Sale 273

The Robert L. Markovits Collection
of U.S. Official Stamps, 1873-1884


Interior Department
 
 
Lot Photo Description
Lot 3358
E
Interior Dept., 1873, 3¢ mock-up essay, in black & gray (O17-E1), model of engraved vignette, numeral and value label on yellowish card, mounted on pencil and wash drawing of frame on white card, model of engraved vignette, numeral and value label on yellowish card, mounted on pencil and wash drawing of frame on white card, 90 x 18 mm, signed Joseph Claxton Very Fine.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

THE UNIQUE ARTIST'S MODEL.

Provenance: Thomas F. Morris, Jr.
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Lot 3359
P
Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢-90¢ complete, plate proofs on card (O15PS-O24PS), with blue handstamped "Specimen" overprints Very Fine.
Estimate 750 - 1,000

For an explanation of this overprint see lot 3008.

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Lot 3360
P
Interior Dept., 1873, 2¢-3¢ large die trial color proofs (O16TC [2], O17TC), on approximately 75 x 88 mm cards, complete Interior comprised of 2¢ black and deep brown and 3¢ black and deep green Very Fine.
Estimate 1,500 - 2,000
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Lot 3361
P
Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢-90¢ complete, "Goodall" trial color small die proofs on India (O15TC-O24TC), 55 on card, complete set in the five colors scattered India paper flaws a choice Very Fine set.
Scott $7,810
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Lot 3362
P
Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢-90¢ complete, "Atlanta" trial color plate proofs on card (O15TC-O24TC), complete set in all five colors, full margins, hinged on display pages, appear to be all sound fresh Very Fine set.
Scott $2,254
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Lot 3363

Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢ vermilion (O15), block of four exceptionally well centered, bright color o.g., small hinge sliver reinforcement Extremely Fine.
Scott $175
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Lot 3364

Interior Dept., 1873, 6¢ vermilion (O18), block of four particularly bright and fresh, beautifully centered o.g. choice Very Fine.
Scott $190
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Lot 3365

Interior Dept., 1873, 24¢ vermilion (O22), block of four choice centering, deep rich color o.g. minute tear in bottom left otherwise Extremely Fine.
Scott $300
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Lot 3366

Interior Dept., 1873, 30¢ vermilion (O23), block of four beautifully centered, fresh vibrant color o.g., small hinge reinforcement between right pair, left pair never hinged choice Very Fine.
Scott $450 for hinged
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Lot 3367

Interior Dept., 1873, 90¢ vermilion (O24), bottom left corner margin imprint and plate no. 108 strip of 6 o.g., selvage hinge reinforcement at right left stamp and margin toned, small abrasion in position 3 otherwise Fine a scarce plate strip.
Scott $1,260 for singles

Provenance: Weill Bros.
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Lot 3368

Interior Dept., 1879, 10¢ vermilion (O100), block of four virtually perfect centering, bright color and paper o.g.,never hinged Extremely Fine a gem multiple.
Scott $400 for hinged
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Lot 3369

Interior Dept., 1879, 12¢ vermilion (O101), block of four outstanding centering and rich color o.g., hinge remnant Extremely Fine a choice multiple.
Scott $750
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Lot 3370

Interior Dept., 1879, 24¢ vermilion (O103), block of four beautifully centered, bright color, crisp and intact o.g. Very Fine.
Scott $20,000

THE ONLY RECORDED BLOCK OF THIS RARE OFFICIAL.

Expertization: 1973 P.F. Certificate.

Provenance: Lilly, Waud

The 24¢ Interior soft paper is notoriously difficult to locate sound, centered and with original gum. The block offered here is simply spectacular.

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Lot 3371

Interior Dept., 1879, 24¢ vermilion (O103), bottom right plate no. 104 strip of 6 fresh color and paper, centered to top and left, interesting fold over at right creating two rows of angled perforations disturbed o.g. light crease in left stamp an exceedingly rare multiple.
Scott $24,000 as singles
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Lot 3372
S
Interior Dept., 1875 Special Printing, 1¢-90¢ complete, overprinted "Specimen" (O15SD-O24SD), without gum as issued, fresh color, usual scissor separation without gum as issued 2¢ 6¢ 30¢ small fault otherwise Fine-Very Fine.
Scott $5,672

ONLY 75 SETS WERE SOLD.
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Lot 3373
S
Interior Dept., 1875 Special Printing, 2¢ vermilion, overprinted "SEPCIMEN" (error) (O16SDa), without gum as issued, bright color and paper, full perforations without gum as issued Fine.
Scott $4,500

A GREAT RARITY AS ONLY TWO ARE RECORDED.

The "sepcimen" error was discovered during the overprinting of the 2¢ Interior and corrected. A complete sheet is known without the error.

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Lot 3374
o
Interior Dept., 1873, 10¢ vermilion (O19), clear N.Y.F.M. cancel (Weiss GE-EP3) horizontal crease Fine.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 3375

Interior Dept., 1873, 12¢ vermilion (O20), cancelled by light strike of Stillwater, Montana Territory Dec 17, 1879 c.d.s. in violet, well centered tiny thin otherwise Very Fine, scarce.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 3376
o
Interior Dept., 1873, 12¢ vermilion (O20 [2]), two with excellent strikes of fancy geometrics of New Orleans, La., Very Good to Fine.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3377
o
Interior Dept., 1873, 12¢ vermilion (O20), block of four target cancels, rich color hinge reinforced at top, light creases, few perf faults otherwise Fine.
Estimate 200 - 300

RARE AS THIS IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED USED BLOCKS.
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Lot 3378
o
Interior Dept., 1873, 15¢ vermilion (O21), cancelled by "Tar Baby" fancy cancel of Los Angeles, Cal., small light crease, otherwise Fine choice strike.
Estimate 1,000 - 1,500

A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE AND MOST UNUSUAL CANCEL.

Expertization: 1988 P.F. Certificate.
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Lot 3379
o
Interior Dept., 1873, 30¢ vermilion (O23), light face-free red cork cancel, bright and fresh Very Fine and choice red cancels are exceedingly rare on the 30¢ value.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3380
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 2¢ vermilion (O97), cancelled by a choice strike of Skull and Crossbones cancel, slight crease, otherwise nearly Very Fine.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3381
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 2¢ vermilion (O97), bold Maltese Cross cancel, with penalty message printed on the stamp very unusual.
Estimate 250 - 300

Apparently the penalty message was printed on the envelopes, on occasion, after the envelope was pre-stamped.

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Lot 3382
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 3¢ vermilion (O98), cancelled by a perfect strike of Kicking Mule cancel of Port Townsend, Washington Territory, bright color small thin otherwise Fine, scarce cancel on an Interior stamp.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 3383
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 3¢ vermilion (O98), cancelled by a wonderfully ornate and perfectly struck geometric cancel small stamp faults Very Fine appearance a superb cancel.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3384
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 3¢ vermilion (O98), cancelled by a choice strike of Skull and Crossbones cancel, fresh and Fine Very Fine.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3385
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 6¢ vermilion (O99), cancelled by a bold strike of "Used Up" cancel of Traverse City, Michigan, slight creases, otherwise Fine a Very Fine strike of this rare cancel.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3386
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 6¢ vermilion (O99), cancelled by a bold strike of MB cancel of Mystic Bridge, Conn., fresh and Fine Very Fine strike.
Estimate 150 - 200
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Lot 3387
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 6¢ vermilion (O99), neatly struck Fort Niobrara Nebraska, rich color small thin otherwise Fine Fine strike.
Estimate 150 - 200
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Lot 3388
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 10¢ vermilion (O100), cancelled by Kicking Mule cancel of Port Townsend, Washington Territory stamp with small faults but a Fine strike a rare cancel on Interior department stamps.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 3389
o
Interior Dept., 1879, 12¢ vermilion (O101), cancelled by Masonic square and Compass fancy cancel, vivid color, Very Fine Fine strike.
Estimate 300 - 400
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Lot 3390

Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢ vermilion (O15), tied by quartered cork cancel, "Washington, D.C., Sep. 1" (1873) c.d.s., on postcard to New York N.Y.; light toning otherwise Very Fine, a scarce use of an official to pay the 1¢ postcard rate.
Scott $200
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Lot 3391

Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢ vermilion (O15), horizontal pair tied by beautiful strike octagonal boxed "Niobrara, Nebraska., Jun 13, 1884" postmark on small Niobrara U.S. Land Office penalty envelope to Little, Neb., backstamped Little; reduced a tad at right in opening, both stamps with faults at top (left stamp extends above the envelope), Very Fine, single 2¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 300 - 400

Penalty clause invalid on field office correspondence with private citizens.

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Lot 3392

Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢ vermilion (O15), horizontal pair tied by fancy segmented cork cancels, "San Francisco, Cal., Feb 15" c.d.s., on U.S. Surveyor-General's Office envelope to Galt, Cal., ultramarine Galt receiver on reverse, fresh and Very Fine, single 2¢ domestic rate that went into effect Oct 1, 1883.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 3393

Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢ vermilion (O15), horizontal strip of three tied by quartered cork cancels and by "Washington, D.C., Nov 14" c.d.s. on cover to Cambridge, Mass., unusual small Smithsonian Institution label as corner card, fresh and Very Fine, single 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 3394

Interior Dept., 1873, 1¢ and 2¢ (O15-16), tied by violet "Springfield, Mo., Apr 26" target duplex on pretty lemon cover to Long Lane, Mo., Springfield U.S. Land Office corner card, ms markings indicate non-delivery and return to Springfield on June 1, fresh and Extremely Fine, single 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 200 - 300
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Lot 3395

Interior Dept., 1873, 2¢ vermilion (O16), tied by quartered cork cancel, "Washington, D.C., Dec 20" c.d.s., on Department of the Interior envelope addressed locally to Col. 1. Edward Clarke, Bureau of Education, very scarce corner card of the "U.S. Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region, J.W. Powell", violet Washington "Carrier" c.d.s. on reverse, Very Fine, single 2¢ local rate.
Estimate 400 - 500

John Wesley Powell was expedition leader for the first boat trip down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. The survey was conducted from 1869 to 1879.

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Lot 3396

Interior Dept., 1873, 2¢ and 3¢ (O16, O17), tied by violet "Washington, D.C.d, May 14, 1878" duplex cancels on onion skin cover to Ghent, Belgium, violet Smithsonian Institution handstamped corner card, backstamped Ostende and Ghent (Gand), May 27; open on three sides, flap missing and other faults due to the fragile nature of the paper, addressee's name eradicated, Fine, 5¢ U.P.U. rate.
Estimate 500 - 750

THE ONLY RECORDED OFFICIAL COVER TO BELGIUM.
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Lot 3397

Interior Dept., 1873, 3¢ vermilion (O17), manuscript cancel and matching "Pawnee Agcy I.T., 11-1/77" postmark on cover to Mt. Ephraim, N.J., U.S. Indian Agent, Pawnee Agency, I.T., Official Business" corner card; cover opened a bit roughly at left, stamp with small nick, otherwise Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 3398

Interior Dept., 1873, 3¢ vermilion (O17), cork cancel, "Station B, Philad., Oct 18" c.d.s., on O.B. cover to Kimberton, Pa., scarce International Exhibition, 1876, Smithsonian Institution corner card; tiny repair at upper right, Very Fine, single 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 400 - 500
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Lot 3399

Interior Dept., 1873, 3¢ vermilion (O17), tied by "Washington, D.C. 1879, Jul. 10" barred oval duplex on cover with illustrated corner card of the "U.S. Geologic & Geographic Survey of the Territories", addressed to "Mearus House, Near West Point", N.Y., magenta West Point duplex applied July 11 for forwarding to Highland Falls, N.Y., Very Fine and attractive, single 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 500 - 750
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Lot 3400

Interior Dept., 1873, 3¢ and 6¢ (O17, O18), tied by quartered cork cancels, "Washington, D.C., Jul 1" (1873) c.d.s., on obsolete free frank envelope from the Office of Indian Affairs to T.W. Bennett, governor of Idaho, at Boise City, Idaho Territory; greatly reduced at left, small nick at top, 6¢ closed tear, otherwise a Fine and rare first day cover, triple the 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000

ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED INTERIOR FIRST DAY COVERS (BOTH HAVE THE 3¢ AND 6¢ COMBINATION) AND ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS FROM ANY DEPARTMENT.

The small Washington datestamp and the style of the obliterator establishes this as an 1873 usage and this is, therefore, a First Day Cover.

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Lot 3401

Interior Dept., 1873, 6¢ vermilion (O18), tied by killer portion of Chicago Station 5 duplex cancel, Jan 31, 1879 on legal size Pension Office penalty envelope to Jerseyville, Ill., blue dated handstamp of Ada C. Sweet, U.S. Pension Agent, Chicago; minor edge tears and some foxing, stamp corner faulty, double 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 150 - 200

A second strike of the duplex canceller invalidates the penalty indicia, as postage was required on field office correspondence with private citizens.

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Lot 3402

Interior Dept., 1873, 10¢ vermilion (O19), tied by violet quartered cork cancel, matching "Washington, D.C., Nov 25, 1878" c.d.s., on legal size Interior Secretary penalty envelope to Lille, France, blue French entry marking and Lille backstamp, Dec 9; vertical file fold not affecting stamp, tiny tear at right, minor perf tones on stamp, Fine-Very Fine, double the 5¢ U.P.U. rate.
Estimate 750 - 1,000

ONE OF ONLY SIX OFFICIAL COVERS TO FRANCE.
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Lot 3403

Interior Dept., 1873, 12¢ vermilion (O20), horizontal strip of three tied by quartered cork cancels, "Omaha, Neb., May 2" c.d.s., on legal size cover to Philadelphia, Omaha Superintendent Indian Affairs cover card; edge faults, particularly at ends, due to thick contents, two stamps with small corner faults, otherwise Fine and scarce, 12-times the 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 750 - 1,000
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Lot 3404

Interior Dept., 1873, 12¢ and 24¢ (O20, O22), tied by Maltese cross cancels, "Larned, Kan., May 20" c.d.s., on legal size U.S. Land Office, Larned penalty envelope sent registered to Lyons, Kan.; small tear at top, 24¢ with corner perforation, otherwise Very Fine, 2¢ overpayment of 8-times the 3¢ domestic rate plus 10¢ for registration.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

OF THE EIGHT RECORDED 24¢ INTERIOR COVERS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE USED IN COMBINATION WITH THE 12¢.

Provenance: Ackerman, Knapp, Waud
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Lot 3405

Interior Dept., 1873, 24¢ vermilion (O22), cork cancel, "Watertown, Dak., Jul 16" (1879) c.d.s., on legal size U.S. Land Office, Watertown Dak. Ter. penalty envelope sent registered to Waubay, D.T.; edge wear, repaired opening faults at right, Fine; 2¢ overpayment of quadruple 3¢ domestic rate plus 10¢ for registration.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000

ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED 24¢ INTERIOR COVERS AVAILABLE (TWO OTHERS WERE IN THE STARNES COLLECTION AND ARE PRESUMED LOST).

Provenance: Waud

See note after lot 3143.

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Lot 3406

Interior Dept., 1873, 30¢ vermilion (O23), light smudge cancel on package label from Washington, D.C. to the De Kalb County Supt. of Schools, Decatur, Ga., imprinted "Documents from the U.S. Bureau of Education" and endorsed by the Chief Clerk; sealed edge tears otherwise Fine and rare 30¢ printed matter rate (10¢ per bound volume of public documents).
Estimate 4,000 - 5,000

THE ONLY RECORDED 30¢ INTERIOR USAGE AVAILABLE (ONE OTHER WAS IN THE STARNES COLLECTION AND IS PRESUMED LOST).

See note after lot 3143. Another 30¢ "cover" (ex Needham, Ackerman, Hughes, and Duckworth) resurfaced in 1985 but received a bad P.F. Certificate.

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Lot 3407

Interior Dept., 1879, 3¢ vermilion (O98), horizontal pair with light ms cancels and tied by "Tulalip, Wash. Ter., Jun 1, 1883" target duplex cancel on cover to the U.S. Indian Agent at Fort Simcoe, Wash. Terr., "Nisqually Indian Agency, Olympia, Wash. Ter" penalty indicia at upper right, "MISSENT." handstamp apparently applied at Ft. Simcoe with no other directions or marking, erased docketing seems to read "Was re'd June 13/83"; flap missing, minor edge flaws, right stamp missing perforations at top, otherwise Very Fine, double the 3¢ domestic rate.
Estimate 400 - 500
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