2014 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SET OF BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE COLUMBIAN ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON INDIA.

Blocks of Columbian plate proofs are scarce on either India paper or card. These India paper corner-margin blocks on original card backing are great rarities. While Scott Retail differs by denomination between India and card, the entire set catalogues the same (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE SET OF MARGIN BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE COLUMBIAN ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD.

Blocks of the Columbian plate proofs are scarce, and these blocks with sheet margins and in such superb condition are great rarities. While Scott Retail differs by denomination between India and card, the entire set catalogues the same (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL SET OF THE COLUMBIAN ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD WITH "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY" IMPRINTS.

This set is highly exhibitable, and is the first of its kind we have offered. Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the imprints. (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED SHEET OF 100 OF THE 3-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.

All of the 1c stamps and most but not all of the 2c stamps of the Columbian issue were printed from 200-subject plates, with guide arrows between the two panes of 100. The perforating machine applied horizontal perforations and cut the 200-stamp sheets into panes of 100 in the same operation, normally leaving a trace of the guide arrow on the straight edge of each pane. Some of the 2c stamps and all of the 3c-$5.00 stamps were printed on smaller presses from plates of only 100 subjects, with no guide arrows. When the perforating machine applied horizontal perforations to sheets from the 100-subject plates, the cutting knife came down as before, and removed either the top or bottom sheet margin (and plate numbers), reducing by half the potential number of Columbian plate blocks that might have been available to collectors. This is also why so many Columbian stamps are reperforated at top or bottom rather than at the sides -- 10 stamps from every 100-subject sheet (or pane) would show a straight edge at either top or bottom. The 100-subject sheets were then divided into panes of 50 for distribution and sale at post offices. The undivided full sheets of 100, such as the one offered here, were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.

Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate blocks and singles (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.

The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.

Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.

With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR.

The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.

Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.

With 1949 A.P.S. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates. (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR. VERY FEW MULTIPLES ARE KNOWN OF THIS DISTINCTIVE COLOR ERROR, AND EVEN FEWER ARE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.

The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components.

Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.

With 2014 P.F. certificate as a block of five (top right stamp removed) (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED SHEET OF 100 OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE. THIS FORMAT WAS AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH THE PHILATELIC AGENCY IN WASHINGTON D.C.

All of the 1c stamps and most but not all of the 2c stamps of the Columbian issue were printed from 200-subject plates, with guide arrows between the two panes of 100. The perforating machine applied horizontal perforations and cut the 200-stamp sheets into panes of 100 in the same operation, normally leaving a trace of the guide arrow on the straight edge of each pane. Some of the 2c stamps and all of the 3c-$5.00 stamps were printed on smaller presses from plates of only 100 subjects, with no guide arrows. When the perforating machine applied horizontal perforations to sheets from the 100-subject plates, the cutting knife came down as before, and removed either the top or bottom sheet margin (and plate numbers), reducing by half the potential number of Columbian plate blocks that might have been available to collectors. This is also why so many Columbian stamps are reperforated at top or bottom rather than at the sides -- 10 stamps from every 100-subject sheet (or pane) would show a straight edge at either top or bottom. The 100-subject sheets were then divided into panes of 50 for distribution and sale at post offices. The undivided full sheets of 100, such as the one offered here, were only available from the Philatelic Agency in Washington D.C.

A Power Search review found only one other sheet of 100 and it contained some hinged stamps. Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate blocks and singles (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED COMPLETE PANE OF 50 OF THE 6-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE.

Some of the 2c stamps and all of the 3c-$5.00 stamps were printed on presses that accommodated plates of 100 subjects, with no guide arrows. When the perforating machine applied horizontal perforations to sheets from the 100-subject plates, the cutting knife removed either the top or bottom sheet margin (and plate numbers), reducing by half the potential number of Columbian plate blocks that might have been available to collectors. The 100-subject sheets were then divided into panes of 50 for distribution and sale at post offices.

Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate block and singles (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.

Prior to our dispersal of the huge MLG plate block collection in 2009, we had offered only two other Mint N.H. plate blocks of eight (as well as one plate block of six and one plate block of ten) since 1993. The MLG collection contained five, including the example offered here, which skewed all previous statistics. However, this plate block stands far above any other we have ever offered in terms of overall quality.

Ex MLG. With 2012 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING LIGHTLY-CANCELLED AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN.

Approximately half the quantity of $3.00 Columbian stamps was issued compared to each of the $1.00 and $2.00. We do not know the distribution of quantity for the two shades. Sales of the Columbians were disappointing to the post office, as collectors complained about the high price of the stamps. Plans to print additional quantities were cancelled. There was speculation in the dollar-value Columbians at the time they were issued, and the quantity which were used was fairly small.

With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,850.00). Of the main Yellow Green shade $3.00 Columbian, only one stamp has graded higher (at 98). (Image)

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