Siegel Sale 1000 continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. THIS MAGNIFICENT BLOCK WAS ACQUIRED BY THE OWNER IN THE SIEGEL 500TH SALE -- IT IS FITTING THAT IT IS BEING OFFERED IN SALE 1000.

The Pan-American inverts were the first bicolored postage stamps produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the first invert postage errors issued by the Post Office since the 1869's. The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in several post offices around the country. Thirteen blocks of four, a block of six and a block of 20 are recorded in our Levi records, some of which may have been broken into singles. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING STAMP AND ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Estimates of surviving examples range from an early count (1945) of 55 unused and 2-3 used to the 1998 Datz estimate of 150 unused, 3-5 used and a block of four intact. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. This Extremely Fine sound stamp with original gum is among the finest known examples.

Ex Newport. With 1973 and 2007 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED PLATE NUMBER AND PLATE LETTER SINGLES OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. A PHENOMENAL SHOWPIECE.

The production and distribution of the 4c Pan-American Invert occurred under extraordinary circumstances. After the 1c and 2c Inverts were discovered, rumors of a 4c Invert caused the Post Office Department to order a special printing of 4c Inverts to retain as specimens. It was reported that two sheets of 200 were printed, for a total of 400 stamps, however, as we shall describe further on, at least four plate impressions were made. It appears that only the lower halves of the sheets were finished with gum and perforations.

If the reported quantities are correct, 203 4c Inverts were released with or without the small "Specimen" overprint. Some examples, both with and without the overprint, were given away by Third Asst. Postmaster General Edwin C. Madden. When postal authorities learned of the practice, they destroyed 194 copies and put one pane of 100 into the official archives. At a later date, 97 of these were traded for rarities missing from the archives.

We are in the process of studying this fascinating Invert "Special Printing" and have recorded imprint and plate number examples of the 4c Pan-American Invert from the bottoms of four different sheets of 100, each comprising left and right panes of 50 (six of the eight panes are represented by at least one bottom-margin position). The sequence of vignette plate letters in the bottom selvage, which were normally printed in the top selvage, can be used to identify Left or Right pane positions. These letters were applied each time the vignette plate was used, and the 4c Invert has the longest sequence of letters we can find on any 4c Pan-American, presumably because the plate was used for the last time to make the Invert "Special Printing" after the regular stamps were printed. There are at least 48 separate entries of the two or three-letter initials on the 4c Invert vignette plate.

For the purpose of identification, we will refer to these four sheets as S1, S2, S3 and S4 (Left/Right for each). From S1 Left we record three singles with plate letters and the unique plate block of four with the imprint and plate number. None of the S1 Left imprint stamps have a "Specimen" overprint. From S1 Right we record the imprint and plate number strip of four recently sold in the Cunliffe auction by Spink-Shreves. It, too, does not have a "Specimen" overprint. From S2 we record only one imprint and plate number single, from the Right pane and without overprint, ex Odeneal (Siegel Sale 941, lot 1207). From S3 we record an imprint and plate number single from the Left pane (Siegel Sale 745, lot 717) and another from the Right pane (the stamp offered here). Finally, from S4 we record an imprint and plate number single, from the Left pane and with "Specimen" overprint, ex Green and Cunliffe.

Scott Catalogue states that "Values are for examples with full original gum that is slightly disturbed" (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR JUMBO MARGINED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.

Ex Scarsdale. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $900.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date which only five others have achieved (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS GORGEOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.

With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $1,700.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

This plate block is especially desirable as it is from the bottom position, which shows plate numbers for both the frame and vignette. (Image)

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