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

**Special Delivery Issues**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
284°		A magnificent plate block of ten of the 10¢ 1888 Special Delivery with extra wide top selvage DESCRIPTION 10¢ Blue, Special Delivery (E2), wide top left corner block of ten with "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY" imprint and "No. 552" plate number, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged only in gummed part of selvage, choice centering with wide margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression PROVENANCE "Southern Cross" collection, Greg Manning Auctions, 3/22-23/1993, lot 1105 CERTIFICATION The Philatelic Foundation (1983) CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $19,800.00 as hinged plate block of eight and two Mint N.H. singles HISTORY AND COMMENTARY The Speedy Messenger The second Special Delivery stamp, Scott E2, was made from two plates--numbered 552 and 73. Plate 552 was made first and was numbered in the series of 1882; Plate 73 was numbered in the series of 1890. There are perhaps ten known of the 1888 Issue, Scott E2, of which about half come from top positions. The same plates were used to print the Orange Special Delivery issue, Scott E3, which was issued in conjunction with the 1893 Columbian Issue. The plate block offered here is one of the finest we have ever encountered. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E2]	E. $ 10,000-15,000 SOLD for $17,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
285°		A beautiful Mint Never-Hinged plate block of the 1893 10¢ Columbian Special Delivery Issue DESCRIPTION 10¢ Orange, Special Delivery (E3), Mint N.H. wide bottom corner selvage block of eight with "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY" imprint and "No. 552" plate number, choice centering, radiant color CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine; tiny hinge reinforcements on the ungummed face side, tiny perf thin in selvage at lower left SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $16,500.00 HISTORY AND COMMENTARY The 1893 Columbian Special Delivery Issue There are perhaps a dozen plate blocks known of the 1893 Issue, Scott E3, which is an extension of the Columbian Issue commemoratives. Two plates were used to print this issue--the same two plates that were used to print Scott E2. Our informal survey of the records of The Philatelic Foundation and auction catalogues found ten, plus two contained in a pane which may no longer be intact. The plate block offered here is one of only two we could find from the bottom right position of Plate 552. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E3]	E. $ 5,000-7,500 SOLD for $6,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
286°		A rare Mint Never-Hinged plate block of the 10¢ 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Special Delivery Issue DESCRIPTION 10¢ Blue, Special Delivery (E4), Mint N.H. wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 77 block of six, better centering than normally seen on plate blocks of this issue, deep rich color and proof-like impression PROVENANCE Siegel Auction Galleries, 1966 Rarities of the World, 2/24/1966, lot 146 Eliot Weisman, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 5/8/1998, lot 1300, to William H. Gross CERTIFICATION The Philatelic Foundation (1990) CONDITION NOTES Very Fine; small hole at top of left selvage next to the plate outline SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $29,000.00 HISTORY AND COMMENTARY The First Bureau Special Delivery Issue There are perhaps a dozen plate blocks known of the 1894 Issue, E4. Only one plate number was used for this issue--Plate 77. This was issued concurrently with the 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 245-263). The difficulties experienced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing during their early attempts at producing postage stamps are well known to collectors. Poor centering and numerous unpunched perforations are the norm for this issue. Our informal survey of the records of The Philatelic Foundation and auction catalogues found ten plate blocks. Only one other is in Mint N.H. condition; it also has wide selvage, but the perforations touch the design on the bottom stamps. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E4]	E. $ 7,500-10,000 SOLD for $9,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
287°		A beautiful wide top plate block of the 10¢ 1895 Watermarked Bureau Special Delivery Issue DESCRIPTION 10¢ Blue, Special Delivery (E5), wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 1257 block of six, bottom center stamp and ungummed selvage lightly hinged, deep rich color, proof-like impression PROVENANCE Dr. J. Paul Wampler, Shreves sale, 4/24-25/1998, lot 401, to Mr. Gross CONDITION NOTES Very Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $5,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E5]	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $2,100.00 Will close during Public Auction
288°		A rare plate block of Scott E5 from Plate 882, showing dots in curved line above messenger DESCRIPTION 10¢ Blue, Special Delivery, Dot in Curved Frame Above Messenger (E5a), wide bottom "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 882 block of six, top stamps lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., gorgeous centering, deep rich color PROVENANCE Siegel Auction Galleries, 1995 Rarities of the World, 6/5/1995, Sale 767, lot 309, to Mr. Gross CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $5,000.00 as normal plate block without premium for the variety HISTORY AND COMMENTARY Only stamps from Plate 882 show the dots in frame that are found on the earlier American Bank Note Co. stamps (Scott E1-E3). The Bureau of Engraving and Printing removed the dots from the transfer rolls used to make the Special Delivery plates, except for Plate 882, which was made from a transfer roll with the dots left intact. This is one of only two plate blocks from this plate we have been able to locate with assistance from Lewis Kaufman. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E5a]	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $8,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
289°		Beautiful top plate block of the 10¢ Helmet of Mercury Special Delivery issue DESCRIPTION 10¢ Green, Special Delivery (E7), full top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 4916 block of six, bottom center stamp single hinge mark, others Mint N.H., wide and balanced margins, deep rich color PROVENANCE Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross) CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $1,075.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E7]	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $1,800.00 Will close during Public Auction
290°		A superb wide top plate block of the 10¢ Perf 10 1914 Special Delivery DESCRIPTION 10¢ Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E9), wide top plate number 5854 block of six, lightly hinged, gorgeous centering, remarkably fresh color on bright paper PROVENANCE Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross) CERTIFICATION The Philatelic Foundation (1992) CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $3,000.00 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E9]	E. $ 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $2,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
291°		An exceedingly rare Mint Never-Hinged plate block of the 10¢ 1916 Perf 10 Unwatermarked Special Delivery issue DESCRIPTION 10¢ Pale Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E10), Mint N.H. full top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 5520 block of six CONDITION NOTES Very Fine SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $7,250.00 HISTORY AND COMMENTARY This plate block is extremely rare in Mint N.H. condition. This is the first Mint N.H. plate block we have offered since keeping computerized records, and The Philatelic Foundation has never certified one. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E10]	E. $ 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $4,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
292°		A scarce wide top plate block of the 10¢ Perf 11 Unwatermarked Special Delivery issue with Type VII imprint DESCRIPTION 10¢ Ultramarine, Special Delivery (E11), wide top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" Type VII imprint and plate number 5520 block of six, lightly hinged, choice centering with wide margins, brilliant color PROVENANCE Paul Cheyney (collection sold privately to Mr. Gross) CONDITION NOTES Extremely Fine; bottom left stamp trivial natural inclusion SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019) $725.00 HISTORY AND COMMENTARY The 1917 Perf 11 Unwatermarked Special Delivery stamps were printed from plates with and without the Bureau Type VII imprint. Plate blocks with the imprint and plate number are much scarcer than those with just the number. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com Get Market Data for [United States E11]	E. $ 500-750 SOLD for $400.00 Will close during Public Auction

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