2014 Rarities of the World continued...

**Back-of-Book: Air Post thru Officials**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
1184°		16c Red & Blue, Air Post Special Delivery, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (CE2a). Mint N.H. double plate no. and two "Top" block of six with registration markers, vignette plate no. F21497 and frame plate no. 21492, Positions 1-3/6-8 noted in pencil on back, brilliant color and wide margins, gum crease in bottom right stamp is utterly inconsequential EXTREMELY FINE. THE UNIQUE PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 16-CENT RED & BLUE AIR POST SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE, IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. The Datz book states that 10 pairs are reported. In addition to being the unique plate block, the margins are wider on this block than on the three other multiples of three or larger we have encountered (two blocks of four and strip of three) (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 60,000.00 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction
1185°		10c Blue, Special Delivery (E4). Mint N.H., deep rich color nicely contrasted by bright white paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all around EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 10-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE IS A NOTORIOUSLY CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE -- P.S.E. HAS GRADED THIS STAMP XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO. The 1894 series, being the first printed by the Bureau, encountered many production problems. Most stamps were poorly centered and have small margins. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $14,000.00 as 95, $33,000.00 as 98). Only one has graded higher and no others share this grade. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 2,250.00 SOLD for $9,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
1186		30c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J13). Original gum, rich color, nice margins and centering, tiny perf scuff at left VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING. It has been estimated that no more than 179 examples of the 30c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public. The vast majority of surviving original-gum examples are faulty. With 2014 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 9,750.00 SOLD for $1,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
1187		5c Bright Claret (J25). Bottom imprint and plate no. 318 block of ten, lightly hinged, vivid color, choice centering, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a scarce well-centered plate block of the 1891 5c Bright Claret Postage Due (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 1,450.00 SOLD for $1,200.00 Will close during Public Auction
1188		2c Vermilion (J30). Mint N.H., perfectly centered within unusually wide margins, vibrant color and impression on immaculate paper EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT VERMILION 1894 POSTAGE DUE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING EXAMPLES OF THIS ALWAYS DIFFICULT STAMP. At the time the Bureau of Engraving and Printing issued this stamp they were struggling with problems with adequately perforating the stamps. That makes this issue, as well as the regular issues (Scott 246-263), often difficult to find in such choice condition. This stamp should be considered a true condition rarity. With 2013 P.F. certificate, as well as a 2013 P.S.A.G graded certificate (Superb 98). It is worth noting that in the P.S.E. Population Report (only for P.S.E. graded stamps) the highest grade recorded to date is XF-Superb 95J) (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 1,900.00 SOLD for $3,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
1189		12c on 6c Offices in China (K6). Mint N.H., outstanding centering within extraordinarily wide margins, vibrant color EXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT OFFICES IN CHINA ISSUE GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $3,250.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and is shared by just one other (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 220.00 SOLD for $5,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
1190	P	$2.00-$20.00 State Dept., Plate Proofs on India (O68P3-O71P3). Complete sheets of ten of the four dollar-denominated values, India paper on approximately 170 x 120mm cards, with alignment "+" marks extending onto cards, bright colors, some small scattered toning spots mostly around edges, $20.00 with small margin tear VERY FINE. A RARE SET OF COMPLETE SHEETS OF TEN OF THE DOLLAR-VALUE STATE DEPARTMENT PLATE PROOFS ON INDIA. The dollar-value State Department issues were printed in sheets of ten with black imprint and both color plate numbers at top and with green imprint at bottom. The set sold in our 2013 Rarities sale was the only set on India paper known to us prior to receiving this consignment. The sheets on India are unlisted in Scott. The sheets on card are priced at $20,000.00 for a set. As an indication of relative scarcity, a set of singles on India catalogues $400.00 versus $140.00 for a set of singles on card. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. $ 10,000-15,000 SOLD for $10,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
1191°	S	$2.00 State, "Specimen" Overprint (O68S). Without gum as issued, deep rich colors, tiny pulled perf at top VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL ISSUE WITH "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT. ONLY 32 WERE SOLD. The Officials with "Specimen" overprint were made in 1875 at the same time as the other Reprints, Re-Issues and Special Printings. They were issued without gum. Probably due to their official nature they received the "Specimen" overprint -- most other series issued at the same time (Scott 123-132, 167-177, 180-181) were valid for postage. Only 32 sold. With 2001 P.S.E. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	$ 25,000.00 CLOSED Will close during Public Auction

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