Lot 290
 
1901, 1¢ 2¢ 4¢ Pan American centers inverted (294a, 295a, 296a), complete set of blocks of four, 1¢ and 2¢ quite nicely centered, 4¢ very well centered, all with bright fresh colors, 1¢ and 4¢ with some rejoined perf separations, 2¢ rejoined, 1¢ small corner crease, original gum, h.r., Fine to Very Fine, 2¢ hinges removed, original gum Fine to Very Fine, 4¢ slightly disturbed original gum, though much better gum condition than normally associated with this denomination, small tear lower left stamp, otherwise Very Fine-Extremely Fine.
Estimate 500,000 - 750,000
A MOST IMPORTANT AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE SET OF BLOCKS OF THESE HIGHLY POPULAR 20TH CENTURY ERRORS OF WHICH NO MORE THAN ONE OTHER SET CAN EXIST.
Expertization: 2¢ 1980 P.F. Certificate, 4¢ photocopy of 1968 P.F. Certificate.
Provenance: 1¢ Col. Green, Zoellner, 2¢ Zoellner, 4¢ Col. Green, L Souren, Lilly, Zoellner
Since the 1998 Zoellner sale, where this set of blocks last made an auction appearance, the market value of United States inverted centers has risen dramatically, especially over the last three years. So, for example, the C3a in the Zoellner sale hammered for $175,000. When it was resold in 2005, it hammered for $525,000. Since that time, several examples have sold in auction or private treaty for over $750,000. Another dramatic example of this upward trend is the unused 24¢ 1869 inverted center. In 2003, the Lafayette example hammered for $260,000. In 2008, a lesser quality example realized $1,125,000. It is our sincere thought that the estimated value of these three blocks may well prove to be quite conservative.
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| Realized $500,000 |
