Lot 1356 o 1923, 2¢ Harding, rotary, the rare perf 11 (613), exceptionally well centered with oversized margins, bright paper and a bold barred ellipse cancel. Fresh and choice Very Fine. SMQ $68,000. Scott $45,000 AN EXTRAORDINARY EXAMPLE OF THE RARE PERF. 11 ROTARY PRESS HARDING, BEING OFFERED AT PUBLIC AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME. FEWER THAN FIVE OF THE APPROXIMATELY 45 RECORDED EXAMPLES ARE BOTH SOUND AND WELL CENTERED, AND THIS ONE IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE TOP TWO OR THREE. Expertization: 2007 P.S.E. Certificate graded VF 80. Scott's value is for examples in the grade of Fine. The SMQ price for this Very Fine copy should be considered speculative, as it is one of only two examples to have been graded at all, and there is no auction realization for this grade. The other example, which was awarded a grade of XF-S 90 and has a current SMQ value of $80,000, set the philatelic world abuzz when it appeared on a retail website at a lofty $395,000. In our opinion, that copy is not appreciably better than the one we offer here.

Realized $103,500

Lot 1080 o 1851-57 3¢ Shades, Complete plate reconstructions (10-11), comprising the five plates used to produce the 1851 orange brown shades, Scott #10, namely plates 1E, 1I, 2E, 0 and 5E, plus all eight plates that yielded the myriad of 1852-57 shades classified as Scott #11: plates 1L, 2L, 3, 4, 5L, 6, 7 and 8. The completion of the plating is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, but the most intriguing aspect of this particular plating is that it is done on Dr. Carroll Chase’s original plating sheets, each of which displays either a left or right pane of 100 with Chase's notes on particular positions in the margins (all but plate 3, which is mounted on photocopies of Chase's pages). Of the 1,000 stamps used to reconstruct the five plates of orange browns, approximately 280 are actually Dr. Chase’s copies, as photographed by Chase on these very pages*. Likewise, of the 1,600 examples from the other eight plates, 275 are Chase’s originals. In addition, the owner has upgraded 62 positions of Chase’s #10s and 48 positions of his #11s, mounting these duplicates beneath Chase’s copies. So in all there are 1,062 of the 1851 shades and 1,648 of the 1852-57 shades. Finally, condition is mostly Fine to Very Fine with a large percentage of sound, four margin examples including many of the premium positions. All-in-all, this monumental achievement by the owner represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the current or would-be student of the 3¢ 1851-57 imperforates. The Scott value given does not take into account the many premium positions or possible better shades present. *The owner has placed a red dot below the Chase copies (see illustration at left). The negatives from Chase’s photographs were given to the Smithsonian Institution. Black and white prints from them are available from the National Postal Museum for $500. Also, Matthew Bennett, Inc. still has available full size color reproduction of the plate reconstructions formed by David Watt, whose collection was sold by us in November of last year. The illustrate 2,574 of the 2,600 possible positions, lacking just 26 positions of the 1851 orange brown printings. Scott $171,752 +++

Unsold

Lot 1170 1893, 4¢ Columbian, blue color error (233a), left sheet margin single, wonderfully fresh with intense color, a proof-like impression on crisp white paper. Flawless, never hinged original gum. Very Fine and choice. Scott $34,000 A PRISTINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4¢ COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR. ONE OF ONLY A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF NEVER HINGED EXAMPLES AVAILABLE. Expertization: 1970 and 1999 P.F. Certificates.

Realized $40,250

Lot 1264 1909, $1 violet brown (342), top margin imprint and plate No. 4957 block of six, quite well centered, with fresh vibrant color and fully intact perforations, original gum, lightly hinged on middle vertical pair, others never hinged. Extremely Fine. Scott $17,500 A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS GREAT 20TH CENTURY RARITY. A KEY ITEM FOR COMPLETION OF A TOP PLATE BLOCK COLLECTION. Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate.

Realized $32,200

Lot 1577 o 1851, 3d red, laid paper (1), block of four, positions 64-65/73-74, fresh color, mainly clear to large margins at top and bottom, touching to in at sides, each stamp with a light target cancellation, horizontal crease top pair, overall Fine to Very Fine appearance for this great rarity which is regarded as the unique used block on laid paper. Estimate 20,000 - 30,000 This major Canadian multiple has a fascinating history. Until its discovery as an item of immense philatelic importance, it had resided with the same family in the U.S. since 1851. When the original ancestor arrived in Ottawa, he purchased the block from the postmaster and affixed it to a letter he wrote to his family, not realizing that he only needed to use two stamps, or 6d, and not the 12d that the block represented.

Realized $23,000

Lot 1290 1915, 10¢ Panama-Pacific, perf 10 (404), full top margin plate number 6130 block of six, exceptional centering throughout, brilliant color and fresh bright paper, strong and intact perforations. Original gum. Choice Very Fine. Scott $12,500 A GEM EXAMPLE OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE PLATE BLOCK, OF WHICH THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT A DOZEN RECORDED TOP PLATE BLOCKS. Provenance: Todd

Unsold

Lot 1343 1922, 5¢ dark blue, imperf (557a), left plate number 15568 block of six, large balanced margins all around, intense color and impression. Light horizontal gum crease of no consequence. Extremely Fine. Scott $8,250 as hinged A MAGNIFICIENT EXAMPLE OF THIS EXCEEINGLY RARE PLATE BLOCK, OF WHICH THERE ARE ONLY TWO KNOWN. A unique pane of 100 without perforations was found in Stamford, Ct. in 1925. The pane was found by George H. Quintard and a month later purchased by Philip H. Ward. Ward later broke up the pane, including left and bottom plate number blocks. It is noted that the pane did not show any blue crayon markings that would have signified that it was slated for destruction.

Realized $28,750

Lot 1293 1914, 50¢ violet (421), full top margin plate number 7057 block of six, near perfect centering, bright and fresh. Original gum, never hinged. Extremely Fine. Scott $16,000 ONE OF THE FINEST PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 50¢ SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK HAVING FULL TOP SELVAGE AND NEVER HINGED ORIGINAL GUM. THIS IS A KEY FOR A COMPLETE COLLECTION OF SUPERB TOP MARGIN PLATES.

Realized $15,000

Lot 1370 Airmail, 1930 Graf Zeppelin set complete (C13-C15), bottom margin plate No. blocks of six, fresh and well centered, original gum, 65¢ and $2.60 never hinged, $1.30 o.g., very lightly hinged on three. Very Fine. Scott $21,000 Expertization: 2002 P.S.E. Certificate (C13), 2003 P.F. Certificates (C14, 15).

Realized $14,950

Lot 1001 o St. Louis, Mo., 1845, 10¢ black on greenish (11X2), vertical pair, ample to large margins all around, deep color and bright paper, lightened pen cancellations, tiny thin speck in top margin only, fresh and Very Fine. Scott $15,000 A MOST HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE MULTIPLE, OF WHICH ONLY FOUR OFF-COVER PAIRS ARE RECORDED. Expertization: 2004 P.F. Certificate. Provenance: Faiman Most off-cover St. Louis Bears have small thins or other small faults. The 10¢ on greenish vertical pair offered here is the only recorded off-cover pair that is not on piece.

Realized $17,250

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