2012 Rarities of the World continued...

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED TRIAL COLOR PROOFS OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON AIR POST ISSUE. ONE OF THE GREAT PROOF RARITIES IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, Lillard wrote that only 23 were used. Two examples of the Black Trial Color proof are recorded. The other was sold in our 1974 Rarities of the World sale and is also ex Rudy.

With 1996 R.P.S. certificate. Listed in Scott in a footnote to No. CL1 and priced at $7,500.00 -- the same as an unused stamp and a number which has not changed since it was first priced in the 1993 Specialized Catalogue. The Schoendorf booklet prices the proof at 3-times the unused stamp (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING TÊTE-BÊCHE PAIR OF THE RARE BUFFALO BALLOON AIR POST ISSUE.

The Buffalo Balloon stamp, designed by John B. Lillard and engraved by John H. Snively, was printed by Wheeler Brothers Printers in Nashville, Tennessee. Only 300 were printed in tête-bêche arrangement from a single die. The stamps were intended for use on a balloon flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, which took place on June 18, 1877. Of the 300 that were printed, Lillard wrote that only 23 were used (see lot 247 for letter).

Based on previous examples we have handled, at least some of the Buffalo Balloon stamps were exposed to moisture around the time they were printed. This accounts for the fact that only two of the eleven tete-beche pairs certified by the Philatelic Foundation are potentially sound. The others are mostly thinned in one corner where they were stuck together.

With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARING STAMP AND AN IMPORTANT HISTORICAL ARTIFACT OF THE BUFFALO BALLOON MAIL.

The booklet Buffalo Balloon Mail 1873-1877 by Schoendorf discusses and quotes this letter. It was sent from New York by stamp designer John B. Lillard to Jno. Skinner in Albany and reads "Dear Sir, I enclose you the sheet of Balloon stamps they were issued by myself in June 1877 and used in the trip I made in the Balloon Buffalo with Prof. King only 300 were issued and 23 used. Very best, J.H.B. Lillard." It is from this letter that the information on how many stamps were used originates. The Schoendorf booklet states that the letter was sent with only one stamp but it does not cite its source for that information. We sold an example in the Jeanette Rudy collection in 2004 with a manuscript "X" marking nearly identical to this one and with similar margins.

Scott Retail for unused No. CL1 $7,500.00 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 SERIES SPECIAL DELIVERY STAMP, SCOTT E6, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

Scott E6 is the first of the "Messenger on Bicycle" Special Delivery designs. It was released as part of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's "Series of 1902" regular postage issues (Scott 300-313). Scott E6 is printed on double-line "USPS" watermarked paper with 12-gauge perforations. In 1908 the "Helmut of Mercury" Special Delivery stamp was issued. However, the Messenger on Bicycle design was re-issued in 1909 from new plates, and the same basic design was issued continuously until the Motorcycle Delivery design replaced it in 1922. Changes in the paper and perforation gauge for the issues from 1909 until 1922 mirror the changes in the Washington-Franklin series of the same period.

Scott E6 is not particularly scarce (it has a Scott value of $525.00 unused), but experienced collectors and professionals know that very few examples of the 1902 Issue exist with wide and balanced margins. The P.S.E. Population Report statistics support this statement, and a review of our auction records with Power Search provides visual confirmation. None of the stamps (singles or in blocks) in our database compare to this Mint N.H. Gem 100 example.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100, unpriced above the grade of 98 in SMQ, SMQ $11,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this desirable grade. One has been graded Superb 98, and four have been graded 95. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT ULTRAMARINE 1914 SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, SCOTT E9.

We have sold only three Mint N.H. plate blocks of Scott E9 since 1993 (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE APEARANCE. A SCARCE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 50-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK POSTAGE DUE. THIS IS THE FIRST PLATE BLOCK WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.

Scott Retail as singles (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1914 3-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE IN THE DULL ROSE SHADE. THIS IS THE FIRST PLATE BLOCK IN EITHER THE CARMINE LAKE OR DULL ROSE SHADE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.

This issue is rare in any block form -- we have not offered even a block of four in either shade since keeping computerized records. We have offered only one Mint N.H. single in this shade since keeping computerized records.

Scott Retail as singles (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. WE HAVE OFFERED ONLY TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED COPIES SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.

Scott No. J58 has the highest catalogue value of any regularly issued Postage Due stamp. Only the 1c-3c Special Printings, Scott Nos. J8-J10, catalogue higher. This stamp is the key to any meaningful collection of the Postage Due issues. We have offered only one other in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records, and the perforations touch at left on the other copy.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80, SMQ $30,400.00). This is the only graded Mint N.H. copy. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND RARE USED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1914 50-CENT POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.

We have offered only three others since keeping computerized records. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.

Generally, the 1c Unwatermarked Perf 10 is found with poor centering. Our review of major plate block and Postage Due auctions, including Cole, Simon, Todd, and Wampler, revealed only three examples: the ex-Cole (and Drucker) plate block (plate 5541), the ex-Wampler plate block (plate 5510), and one from our 2003 Rarities sale (plate 5522). All three are top positions with selvage reduced.

With 1966 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com