Lot
1868 (
)
4¢ Deep Blue Green, 1883 Special Printing, without gum as issued, deep intense color indicative of this issue, exceptional centering and beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a wonderful example of this extremely rare Special Printing issue; signed S. Anderson, with 1946, 1992 and 2013 P.F. certificates, the later Graded (VF-XF 85, SSV $87,500). Scott No. 211D $65,000.
WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1883 4¢ AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. SPECIAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE.
This Special Printing is from a trial printing by a new steam-powered American Bank Note Co. press. Approximately 1,000 of these stamps (in sheets of 200 with an imperforate gutter between panes of 100) were delivered as samples to the Third Assistant Postmaster General and subsequently made their way to the public market.
Official Postal records show that twenty six examples of this Special Printing where issued. The Philatelic Foundation has certified all but one of these. Out of the mere twenty five that has been certified, five examples are recorded with small flaws.
Lot
2517 
Confederacy, New Orleans, La., 1861, 2¢ blue, three singles, two with ample to large margins, other with large margins to just into frameline, each with deep rich color, all tied by two neat strikes "New Orleans, La., Dec 1" cds on 1861 folded letter and prices current to Woodville, Miss.; trivial tiny sealed cover nick at top center, Extremely Fine, one of the two finest multiple franking usages of the New Orleans 2¢ Blue Provisional issue, ex-Emerson, Caspary, Kilbourne and Gross; with 1967 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 62X1 $20,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL MULTIPLE USAGE AND ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS BEARING THREE OR MORE NEW ORLEANS 2¢ BLUE PROVISIONAL STAMPS.
This multiple franking of six cents, is a one cent overpayment of the five cent rate.
Lot 1553 o
St. Louis, Mo., 1846, 10¢ black on gray lilac, types I, II & III, positions 2-4-6, vertical strip of three, pen stroke cancellation, mostly large margins to just shaving outer frameline at three corners, leaving middle stamp with large margins and extremely fine, sharp impression on bright fresh paper, top stamp with minor wrinkle and small surface rub which is neither are mentioned in certificate, otherwise F.-V.F., ex Faiman; with 1965 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 11X5 $40,000.
ONE OF TWO OFF COVER VERTICAL STRIPS OF THREE OF THE 10¢ ST. LOUIS PROVISIONAL ON GRAYISH LILAC PAPER SHOWING ALL THREE TYPES.
Realized: $23,000
Lot
2240
1918, $2 orange red & black, flawless o.g., never hinged, perfect centering and encompassed by huge evenly balanced margins all around, fresh with rich colors, a Superb jumbo gem, a truly amazing stamp, this is The Only Example To Receive This Penultimate Grade; with 2013 P.S.E. Graded certificate (Gem 100J, SMQ $7,250 for only a 98). Scott No. 523 $1,200.
WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1918 $2 ORANGE RED & BLACK ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
Realized: $17,000
Lot
1811
1869, 90¢ carmine & black, o.g., lightly hinged, wide margins and well centered especially for this notoriously off centered high value issue, gorgeous deep rich colors on bright paper, very fresh, Very Fine and choice, a marvelous mint example of the 1869 90¢ Pictorial issue; with 2012 P.S.E. certificate. Scott No. 122 $12,000.
Realized: $15,000
Lot
1085
1776 (Sep. 19) Providence, R.I. to London, England, folded cover from Rev. J. Graves to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts at London, censored with: "State of Rhode Island & p., This letter is permitted to be forwarded in the Brig. Triton. Nichs. Cooke Govr.", carried by cartel Brig Triton from Providence through the British blockade to Liverpool, two-line "Liverpool / Ship Lre" handstamp with manuscript "5" rating, neat London "10 / FE" arrival backstamp; couple small edge tears, clean and Very Fine, ex-R.M. Willcocks. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED AMERICAN CENSORED COVERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THIS BEING THE ONLY TRANSATLANTIC EXAMPLE.
The interesting letter starts, "Since Independency has been proclaimed here, my 2 Churches have been shut up, - still go onto baptize their Children, visit their Sick, bury their Dead, & frequent their respective Houses with the same Freedom, as usual; & add, with Gratitude, that their Benefactions to me, since the above Period have been great…" He mentions he last wrote Sep. 25th 1775.
The 140-ton brigantine "Triton" was captured by the Rhode Island Privateer Sloop "Montgomerie" around late Aug. 1776. The "Triton" had been bound from Barbados to Whitehaven, England when captured. She was sent into Providence, arriving on 16 September 1776. The court records indicate that she was libeled on 13 September 1776 and tried on 7 October 1776. The "Triton" was purchased by several British prisoners and fitted out as a cartel to carry prisoners to England. Among those who received permission from the Rhode Island government to leave, on 15 November 1776, was Captain Martindale, his two mates and four apprentices, all of the Triton. This letter was censored and held for this cartel voyage to England.
The other recorded American censored cover is a July 5th 1775 cover from Barbados to Halifax, Nova Scotia via Machias Me. where docketed "Opened by order of the Committee of Safety for Machias Jas Lyon". This letter was carried by the same Brig "Triton" with Capt. Gideon from Barbados to Rhode Island, leaving Sep. 6th 1775 for Newbury and London. It was offered in the Edward Siskin collection (Bennett sale 290 lot 151, $15,600).
Realized: $27,000
Lot
2080
1917, 1¢ green, perf 10 at top, choice centering within large margins, bright color, o.g., lightly hinged, Very Fine; with 1983 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 498g $17,500.
AN EXTREMELY RARE LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1¢ GREEN 1917 ISSUE PERFORATED 10 AT TOP.
The 1¢ 1917 perforated 10 at top or bottom is one of the rarest of all compound perf varieties with less than 15 examples recorded, including several contained in multiples. Of the unused singles known, this is one of the best centered.
Realized: $6,000
Lot 1875 P
1893 Columbian complete, large die proofs on India, die sunk of card (227x136mm), each with die number and A.B.N.Co. imprint below, in original gold gilt full leather bound presentation album with each card sign by the designer and picture engraver in pencil, some minor faint card toning on first two cards (1¢ & 2¢ issues) with others in bright pristine condition appearing as if they where printed yesterday, only the slightest edge wear to cover, Very Fine and choice.Scott No. 230P1-245P1 $12,300.
A REMARKABLE INTACT PRESENTATION ALBUM OF THE COLUMBIAN LARGE DIE PROOFS SIGNED BY BOTH THE DESIGNER AND ENGRAVER OF EACH ISSUE.
Realized: $12,000
Lot
1243
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co., multicolor design on 1908 cover showing Boy Shooting Rifle, franked with 1903 2¢ shield (tiny defect) tied by Chicopee Falls, Mass. Oct. 7 machine flag cancel, reverse with text advertising in black & red reading "Stevens Fire Arms give Universal Satisfaction"; slightly reduced at right, opened on two sides, small edge tear, Very Fine, One of the rarest and most spectacular designs known. This cover realized a record $5250 + 15% in our Sale 51 - February 5-6, 2013. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
311
Panama, Colombia 1881, Registration, 10c red on orange, with manuscript "245" and "10 grams", used with Colombia 1c green, 2c rose (2), mostly four margins, tied by two strikes of "Panama" oval postmark on circa late May 1883 cover to Cali, Colombia, forwarded to Cartago, receipt docketing on face, Very Fine and attractive. Scott No. F8 + 104 (2), 112 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE AND EXCEPTIONAL FRANKING PREPAYING THE 5C LETTER RATE PLUS 10C REGISTRY FEE.
Only 2,000 registry letters were mailed at Panama during 1883, and manuscript numbers were used. The approximate mailing date can be derived from the number recorded for the Apr. 17th 1883 cover.
Realized: $3,250