Inverted Centers of the World continued...

Russia continued...

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
661		35b	#35b, 1883 7k Blue, Groundwork Inverted, an especially fresh mint example of this rare variety, intensely rich colors, full clean o.g. which has never been hinged, very fine overall; exceedingly rare in never hinged condition; signed (Michel #33I; for hinged €2,000). (Image)	for hinged 800.00 SOLD for $1,100.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
662	O	41a	#41a, 1889 4k Carmine, Groundwork Inverted, perfectly centered, gorgeous vivid color, neat 1894 c.d.s., extremely fine; in our considerable research of past auction sales, in becomes clear that this stamp is far rarer than the Scott catalog value would indicate, in fact we could find no other example in any sale, including such renowned collections as Ferrari, Burrus, Goss, Epstein and Liphschutz, and it is it now believed that this is one of only two examples in existence, in fact the Michel catalog does not even list this stamp; one of the great rarities of 19th century Russia; 1998 Mikulski certificate; ex-Faberge. (Image)	3,000.00 SOLD for $2,900.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
663		51a	#51a, 1889 14k Blue and rose, Center Inverted, an incredibly fresh and choice mint example of this great rarity, beautiful vibrant colors and a crisp impression on white paper, exceptionally well centered as well, full clean original gum which has been lightly hinged, extremely fine; this is probably the finest mint example in existence, in fact when it was offered by Mondolfo in the 1964 Burrus sale, it was described with uncharacteristically colorful verbage for the time: "Grandissima rarita in esemplare di gran lusso"; signed A. Diena; ex-Burrus, Faberge, Liphschutz and illustrated in the Sellinger catalog (Michel #46xII; €6,000). (Image)	4,500.00 SOLD for $5,500.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
664		51a	#51a, 1889 14k Blue and rose, Center Inverted, another mint example of this rarity, fresh attractive colors, unusually sharp embossing, o.g., fine; signed Peter Holcombe and accompanied by a 1997 Mikulski certificate; ex-Isleham (Michel #46xII; €6,000). (Image)	4,500.00 SOLD for $2,200.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
665	O	51a	#51a, 1889 14k Blue and rose, Center Inverted, a magnificent used example of this rarity, the first of three used examples in the Balner collection, very well centered, attractive colors, neat Emetzkaja (Archangielsk province) c.d.s., choice very fine; signed Mikulski and accompanied by a 1993 APS certificate (incorrectly describing it as a #36b); ex-Faberge, Goss (Michel #46xII; €5,000). (Image)	4,500.00 SOLD for $2,100.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
666	O	51a	#51a, 1889 14k Blue and rose, Center Inverted, another used example, being especially bright and fresh, with lovely vibrant colors on clean white paper, exceptionally well centered as well, light 1891 Lubin c.d.s., very fine; signed H. Bloch, Buhler and accompanied by a 1996 Mikuslki certificate (Michel #46xII; €5,000). (Image)	4,500.00 SOLD for $1,600.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
667	O	51a	#51a, 1889 14k Blue and rose, Center Inverted, the third used example, this one also being quite fresh, with rich luxuriant colors, lightly cancelled, very fine and attractive; by offering three choice sound used examples in one collection, we do not want to mislead one to think that is the norm, in fact several of the examples we found in famous collections had faults to some degree; signed A. Diena and Enzo Diena and accompanied by the latter's 1989 certificate; ex-Epstein (Michel #46II; €5,000). (Image)	4,500.00 SOLD for $1,600.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
668	O	58b	#58b, 1902 5k Red violet, Groundwork Inverted, sumptuously rich color and an unusually clean impression, light 1905 c.d.s., very fine; a very rare stamp which is greatly undervalued in Scott, as we could only find a couple other examples in our extensive research of past auctions sales, and the Michel catalog has yet to list this stamp; 1995 Mikulski certificate (Michel #44y var.). (Image)	750.00 SOLD for $800.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
669	O	59c	#59c, 1902 7k Dark blue, Groundwork Inverted, tied to small piece by light c.d.s., wonderfully fresh, very fine; a very rare and undercataloged stamp, particularly in this excellent condition; ex-Goss, Liphschutz (Michel #45y var.). (Image)	800.00 SOLD for $625.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
670	O	62b	#62b, 1905 15k Brown violet and blue, Center Inverted, an outstanding used example of this extremely rare error, possessing glorious rich colors and prooflike impressions on fresh paper, quite well centered, neatly struck 1905 Kolomna c.d.s., very fine; one of the finest of the few known examples; signed Buhler and accompanied by a 1996 Mikulski certificate (Michel #56I; €4,000). (Image)	3,500.00 SOLD for $2,500.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
671	O	64a	#64a, 1905 25k Dull green and lilac, Center Inverted, tied to piece by full strike of a Zhitomir 24.3.06 c.d.s., deeply rich colors, very fine; an enormously rare invert which is almost never offered at auction (the Sellinger catalog states only two copies are reported, but there are a few more examples known); signed Mikulski; ex-Col. Green (Michel #57I; €5,000). (Image)	4,000.00 SOLD for $2,700.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
672	O	64a	#64a, 1905 25k Dull green and lilac, Center Inverted, quite remarkably there is a second example of this great rarity in the Balner collection, this one being exceptionally well centered, lovely fresh colors, light c.d.s. pmk., tiny faint blue ink mark at top right of no consequence, very fine and handsome; the appearance of two examples of this invert in one auction is an extraordinarily rare (if not unique) occurrence (Michel #57I; €5,000). (Image)	4,000.00 SOLD for $1,700.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
673	O	69a	#69a, 1902 3.50R Black and gray, Center Inverted, centered to the bottom left as are all of the few known examples, Batum c.d.s., faint corner crease and red ink mark on back just shows slightly through to face, still fine; a major invert rarity which is very seldom offered in any condition; signed Kossack and accompanied by a clear 2000 APS certificate (Michel #49yII; €5,000). (Image)	7,500.00 SOLD for $3,500.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
674		109d	#109d, 1915 10R Carmine lake, yellow and gray, Groundwork Inverted, right sheet-margin single, which captures the full inverted groundwork, bright and fresh, o.g., mild h.r., very fine and quite scarce (Michel #130K). (Image)	400.00 SOLD for $260.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
675	/	109d	#109d, 1915 10R Carmine lake, yellow and gray, Groundwork Inverted, horizontal pair clearly showing the inverted background, strong colors, o.g., left stamp n.h., fine; any multiple of this is rare. (Image)	800.00+ SOLD for $210.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
676		131a	#131a, 1917 1R Pale brown, brown and red orange, Center Inverted, complete sheet of fifty, fresh colors, o.g., n.h., light stain affects two stamps and minor edge flaws as expected from a sheet of this vintage, a very fine and handsome showpiece (Michel #121KI; for hinged €1,250+).	for hinged 1,000.00+ SOLD for $300.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
677		133b	#133b, 1917 5R Dark blue, green and pale blue, Groundwork Inverted, left sheet-margin single, other margins also large, strong fresh colors, o.g., lightly hinged, extremely fine; scarce and seldom encountered. (Image)	400.00 SOLD for $260.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
678	O	134a	#134a, 1917 7R Dark green and pink, Center Inverted, the pink color shifted to the left as it is on the other two known examples, large margins all around except just into frameline at top left and also a scissor cut at top left, strong colors, Busdjak oval pmk. (the same pmk. as found on the other examples), nearly very fine; this is one of only three examples recorded, making this one of the most important and rarest of all known Inverted Centers of the World; 1996 Mikulski certificate; listed but unpriced in Scott, not even listed in Michel. (Image)	Est. 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $2,700.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
679	O	L2a	#L2a, 1863 (2K) Rose and black, Background Inverted, large margins all around, bright color, "390" in lozenges cancel, light corner crease, otherwise very fine; a very elusive variety; 1997 APS certificate (Michel #1I; €600). (Image)	275.00 SOLD for $500.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM
680		L11b var.	#L11b var., 1884 2K Black, green and red imperforate, Center Arm Inverted, large even margins all around, strong colors, o.g., trivial h.r., extremely fine; only 30 were printed, and fewer still exist today, this being one of the finest; this and the following two lots probably represent the largest holding of this rare stamp to ever be offered in one collection; 1997 Mikulski certificate (Michel #11yU var.). (Image)	Est. 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $750.00 Closing..Sep-14, 01:00 PM