Shreves Philatelic Galleries, Inc. Sale

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Cayman Islands continued...

1907-09 KING EDWARD VII POSTAGE AND REVENUE POSTAL HISTORY continued...

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

2221

S.G. #26

S.G. #26, 1907 1p Carmine, single tied to entire newspaper wrapper to New York, tied by light Type 5 postmark of Georgetown dated April 27, 1909, very fine; an extraordinarily rare usage paying two times the overseas printed matter rate of 1/2p, such mail was almost always thrown away so examples are seldom encountered (Scott #22). (Image)

Est. 200-300

SOLD for $90.00
Will close during Public Auction

2222

S.G. #26

S.G. #26, 1907 1p Carmine, tied to attractive cover to Georgetown by "East End Post Office/Cayman Islands/SP 10 13" double circle c.d.s., Type 2 pmk., two strikes of Boddentown c.d.s. on September 11th and 12th and Georgetown receiving c.d.s. on the 13th, all markings are on the front, extremely fine; while this is quite possibly philatelic as it is 1/2p overpaid (though it appears to be an intra-Island lady's note), it is the earliest documented date of the Type 2 East End cancel; ex-Green (Scott #22). (Image)

Est. 400-500

SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction

2223

1911 Interesting unfranked cover to England, posted at Boddentown with "Boddentown/Grand Cayman/OC 25 11" Type 2 c.d.s., similar Georgetown Type 5 pmk. on the same day, marked due with "T" in circle and "2D/F B A" rate marking to collect double the 1p Empire rate, Kingston transit, slight edge wear with a small tear at left, fine and a quite rare posting by an islander who thought the recipient could better afford the postage. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $350.00
Will close during Public Auction

2224

S.G. #27

S.G. #27, 1908 2 1/2p Ultramarine (slightly discolored), tied to commercial cover to Montgomery Ward & Co. in Chicago by "Boddentown/Grand Cayman/FE 24 1913", Georgetown transit on the reverse and red Montgomery Ward receiving handstamp on the front, tiny edge tear at top and filing staple holes, fine and quite early usage out of this small town (Scott #23). (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $190.00
Will close during Public Auction

2225

S.G. #28

S.G. #28, 1908 3p Purple on yellow, right gutter margin single tied in single franking across the letter join on the reverse of a registered cover by "Cayman Brac/Cayman Islands/JA 25 11 c.d.s., Type 2 pmk. of Skate Bay (light as usual, but easily identified), posted to Toronto, Canada with Jamaica and New York registry ovals, very fine; this is from the correspondence of Reverend A. Sims, a religious publisher in Toronto, and the single 3p on his reply envelope pays the 1p Empire rate plus 2p registry fee (Scott #24). (Image)

Est. 400-500

SOLD for $220.00
Will close during Public Auction

2226

S.G. #28, 29

S.G. #28, 29, 1908 3p Purple on yellow and 4p Black and red on yellow, singles of each tied to legal size "On His Majesty's Service" cover to the United States by "George Town/Grand Cayman/MY 16 08" c.d.s., Type 4 pmk., Jamaica registry oval, New York transit, backstamped El Paso, Texas, small tear at bottom right and folds at left not affecting stamps or markings which are very fine; scarce and proper franking on registered double rate cover (Scott #24, 25). (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

2227

S.G. #29

S.G. #29, 1908 4p Black and red on yellow, well centered stamp on single franking registered cover to England, tied by "George Town/Grand Cayman/AP 6 08" c.d.s., Type 4 pmk., Jamaica registry oval of April 24th (even at this period it took three weeks to get to Jamaica), Birmingham transit, backstamped Windermere, small cover edge tear at top, very fine; an early use of this scarcer stamp within about a month of issuance, particularly scarce in single franking paying double the 1p Empire letter rate and 2p registered fee (Scott #25). (Image)

Est. 400-500

SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

2228

S.G. #30a

S.G. #30a, 1908 6p Dull purple and bright purple, tied to handsome single franking registered cover to the United States by "Georgetown/Grand Cayman/JA 24 16" c.d.s., Type 5 pmk., routed through Cuba with a Havana transit, plus "Ft. Pierce & Key West R.P.O./C.O. Meltzer/Tr, 85/ Feb 5 1916" railroad c.d.s., backstamped Aberdeen, Miss., also with hand drawn blue "Grand Cayman" registry label in use at this period, trace of toning to the cover at right not affecting the stamp, very fine; this single franking pays the U.P.U. multiple rate instituted in 1911 of 2 1/2p + 1 1/2p for a double rate letter, plus 2p registry fee, an interesting and scarce commercial usage (Scott #26). (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $170.00
Will close during Public Auction

2229

S.G. #33

S.G. #33, 1908 1/- Black on green, the scarcer Crown and "CA" watermarked issue, a single franking on a linen lined postal coin case envelope (bottom back flap missing), stamp tied by indistinct "George Town/Grand Cayman/MY 11 08" c.d.s., Type 4 pmk., three strikes of Jamaica registry ovals with Bristol registry etiquette over one, Bristol transit on the reverse and backstamped Woking, very fine except as noted; an interesting commercial single franking usage during the short period when the insurance rate was in effect paying 6p insurance, 2p registry fee and four times the 1p Empire letter rate for up to 4 oz., rare usage of this scarce value (Scott #29). (Image)

Est. 500-750

SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

2230

Scott #33

S.G. #33, 1908 1/- Black on green, watermarked Crown and "CA", tied to neat cover by "George Town/Grand Cayman/JY 17 08" c.d.s., Type 4 pmk., Jamaica registry oval and New York transit, backstamped Wollaston (Boston), Mass., very fine and attractive; quite likely overpaid but a scarce stamp on cover (Scott #29). (Image)

Est. 200-300

SOLD for $260.00
Will close during Public Auction

1908 "2 1/2D" ON 4p GEORGETOWN PROVISIONAL

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

2231

S.G. #35

S.G. #35, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, top margin plate no. 1 single of this extraordinarily scarce provisional, quite well centered with fresh colors, nicely struck surcharge, o.g., very lightly hinged in the selvage only, the stamp is never hinged, very fine, an exceptionally desirable position piece as only four sheets, or a total of 480 stamps, were overprinted, thus only sixteen stamps were printed adjacent to the plate number; 1998 BPA certificate (Scott #20; $1,750.00 for hinged). (Image)

for hinged £1,600

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

2232

S.G. #35

S.G. #35, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, a wonderfully well centered mint single, bright colors, surcharge was struck slightly to the left of the 4p value that it was intended to obliterate, o.g., very lightly hinged, extremely fine, a select example in this premium quality; 1986 Peter Holcombe certificate (Scott #20; $1,750.00). (Image)

£1,600

SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction

2233

S.G. #35

S.G. #35, 1908 "2 1/2D" on 4p Brown and blue, a showpiece mint block of four, being marvelously well centered and with rich colors, full o.g. with some light overall age yellowing and a few trivial natural gum bends, all of which is of very little significance, very fine; the only block of four recorded outside of the Royal Collection; the rarity of this block cannot be overstated, as most of the greatest Cayman Islands collections of the past were lacking this important and largest recorded multiple, it represents a key ingredient in building an award-winning collection; clear 1965 and 1995 BPA certificates; ex-Cooley (Scott #20; $7,000.00+). (Image)

£6,400+

SOLD for $14,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2234

S.G. #35

S.G. #35, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, lovely and amazingly rare horizontal pair tied to piece from a registered cover by portion of Georgetown Type 5 pmk. dated April 27 and not showing the year date, a premium used pair featuring strong intense colors and being especially well centered, extremely fine; used examples of this provisional surcharge are considerably scarcer than their mint counterparts, with only a small portion of the already exceptionally small printing of only 480 being used, and used pairs are great rarities; the type V cancel did not come into use until over a year after this provisional was issued, so this is used a bit out of period, as are all of only three used pairs that are recorded and this being one of the finest, if not the finest known; 1994 BPA certificate (Scott #20; $5,000.00+). (Image)

£5,500+

SOLD for $6,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2235

S.G. #35

S.G. #35, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, tied to a most unusual "On His Majesty's Service" registered cover to England, originally franked with 1/2p Green block of four and 1p Carmine single (S.G. 25, 26), both tied by "George Town/Grand Cayman/FE 10 08" c.d.s., Type 4 pmk., this was the proper commercial franking for the 1p Empire letter rate and 2p registry fee, then a "2 1/2D" Surcharged stamp was applied two days later and tied by a similar Georgetown c.d.s. dated February 12, 1908, the first day of issuance, a small note in the hand of the postmistress at left states "just surcharged 2 1/2 on 4", this cover routed through Cuba with Havana transit and backstamped Darlington, both stamps and cover are fresh and attractive, the surcharge value is remarkably well centered with strong rich colors and a perfect strike of the surcharge, filing pinholes to the top left of the cover, very fine and exceedingly choice.Gwendolyn Parsons, the postmistress of the Cayman Islands, was well known for her excellent service to collectors and dealers alike, much to the chagrin of the higher postal authorities. The stamps of the Cayman Islands quickly drew the attention of philatelists around the world and it was her desire to meet their demands, which were considerable. These demands actually led to shortages of stamps that plagued the Islands in 1907-1908. The surcharging of stamps only exacerbated the problem because everyone wanted them. This cover shows her desires to please one of her good customers by applying this new provisional on a cover because she knew he would be pleased to receive it. As Richard Maisel notes "The cover is therefore a commercial or a philatelic cover or both depending on how one chooses to look at it." The "2 1/2D" Surcharge on the Four Pence King Edward is the scarcest of all provisional surcharges. This fact illustrates itself from the individual stamps to the varieties as well as its usages. The total census of covers with this value stands at a mere four examples. All have interesting and differing aspects to them. The cover offered here is one of only two covers with this rare provisional used on the first day of issue. And in addition it gives us a fascinating insight into the functioning of the Cayman Islands postal service and, as was noted in the Meredith sale, this is probably the best vouched for example of this surcharge; 1984 PF and 1996 BPA certificates; ex-Watkins, Meredith (Scott #20). (Image)

Est. 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $14,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2236

S.G. #35

S.G. #35, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, exceptionally well centered single tied to attractive and clean "On His Majesty's Service" cover to the United States from Gwendolyn Parsons, the postmistress of the Cayman Islands, includes a letter from her to this addressee datelined February 20th that makes reference to this provisional and states that there were only two sheets surcharged!, the stamp is tied by a light strike of "George Town/Grand Cayman/MR 3 08" c.d.s., Type 4 pmk., posted to New Bedford, Mass. with Kingston, Jamaica transit on the reverse, extremely fine in all regards; this usage is exactly the purpose that this provisional surcharge was intended to fulfill, as the supply of 2 1/2p values for the foreign letter rate had been exhausted, this marvelous cover shows this usage in the proper time period before the new supply of 2 1/2p King Edward Postage & Revenue stamps were issued at the end of March; this is believed to be one of only four covers franked with this surcharge and also one of less than that which is a properly used commercial cover in such superlative condition; a highly important postal history rarity of the Cayman Islands; 1988 BPA certificate; ex-Marston, Cooley (Scott #20). (Image)

Est. 10,000-15,000

SOLD for $14,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2237

S.G. #35a

S.G. #35a, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, double surcharge, a pristine mint example of this rare surcharge variety, featuring excellent deep colors in the stamp, which is exceptionally well centered besides, the overprint is well struck and shows a distinct doubling of each "2", o.g., lightly hinged, very fine; the rarity of the double surcharge on this scarcest of all the provisionals cannot be overemphasized, of the small printing of 480 stamps only six examples in total are recorded with double surcharge, these are divided between two mint singles, two used examples and two mint se-tenant pairs with the normal, one of which is in the Royal Collection, the Richard Maisel Large Gold Medal Collection of Cayman Islands remarkably contained an example of all three (see following lots for the mint pair and used single), the example offered here is one of the two known mint singles and a great rarity of this popular country; accompanied by a 1997 BPA certificate stating S.G. #35 showing surcharge partially doubled, it is our observation that most of the double surcharges of this provisional are more or less partial and this example compares very similarly to the used example offered here which was certified by the BPA as SG #35a variety handstamp double, Mr Maisel recognized and exhibited both as the double surcharge variety; ex-Green (Scott #20a; $35,000.00). (Image)

£32,500

SOLD for $42,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2238

S.G. #35, 35a

S.G. #35, 35a, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, double surcharge, the celebrated horizontal pair with the double surcharge se-tenant with a normal surcharge, the right stamp clearly showing complete doubling, wonderfully well centered, o.g., trivial barely perceptible toned spot in the right stamp of little consequence, very fine and especially choice.The surcharge varieties of the Cayman Islands have given us some of the great rarities of the Cayman Islands, as well as of the entire British Empire. The "2 1/2D" surcharge on Four Pence King Edward VII is no exception to this. The current census shows that there are two mint examples, two used examples and two pairs with the error se-tenant with the normal. This last differs only in that the other pair is found in the Royal collection.The pair offered here is the only known example in private hands. Furthermore the quality of the double surcharge is outstanding, being distinct in all four elements of the surcharge and being displaced from each other by as much as a full millimeter. This stands in contrast to most of the six known examples in that most show only a partially doubling. In fact this double surcharge is much more distinct than the one in the other pair residing in the Royal Collection. We have used the combined catalog of a single and the error, but this figure in no way reflects the rarity or the premium deserved by this se-tenant multiple. One of the world's most important rarities and a crowning jewel to an award-winning collection of Cayman Islands or a serious British collection. Accompanied by a 1967 RPS certificate; ex-Prappas, Gibralter (Scott #20, 20a; $36,750.00+). (Image)

£34,100+

SOLD for $62,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2239

S.G. #35a

S.G. #35a, 1908 "2 1/2D" Surcharge on 4p Brown and blue, double surcharge, an unusually well centered single possessing attractive deep colors, neatly cancelled with a portion of the Type 5 Georgetown c.d.s., a very fine and wonderfully choice example of great rarity; this example is exceptionally rare in two respects, very few of the "2 1/2D" Surcharges were used and those that were are often used out of period, as is this example which bears a cancel that did not appear until more than a year after the issuance of this surcharge, of course it is also rare in that it has a double surcharge that shows a distinct doubling of each "2", being one of two used examples that are recorded, both of which have Type 5 Georgetown cancels and thus are used out of period, but for which the catalog values specifically apply; a marvelous rarity for the Cayman Islands collector or the collector of used British Empire; signed T. Allen and accompanied by 1967 RPS and 1994 BPA certificates (Scott #20a; $21,000.00). (Image)

£20,000

SOLD for $18,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2240

S.G. 35b

S.G. #35b, 1908 "2 1/2D" on 4p Brown and blue, dented frame variety, position L 1/6, attractive mint single showing this incredibly rare variety, deep rich colors, o.g., (which is ever so slightly disturbed in one small area), very fine; this issue was surcharged in such small quantities (only four sheets) that only four examples of this Glover flaw, or dented frame variety, were originally surcharged, and this sole example is the only example yet known to exist, certainly an important rarity for anyone attempting a comprehensive specialized collection of Cayman Islands; 1995 BPA certificate; ex-Marston, Cooley (Scott #20 var.). (Image)

£11,000

SOLD for $26,000.00
Will close during Public Auction