Sale 283

United States and International Stamps and Postal History


Worldwide "A-G" Countries
 
 
Lot Photo Description
Lot 2185
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Canada, 1851, 12d black, laid paper (3), unused, ample to oversized margins, lovely impression and unusually strong laid lines. Light vertical and two horizontal creases, one of the latter ending in a small tear. Fresh Very Fine appearance.
Scott $55,000

A MOST ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT CLASSIC RARITIES.

Expertization: 1995 Greene Certificate.
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Lot 2186

Canada, 1857, ½d rose, vertical stitch watermark (8), block of four with vertical stitch watermark in left pair. Large margins all around, radiant shade on bright white paper. O.g., bottom pair never hinged. Top pair with horizontal crease and top left stamp with tiny tear. Otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate 10,000 - 15,000

A UNIQUE BLOCK CONTAINING THE ONLY TWO RECORDED MINT EXAMPLES OF THE VERTICAL STITCH WATERMARK.

Expertization: 1974 P.F. Certificate.

Apparently only one sheet of 100 was printed on paper with a vertical stitch watermark; eight used examples are known, with the two in this block accounting for all ten stamps from a single vertical row of the sheet.

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Lot 2187
E
Canada, 1931, 7¢ Cartier, progressive die essay (E-4b), brown on India, die sunk on full card measuring 230mm x 150mm, early stage of the design without the background and other details complete, rejected vignette; in later versions the title is renamed "MacDonald-Cartier Centenary" (see next lot), mounting holes around edges, Very Fine.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500

A UNIQUE DESIGN ESSAY.

The seven Cent value contained a portait of the Prince of Wales and was engraved by Robert Savage. The MacDonald-Cartier issue was proposed the American Bank Note Co. for 1914. All of the dies and rollers were destroyed on Nov 14, 1928.

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Lot 2188
E
Canada, 1931, 7¢ Cartier, progressive die essay (E-4c), brown on India, die sunk on card measuring 204mm x 131mm, progressive stage of the design complete except for the horizontal background lines and the rejected vignette, the new title "MacDonald-Cartier Centenary" has been added, Very Fine.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500

A UNIQUE DESIGN ESSAY.
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Lot 2189

Ceylon, 1925, 1000r purple on red (218), an exceptionally fresh and choice mint example of this high value rarity, very well centered with rich unblemished color without a hint of rubbing. O.g., very lightly hinged. Very Fine and choice.
Scott $16,000

Expertization: 1980 B.P.A. Certificate.
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Lot 2190

China, 1897, 2¢ small surcharge on 3¢ red Customs, inverted surcharge (79a + vars.), block of four. Additionally, the top left stamp has an inverted "s" in "cents" [15] and the lower left stamp has the comma for stop variety [5], deep rich color and well centered, Very Fine and fresh with large part original streaky gum which has resulted in slight color suffusion on reverse. [Chan 84, 84m, 84o].
Estimate 50,000 - 60,000

A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE OF THE HIGHEST ECHELON.

According to our records, there are only three blocks of four with the surcharge inverted containing this remarkable combination of varieties:
a) Sir Percival David and "Sun" collections, Robson Lowe, July 22, 1970, lot 213; Matthew Bennett, June 23, 2002, lot 1510 (in the latter auction the block realized $55,000).
b) Richard M. Canman collection, Stanley Gibbons, October 19-20, 1972, lot 622.
c) The above block.

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Lot 2191

China, 1897, $5 large surcharge on 3¢ red Customs (85), vertical pair, surcharge misplaced vertically and therefore partly appearing in the bottom margin, representing the $10 remitted in stamps to be redeemed, uncancelled as dictated by postal regulations, on 1898 (Aug. 4), Remittance Certificate number 306 from Foochow to Amoy bearing ICP 20c maroon (representing the commission charged), tied by "Foochow" dollar chop, slight age spotting "ties" the $5 pair to the certificate, Very Fine [Chan 91].
Estimate 50,000 - 60,000

SURVIVING POSTAL DOCUMENTS FROM THIS PERIOD ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE.

Provenance: Anna-Lisa and Sven-Eric Beckeman

With the inauguration of the Imperial Post and the concurrent changeover to the silver dollar system, stamps with new face values were needed without delay. Furthermore, the introduction of the money remittance system on 1 January, 1898 (Chicago Flight. Postal Circular No. 3 and accompanying Postal Notification No. 26 of 17 November 1897) whereby money orders redeemable at the post office of the sender's choice, to a maximum value of 10 dollars, could be used as a vehicle of securely (through anonymity and even the ordinary post) transferring money without any formality. Consequently, 3 cents revenue stamps were surcharged 5 dollars, which was the highest denomination produced. Approximately 5,000 such stamps were printed, the surcharges having been adapted from the large $1 surcharge plate with the original positions randomly rearranged. Since the strict policy was to destroy both the remittance certificate and stamps on redemption, only a limited amount of the 5 dollars value has survived. Many unused 5 dollars Red Revenues have been taken off certificates, and because of the $10 sending limit and format of the certificates, vertical units of two are the most logical multiples to be found. The only multiples recorded to date are two strips of four (one with inverted surcharge), approximately 20 or less pairs, and a plated block of four comprised or formed of two vertical pairs.

According to our records, approximately fifteen Remittance Certificates bearing the Red Revenue $5 on 3c have survived. Four of these have the $5 on 3c surcharge inverted variety affixed.

Interestingly, consecutively numbered Certificates "305" and "306", both similarly franked and mailed on the same day, were originally auctioned by Christie's Robson Lowe in Zurich in 1990 (June 14, lot 1179) and 1991 (May 28, lot 514), having remained in the possession of the descendants of the person to whom they were commissioned in 1898.

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Lot 2192

Ethiopia, 1868 cover from Camp Senafe to England, franked with an 1865-67 8p and a pair and strip of four of the 1866-68 1a, paying the 8a6p officer’s rate, with by "F.F." diamond grid cancels, sent by Brigadier General Sir Donald M. Stewart, Commander of the expedition’s Bengal Brigade, to his wife in Cheltenham, manuscript "via Marseilles" in Stewart’s hand, reverse with red "Fieldforce Postoffice 9 Fe 68" c.d.s. and matching "India Paid" straight line, along with a Cheltenham receiver, Feb 27; slight edge wear, perf tears and perf erosion where stamps were placed at the extreme edges of the envelope, Fine and rare.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

THE SEVEN STAMPS ON THIS COVER IS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STAMPS RECORDED ON ANY OF THE NAPIER EXPEDITION COVERS.

Provenance: Boksenbom

In October 1862 Téwodros II, emperor of Ethiopia, sent a letter to Queen Victoria asking for Britain’s help in conquering his Muslim enemies. Nearly two years later, when no response had come, Téwodros imprisoned the British envoy, Capt. Douglas Cameron, who had just returned to Addis Ababa from a meeting in Egypt, one of the emperor’s perceived enemies. Along with Cameron, Téwodros imprisoned 70 other Europeans. This diplomatic incident led eventually to the formation of an Anglo-Indian military expedition to Ethiopia. Sir Robert Napier, commander-in-chief of India’s Bombay Army, was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of the expedition. The expeditionary force left Bombay on Dec 21, 1867 and landed at Annesley bay on the northeast coast of Africa about two weeks later. They then had to move inland over 400 miles of inhospitable territory, finally accomplishing their goal in mid-April.

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Lot 2193

Ethiopia, 1890, ½g postal card to Germany via British mails, 1890 ½g postal card precancelled blue "Harar 16-4-19(00)" c.d.s. with another strike 21-6-19(00) at time of mailing, the card was first routed to Zaila in the Somaliland Protectorate (July 1 c.d.s.) where an India 2a6p stamp was applied for international postage and cancelled with a "B" in barred circle, it then went via Aden (July 7 c.d.s.) and arrived in Frankfurt (22.7.00 receiver); very minor corner crease in card, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000

Provenance: Boksenbom
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Lot 2194

France, 1849, 20c black on yellowish, tête-bêche (Maury T3a), horizontal pair with ample to large margins, tied by lozenge cancels and by "Paris, 11 Sept. 49" c.d.s. on folded letter to Issoudun, backstamped green Compagnie du Soleil (insurance) illustrated corner card (matching printed company logo on the letterhead) and Issoudun receiver 12 Sept, Very Fine and rare. Scott 3ac. Yvert 3d.
Maury €17,000 ($18,360)

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS CLASSIC FRENCH RARITY ON COVER.

Expertization: signed J-F Brun, 2003 Roumet Certificate.
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Lot 2195

France, 1853, 1fr lake on yellowish (21), top sheet margin horizontal pair with colored frame line at top, ample to large margins, deep color and full original gum, the stamps are never hinged. Thinned along the top edge of the selvage. Extremely Fine. Yvert 18.
Yvert €24,000 ++ ($25,920) Estimate 7,500 - 10,000

A CHOICE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE PAIR.

Expertization: 2000 Calves Certificate, signed Diena, Calves.
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Lot 2196

France, 1935, 2fr Breton River, slate (ardoise) color error (299 var.), upper left corner margin horizontal pair, well centered. Original gum, never hinged. Fresh and Extremely Fine. Yvert 301a.
Yvert €20,000 ($21,600)

A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE ERROR OF COLOR.

Expertization: signed Queyroy, 2002 J-F Brun Certificate.
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Lot 2197

France, Airmail, 1928 "Ile de France" set complete (C3-C4), on a pair of registered cacheted west-east catapult covers, tied, along with additional stamps for inland postage and registration, by 23 Aug "New York au Havre" octagonal datestamps, both covers are signed by the pilot, V. Demougeot, addressed to a Mr. Robert Mairey in Le Havre, and backstamped Paris Gare du Nord (23 Aug) and Havre (24 Aug); a registration label has been lost from the 10fr on 1.50fr cover, otherwise Very Fine. Yvert 3-4. Maury 3-4.
Estimate 7,500 - 10,000

Expertization: 1987 Raybaudi Certificate (prior to the loss of the registry label).
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Lot 2198

[German States] Bremen, 1867, 7gr black on yellow (13), tiny, insignificant corner crease, tied by bold boxed "Bremen/ 14 10 * 6-7" postmark on address leaf and bottom back panel only of a folded cover to Eckernfórde, fresh and Extremely Fine. Sold in the Arthur Salm sale as a full cover. Michel 13.
Michel €20,000 ($21,600)

Expertization: signed Bloch, 1960 Friedl Certificate.

Provenance: Rothschild, Adler, Salm

Eckernforde at the time was part of Prussia but had been Danish territory until it was taken by Prussia on February 1, 1864.

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Lot 2199

[German States] Lübeck, 1864 1s orange and 2s rose postal stationery cutouts (Michel GAA 3, 5), cut to shape and tied by one of two strikes Luebeck Bahnhof c.d.s., 10 Nov 1865, on 4s bistre entire (Mi U10) to Manchester, England, manuscript "2¾", handstamped red "P.D." and London Paid transit c.d.s., 13 Nov, backstamped Manchester on the same day; couple minor edge flaws, Very Fine.
Estimate 2,500 - 3,000

A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE THREE-COLOR USAGE OF POSTAL STATIONERY CUTOUTS AS ADHESIVES.
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Lot 2200

German Offices in China, 1900, 3pf-80pf Tientsin overprints complete (17-23), original gum (5pf never hinged). F.-V.F. Michel 8-14 €57,450 ($62,050).
Scott $43,475

A FRESH AND RARELY OFFERED SET OF THIS PROVISIONAL ISSUE.

Expertization: signed Bühler, 50pf with 2001 Briefmarkenprüfstelle Basel certificate.
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Lot 2201

German Offices in China, 1900 unissued 25pf Tientsin overprint (Michel I), perfectly centered. Original gum, lightly hinged. Extremely Fine and choice.
Michel €50,000 ($54,000)

A SUPERLATIVE EXAMPLE OF THIS GREAT RARITY.

Expertization: signed Bühler, 2001 Briefmarkenprüfstelle Basel certificate.

The handstamped provisional overprint was applied to a small quantity of the 25pf and 40pf Germanias, as well as to the 2mk "German Union" and 3mk Kaiser Wilhelm I memorial. These were done only as trials and the entire group was sent to the Reich Postal Museum. Somehow a few examples found their way to philatelists.

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Lot 2202

German Offices in China, 1900 unissued 40pf Tientsin overprint (Michel II), beautifully centered and post office fresh. Original gum, never hinged.
Michel €60,000 + (for hinged) ($64,800)

PERHAPS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THIS GREAT RARITY IN EXISTENCE.

Expertization: signed Bühler, 2001 Briefmarkenprüfstelle Basel certificate.
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Lot 2203
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Guatemala, 1871, 1c ocher, imperforate, printed on both sides (1b), full sheet of 300 consiting of two panes of 150 separated by a vertical gutter, without gum as always. Without gum. Folded vertically between the panes, couple light creases affecting about a dozen stamps. Otherwise fresh and Very Fine.
Scott $22,500 + (as singles)

One side is printed a bit more lightly than the other. The darker side has a small blue oval "Controle T.P." handstamp in the upper right and lower left corners and is inverted in relation to the lighter side.

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