2015 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

The Perf 10 Postage Due stamps were printed on unwatermarked paper for a brief time. Well-centered original-gum examples are exceedingly rare. This Mint Never-Hinged copy with wide and balanced margins is a true condition rarity.

With 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85 XQ). The "XQ" stands for Extraordinary Quality and is used to denote stamps of special significance. The P.S.E. Population Report does not contain any graded Mint N.H. stamps. (Image)

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FRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 OFFICES IN CHINA DOUBLE SURCHARGE.

The Offices in China double surcharge error occurred during the overprinting of stamps for use at the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai. It has been reported that the errors were among the last stamps to be put on sale before the agency closed on December 31, 1922. The Deputy Postal Agent, Mr. E. H. Murray, knew of the error but allowed it to be put on sale, as he was retiring and the Agency was closing. This stamp is far scarcer in used condition. Approximately six covers are known (at least one of which is dated Dec. 4).

Purple Coleman backstamp. With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $20.00 STATE DEPARTMENT.

Ex Hoffman. With 1991 and 2005 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A MARVELOUS SET OF HALF-SHEETS OF FIVE OF THE DOLLAR-VALUE STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES ON INDIA PAPER.

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. Perhaps 2-3 plate proof sheets are known.

Unpriced as plate strips in Scott. The sheets of ten catalogue $16,000.00 (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $100.00 1895 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.

With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $11,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded -- only two have been graded and the other is a 50. (Image)

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VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 75-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE.

With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF TWELVE OF THE 10-CENT PARCEL POST POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.

Scott Retail as plate block of six and six singles (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE CELEBRATED $500.00 "LARGE PERSIAN RUG," WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL AND ELABORATELY ENGRAVED STAMPS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.

Only 210 were issued, and it is safe to say that most examples are faulty to some degree. A document exists from July 24, 1874, detailing the purchaser of each. The Kingsley census records 76 copies, and a handful are known outside of the census. From that document, Robert C. Hutchings is noted (spelled "Hutchins") as purchasing fifteen stamps on March 3, 1873. As this stamp is dated earlier than that, Kingsley assumes this stamp was predated.

Illustrated in Kingsley book (Census No. 17-1). With 1982 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail is for a "very fine appearing example with a light circular cut cancel or with minor flaws" (Image)

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VERY FINE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT THIRD ISSUE REVENUE INVERT. MULTIPLES ARE SCARCE.

The curtiscollection.com records two multiples larger than a block of four and three other blocks of four. One of the other blocks of four may have originally formed a block of eight with this one, based on markings in the selvage. (Image)

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VERY FINE. THIS IS A NEW DISCOVERY AND THE ONLY REPORTED EXAMPLE OF THIS GREAT RARITY.

This stamp should be the basis for a new listing in Scott Catalogue. A similar variety is known on another issue, RE198a with first line larger type and second line smaller type, and is priced at $15,000 for unused (one known) and $5,000 for used (four known).

With 2014 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE LARGE DIE PROOF FOR THE CATERSON, BROTZ & CO. PRIVATE DIE PLAYING CARD, WHICH WAS PREPARED BUT NEVER ISSUED.

The die for this stamp was approved and 25,500 were printed in December 1882, but before they could be issued the law imposing stamp taxes on cards and other proprietary articles was repealed and the stamps were destroyed. Only three stamps survived, as well as four large die proofs, one of which is in the BEP archives.

Ex Joyce (on his page) and Tolman (Image)

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