2018 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE SET OF LARGE DIE PROOFS ON WOVE PAPER OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, WHICH WERE PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.

According to an article by Clarence Brazer, three sets were printed. One set -- each off card and with a blue control number on the face side -- is the so-called "Southgate" set, which was sold in our Sale 1040 (realized $24,000 hammer). Brazer notes that the other two sets -- including issues up to the 1933 Century of Progress -- were trimmed to small die proof size (about -3/16-inch margins) and mounted on loose leaf pages. One of these two sets was arranged in four albums and given to Franklin D. Roosevelt (the source of this Pan-American set). The other is said to have been presented to a friend and has not become available to philatelists. The margins on the set offered here are larger than noted by Brazer, who may have been mistaken as to the margin size.

Ex President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Price. Each with purple "Ex Roosevelt, Gimbels" backstamp. Unlisted in Scott (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY FIFTEEN FIRST DAY COVERS ARE KNOWN BEARING A COMPLETE SET OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED COVER TO FINLAND.

In an article in the June 1999 issue of First Days, Alan Berkun records eleven covers bearing complete sets of the Pan-American Issue, including four from the District of Columbia, four from Massachusetts, two from New York and one from Seattle, Washington (sold in our 2001 Rarities sale). An additional four covers, including this one, have been added to the census. A total of six are used from Washington D.C., including four to Germany and one to Switzerland; this is the only one addressed to Finland. The others have stamps arranged in the same configuration and New York registry numbers in the same range (19447, 19452, 19458, 19468 and 19474).

Ex Price. Scott Retail $30,000.00 (Image)

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A VERY FINE AND REMARKABLE FIRST DAY USE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE ON A SOUVENIR MAILING CARD WITH MULTICOLORED EXPOSITION-THEME DESIGN, USED TO A FOREIGN DESTINATION WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY'S POSTAGE DUE STAMP.

Apart from the complete set covers, only fourteen First Days are documented for the 1c Pan-American Issue, of which eight are on cover and six are on card. Of these, only two are to foreign destinations (the other to France).

Ex Dr. Martin and Price (Image)

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A VERY FINE AND SPECTACULAR FIRST DAY COVER OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, CANCELLED AT THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION IN BUFFALO AND BEAUTIFULLY ADORNED WITH EXPOSITION LABELS.

Of the 61 recorded First Day covers for this issue, only thirteen are on Exposition stationery. Of these, only four have tied Exposition labels. This is certainly one of the finest recorded examples of this issue.

Ex Dr. Martin and Price. With 1981 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. VERY RARE IN THIS CONDITION.

According to Johl, the 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country soon after release of the issue in May 1901, including Bessemer Ala., Richmond Va., Utica N.Y. and Connecticut. Most examples are off-center and/or have disturbed gum. The example offered here is remarkably fresh

Ex "Laila" and "Hampshire". With 1993 P.S.E. and 2009 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 ISSUE TOP VALUE WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $6,250.00). Only two examples have graded higher (at 98J and 100) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 342, WHICH IS AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.

With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100; SMQ $4,750.00). Only one hinged original gum stamp equals this grade with none higher. The highest Mint N.H. grade is Superb 98 (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. UNUSUALLY WELL-CENTERED FOR THIS RARE ISSUE.

The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).

With 2013 P.F. certificate (VF 80) (Image)

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FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1909 BLUISH PAPER ISSUE.

The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).

With 1969 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FRESH AND FINE. A RARE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 478.

Lewis Kaufman records only nine top and four bottom plate blocks of Scott 478. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518).

With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544, ON A POST CARD. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.

A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.

With 1982 A.P.S. and 2011 P.F. certificate noting town as Elmont Vt. A Google search shows there was never such a town (Image)

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