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

**Air Post Issues**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
278°		A beautiful Mint Never-Hinged top plate block of twelve of the 24¢ 1918 Air Post DESCRIPTION 24¢ Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3), Mint N.H. top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and two "TOP" block of twelve, as perfect centering as this issue can achieve, bright and fresh CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $2,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States C3]	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $4,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
279°		A Mint Never-Hinged plate block of the 24¢ 1918 Air Post showing the Fast Plane variety with the vignette flying past its allotted space DESCRIPTION 24¢ Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3), Mint N.H. top arrow, double plate nos. 8493/8492 and two "TOP" block of twelve, vignettes shifted strongly to the left, the so-called "fast plane" variety where the wing breaks through the outer frameline of the design, well-balanced margins CERTIFICATION The Philatelic Foundation (1989) CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine; top left and top right stamps natural gum skips (not noted on accompanying certificate) DESCRIPTION 24¢ Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Grounded Plane Variety (C3 variety), bottom selvage block of four, vignette shifted down with wheels extending below the mid-point of "Cents"--this is known as the Extreme Grounded Plane variety--pristine gum described by the P.F. as "previously hinged," an opinion with which both Professional Stamp Experts and we disagree--in our opinion, it is Mint N.H., bright fresh colors on brilliant paper PROVENANCE "Saddleback" collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/22/2007, Sale 935, lot 176 Jay Hoffman, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/8-9/2008, Sale 956, lot 535, to William H. Gross CERTIFICATION The Philatelic Foundation (2003) as previously hinged, and harshly describing bottom left stamp with a small internal crease Professional Stamp Experts (2003) as Mint N.H., lower left stamp with a light natural wrinkle, which is more accurate CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine HISTORY AND COMMENTARY Lieutenant Boyle's Grounded Plane The world's first regular government airmail service was inaugurated in the United States on May 15, 1918. Planes were scheduled to take off simultaneously from New York and Washington, D.C., each stopping at Philadelphia on the three-city relay route. The plane out of the nation's capital was piloted by Lieutenant George Boyle, who had limited flying experience, but whose future father-in-law was the well-connected head of the Interstate Commerce Commission. With a crowd of onlookers and dignitaries, including President Woodrow Wilson and the First Lady, the northbound flight took off from Potomac Park field, behind schedule and headed south. The young pilot, wondering why things on the ground did not look quite right, crashed the plane in a farmer's field in Maryland, and the mail was carried back to Washington on wheels for the next day's flight. The Grounded Plane stamps, in which the wheels of the plane break through the top of "Cents", come from portions of three sheets. The discovery sheet was owned and broken up by John Klemann of Nassau Stamp Company. A second sheet was discovered in 1946 and sold in the Thomas A. Matthews sale (H. R. Harmer 11/4/1964), where it was purchased by Georges A. Medawar, publisher of Sanabria Airmail Catalogue. In Linn's 4/21/1986, specialist Joseph R. Kirker, Jr. published his research revealing the existence of a third source of this variety. All known sheets are from the first printing, which produced the world famous Inverted Jenny error. The first printing has selvage at bottom and left, and was trimmed to remove the top and right selvage; therefore, a plate block cannot exist. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States C3 var.]	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $4,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
280°		A phenomenal bottom-margin block of four of the 24¢ 1918 Air Post Grounded Plane variety--one of the finest that exists DESCRIPTION 24¢ Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Grounded Plane Variety (C3 variety), bottom selvage block of four, vignette shifted down with wheels extending below the mid-point of "Cents"--this is known as the Extreme Grounded Plane variety--pristine gum described by the P.F. as "previously hinged," an opinion with which both Professional Stamp Experts and we disagree--in our opinion, it is Mint N.H., bright fresh colors on brilliant paper PROVENANCE "Saddleback" collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/22/2007, Sale 935, lot 176 Jay Hoffman, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/8-9/2008, Sale 956, lot 535, to William H. Gross CERTIFICATION The Philatelic Foundation (2003) as previously hinged, and harshly describing bottom left stamp with a small internal crease Professional Stamp Experts (2003) as Mint N.H., lower left stamp with a light natural wrinkle, which is more accurate CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine HISTORY AND COMMENTARY Lieutenant Boyle's Grounded Plane The world's first regular government airmail service was inaugurated in the United States on May 15, 1918. Planes were scheduled to take off simultaneously from New York and Washington, D.C., each stopping at Philadelphia on the three-city relay route. The plane out of the nation's capital was piloted by Lieutenant George Boyle, who had limited flying experience, but whose future father-in-law was the well-connected head of the Interstate Commerce Commission. With a crowd of onlookers and dignitaries, including President Woodrow Wilson and the First Lady, the northbound flight took off from Potomac Park field, behind schedule and headed south. The young pilot, wondering why things on the ground did not look quite right, crashed the plane in a farmer's field in Maryland, and the mail was carried back to Washington on wheels for the next day's flight. The Grounded Plane stamps, in which the wheels of the plane break through the top of "Cents", come from portions of three sheets. The discovery sheet was owned and broken up by John Klemann of Nassau Stamp Company. A second sheet was discovered in 1946 and sold in the Thomas A. Matthews sale (H. R. Harmer 11/4/1964), where it was purchased by Georges A. Medawar, publisher of Sanabria Airmail Catalogue. In Linn's 4/21/1986, specialist Joseph R. Kirker, Jr. published his research revealing the existence of a third source of this variety. All known sheets are from the first printing, which produced the world famous Inverted Jenny error. The first printing has selvage at bottom and left, and was trimmed to remove the top and right selvage; therefore, a plate block cannot exist. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States C3 var.]	E. $ 20,000-30,000 SOLD for $28,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
281°		A beautiful Mint Never-Hinged plate block of the 16¢ 1923 Air Post DESCRIPTION 16¢ Dark Blue, 1923 Air Post (C5), Mint N.H. full top plate number 14829 block of six, choice centering, deep rich color and detailed impression on bright paper CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $2,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States C5]	E. $ 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $2,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
282°		One of the finest Mint Never-Hinged plate blocks of the 24¢ 1923 Air Post in existence DESCRIPTION 24¢ Carmine, 1923 Air Post (C6), Mint N.H. full top plate number 14840 block of six, perfectly centered, intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper PROVENANCE James H. Gray, Jr., Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 9/30/2005, lot 153, to William H. Gross CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine; absolutely flawless SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $2,500.00 HISTORY AND COMMENTARY Top position plate blocks are extremely difficult to obtain in Mint N.H. condition with superior centering. We have offered only nine Mint N.H. top position plate blocks since keeping computerized records, and none compare favorably to the example offered here. The Fogelson collection, known for its quality top plate blocks, had one in lightly hinged condition. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States C6]	E. $ 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $9,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
283°		A beautiful Mint Never-Hinged matched set of top plate blocks of the Graf Zeppelin issue DESCRIPTION 65¢-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15), Mint N.H. full top plate number blocks of six, 65¢ plate number F 20079, $1.30 plate number F 20087, $2.60 plate number 20090, choice centering throughout with well-balanced margins, rich colors PROVENANCE Dr. Frederick S. Fogelson, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 2/11/2005, lot 287, to Mr. Gross CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine; $1.30 and $2.60 few small natural gum skips as often found on this issue SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $15,200.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States C13-C15]	E. $ 7,500-10,000 SOLD for $14,500.00 Will close during Public Auction

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