stamp, unusually bright and fresh, full clean o.g.,
minor hinge reinforcement of a couple of separated perforations, fine and handsome; 1996 PF certificate (Image) |
$10,000.00+
SOLD for $16,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 34 |
S |
296aSE |
 #296aSE, 4c Pan-American, Center Inverted, with "Specimen" type E overprint, remarkably the Cunliffe collection contains a third "different" example of this rare Invert
Specimen, this one with the violet "Specimen." overprint placed diagonally and inverted at bottom left, in essence a unique double Invert, especially deep luxuriant colors on fresh paper, full o.g. that is not at all disturbed, lightly hinged,
fine; a wonderfully fresh and unusual example of this rarity; ex-Balner. (Image) |
$10,000.00
SOLD for $5,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 35 |
|
296a |
 #296a, 4c Pan-American, Center Inverted, incredibly bright and fresh, sumptuously rich colors and deeply etched impressions, while centered just slightly to the
bottom, this stamp possesses far superior centering to most existing examples, full o.g. which is in a much fresher state of preservation than typically found and with only the slightest trace of disturbance endemic to virtually all known copies,
very fine and exceedingly choice.An exceptional and highly desirable example of this important 20th century rarity. In a quality which ranks it among the finest available, as it is one of a scant few that are not only attractively centered and
sound, but it is also virtually without the heavily disturbed gum which is present on the vast majority of known copies. There were two sheets of 100 each of the Four Cent Pan-American with centers inverted intentionally made for Post Office records.
An unknown number of these were overprinted "Specimen" and still others were destroyed. The non-"Specimen" examples were mounted in a Post Office Department book resulting in the vast majority of them having disturbed gum, and a number were also
thinned in an effort to remove them from mounting paper. Very few exist today with completely undisturbed original gum and/or free of faults.This wonderful stamp is accompanied by a 1960 PF certificate which states the stamp has "disturbed gum".
We happen to fully agree with the written notations on the certificate by the legendary dealer Jack Molesworth who states "Ridiculous comment, probably the most undisturbed gum of any copy known - most of which have gum missing, thinned, etc. from
being stuck down." We are confident once this stamp is resubmitted to the Philatelic Foundation, they will state, at worst, the stamp has slightly disturbed gum as usually found. In fact, the value quoted in the Scott catalog is for examples that
have "full original gum that is slightly disturbed." (Image) |
$70,000.00
SOLD for $55,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 36 |
|
296a |
 #296a, 4c Pan-American, Center Inverted, the phenomenal full bottom sheet-margin imprint and plate no. 1145 strip of four, deep luxuriant colors and strong
impressions, centered a bit to bottom as found on the majority of known examples of this Invert, o.g. which has been disturbed from having once been affixed to a Post Office ledger book (as have all of these), small sealed tear in the selvage only
below the left stamp, fine.This breathtaking multiple ranks as one of the greatest rarities in United States philately. That such a multiple exists, particularly being an imprint and plate number multiple, of one of the rarest and most popular of
all United States Inverts is most remarkable. It is, in fact, one of only two plate number multiples extant of the Four Cent Pan-American Invert. The other is a bottom margin partial imprint and plate no. 1145 block of four, with similar centering
and traces of original gum. That exceptional block, previously owned by the Weill Brothers and Jack Rosenthal, was sold in 1998 and was acquired by the famous philatelist, William H. Gross, and it is unlikely that multiple will be sold any time soon.
The Cunliffe strip of four is equally impressive and is unique as a full imprint and plate number multiple.There are only a handful of items that can be rightfully described as a true icon of American philately - this strip from the legendary
Cunliffe collection is one such item. Accompanied by a 1980 PF certificate. (Image) |
$550,000.00
SOLD for $260,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 37 |
/ |
295-99 |
 #295-99, 2c-10c Pan-Americans, handsome matched "set" of bottom right corner sheet-margin plate number blocks of four, each showing dual inverted denominations of
both the frame and central vignette plates in the very far bottom right corner of the sheet selvage, all with especially deep colors, centering ranges from just fine on a few to mostly quite well centered (the 8c block is especially choice), o.g.,
typically at least two or three stamps are never hinged within each block, overall fine-very fine; cataloged simply as hinged or never hinged singles as appropriate. (imagea)
(Image) |
as singles $3,336.00+
SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction |
MODERN ERRORS
| Lot |
Symbol |
CatNo. |
Lot Description |
CV or Estimate |
| 38 |
F |
1203a |
 #1203a, 4c Dag Hammarskjold, Yellow Background Inverted, single tied to unaddressed first day cover by "New York/N.Y./Oct. 23 1962/First Day of Issue" postmark, this is
the first day of issue for the original issue of this commemorative and not the special printing with inverted yellow, Scott #1204, that was released about a month later on November 16, 1962, the significance of this is that this cover bears an
example of the original printing with a true error inverted color, rather than the intentionally printed issuance that so many are familiar with, the stamp is a right sheet-margin example so it shows the error well, cover is very fresh and
extremely fine; the saga of this error marks the low point in Post Office Department/collector relations, when it became known that an inverted error sheet had been found, the Post Office Department proceeded to purposely print this issue with
inverted yellow producing over forty million stamps with the express purpose of destroying the value of the original error, they certainly were successful in doing so on the mint stamps, but the handful of dated first day covers, of which this is
one, establishes for a certainty the original error, extremely rare and both under-valued and under-appreciated as this is an inverted error on par with the small number of other similar inverted errors that have occurred in United States stamps over
the years; handstamped on reverse "Genuine First Day Cover/American First Day Cover Soc./ Certificate No. 466" and accompanied by the matching 1976 American First Day Cover Society certificate. (Image) |
Est. $1,500-2,000
SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 39 |
F |
1203a |
 #1203a, 4c Dag Hammarskjold, Yellow Background Inverted, a second example of this first day cover rarity, tied to unaddressed first day cover by "New York/N.Y./Oct. 23
1962/First Day of Issue" postmark, proving it to be from the original error printing, well centered stamp also showing the error well, the cancellation is perfectly struck and the cover itself is fresh and very fine; accompanied by a 1970 American
First Day Cover Society certificate. (Image) |
Est. $1,500-2,000
SOLD for $1,900.00
Will close during Public Auction |
| 40 |
|
1610c |
 #1610c, $1.00 Rush Lamp and Candle Holder, Intaglio Brown Inverted, well centered, unusually full and even perforations all around, immaculate o.g., n.h.,
extremely fine.A pristine never hinged example of this well-known and popular modern error - the so-called "C.I.A." Invert. (Image) |
$21,000.00
SOLD for $11,000.00
Will close during Public Auction |
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