The William H. Gross Collection: United States Multiples continued...

DESCRIPTION

2¢ Pink, Type I (248), Mint N.H. wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 20 block of six, all six stamps have choice centering, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed

PROVENANCE

Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine; few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced in ungummed part of selvage

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$750.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

We have offered only one Mint N.H. top position plate block since keeping computerized records, with selvage significantly narrower than the example offered here. Another top position is contained in an intact pane of 100. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 248]

DESCRIPTION

2¢ Carmine, Type II (251), wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 126 block of six, bottom stamps Mint N.H., deep rich color

PROVENANCE

Dr. Frederick S. Fogelson, Shreves sale, 2/11/2005, lot 16, to Mr. Gross

CONDITION NOTES

Fine; thin spot in top center selvage, few perf separations in ungummed selvage sensibly reinforced, top right stamp with blue "RWB" backstamp

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$4,000.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

We have offered only two other wide top plate blocks since keeping computerized records. Both are hinged and have similar centering. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 251]

DESCRIPTION

5¢ Chocolate (255), wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 162 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, each stamp with gorgeous centering, lovely warm color

PROVENANCE

Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross)

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1991)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$1,500.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

We have offered only two other top position plate blocks since keeping computerized records. Both were offered in our 2009 "Whitpain" auction. Fogelson had one with narrower selvage, and W. Parsons Todd had one with similar selvage. Based on centering and selvage size, the example offered here is the finest we have encountered. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 255]

DESCRIPTION

2¢ Carmine, Type II (266), full top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 169 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering throughout, radiant color

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine-Extremely Fine; bottom left stamp natural wood fiber inclusion above left "2"

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$525.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

We have offered only two from the top position since keeping computerized records. Only one of those had wide selvage comparable to the example offered here. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 266]

DESCRIPTION

3¢ Purple (268), Mint N.H. full top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 448 block of six, choice centering throughout, deep rich color and proof-like impression

PROVENANCE

Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross)

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine-Extremely Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$825.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 268]

DESCRIPTION

4¢ Dark Brown (269), wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 195 block of six, original gum, tiny hinge slivers applied as a preventive measure, adherence on gum of top left stamp, choice centering, deep rich color

PROVENANCE

Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$775.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 269]

DESCRIPTION

6¢ Dull Brown, USIR Watermark (271a), top "(BUREAU, ENGRAV)ING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 248 pair, original gum, lightly hinged (mostly in selvage), right stamp with clear "R" of watermark reading up, also extends into selvage, left stamp with "U" of watermark reading up and also into selvage, deep rich color

PROVENANCE

Siegel Auction Galleries, 1964 Rarities of the World, 3/27/1964, Sale 267, lot 66, acquired by Cunliffe at that sale or shortly thereafter

Robert H. Cunliffe, Spink Shreves Galleries, 6/26/2008, lot 656, to William H. Gross

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1959)

CONDITION NOTES

Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

Listed but unpriced as an imprint and plate number multiple

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

The "USIR" (United States Internal Revenue) watermark error occurred when a supply of paper reserved for revenue stamp production was used for printing the 6¢ and 8¢ postage stamps. The 6¢ "USIR" Watermark error is considerably rarer than the 8¢, especially in original-gum condition. We record less than ten original-gum copies, and only one other in a multiple, which is a pair with straight edge at left containing one example of the error. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 271a]

DESCRIPTION

8¢ Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a), wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 58 strip of three, original gum, lightly hinged, plate number selvage with clear "I" of watermark just extends into center selvage, "I" of watermark straddles left and center stamps, "R" of watermark is mostly on the right stamp but also extends into the center stamp, all three stamps have the watermark error, rich color

PROVENANCE

Siegel Auction Galleries, 1991 Rarities of the World, 4/20/1991, lot 605

Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 11/5/2004, lot 605, to William H. Gross

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1987)

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine; two perforations separated at right between stamp and selvage (not mentioned on certificate)

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$20,000.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

The "USIR" (United States Internal Revenue) watermark error occurred when a supply of paper reserved for revenue stamp production was used for printing the 6¢ and 8¢ postage stamps. Our records contain four wide top imprint and plate number strips of three available to collectors, plus one with narrow selvage from the bottom position. The unique plate block of six is contained in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 272a]

DESCRIPTION

10¢ Dark Green (273), Mint N.H. wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 55 block of six, lovely color, typical centering for multiples of this issue

PROVENANCE

W. Parsons Todd, Siegel Auction Galleries, 9/19/1977, Sale 517, lot 216

Dr. Frederick S. Fogelson, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 2/11/2005, lot 29, to William H. Gross

CONDITION NOTES

Fine-Very Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$3,500.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

This is an extremely rare plate block in Mint N.H. condition. Our computerized records contain only one other, from the left position (perfs touch design). A review of name sales also failed to find another. If we expand the criteria to include hinged plate blocks, there are perhaps three or four others, all with narrower selvage. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 273]

DESCRIPTION

50¢ Orange (275), bottom "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 75 block of six, original gum, few hinge marks but appears lightly hinged overall, radiant color

CONDITION NOTES

Fine-Very Fine; few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced at top left

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$7,500.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 275]

DESCRIPTION

$1.00-$5.00 1895 Issue (276-278), three full or wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number strips of three: $1.00 Plate 76, full top selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, left stamp Type I and right two stamps Type II, choice centering and detailed impression on bright paper; $2.00 Plate 84, wide top selvage, original gum, barely hinged--we see no evidence of hinging but certificate states otherwise--choice centering and bright color; $5.00 Plate 85, wide top selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, remarkably choice centering and rich color

PROVENANCE

Raymond Fox, Siegel Auction Galleries, 10/18/2000, Sale 829, lots 310-312 (featured on front cover of catalogue)

Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 12/7/2001, lots 394-396, to Mr. Gross

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (each with 1988 certificate, $1.00 and $2.00 as Mint N.H. and $5.00 hinged in selvage only; also with 2000 certificates stating previously hinged)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$17,750.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a matched set of top imprint and plate number strips of this issue. Since keeping computerized records, we have offered only one $1.00 1895 Type I-II combination plate block (1967 Rarities of the World) and three top imprint and plate number strips. Only five $2.00 1895 plate blocks are recorded (Scott value $85,000.00), and only one $5.00 1895 plate block is known (Scott value $200,000.00). The matched set offered in this sale is a perfect way to show the First Bureau Issue dollar values with imprints and plate numbers. This set was featured on the cover of our Sale 829 when it was offered on behalf of Raymond Fox. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

Get Market Data for [United States 276-278]