2008 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE BLOCK. A SUPERB AND RARE BLOCK OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT -- WONDERFUL CENTERING AND FRESHNESS.

The Pan-American inverts were the first bicolored postage stamps produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the first invert postage errors issued by the Post Office since the 1869's. The 1c Pan American Inverts were found in several post offices around the country. Thirteen blocks of four, a block of six and a block of 20 are recorded in our Levi records, some of which may have been broken into singles.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Catalogue assigns only an 8% premium for the price of a block of four versus four singles. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. NO DOUBT ONE OF THE FINEST LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country. Of the 600 to 700 known, most have disturbed gum and are off-center. The stamp offered here is remarkably fresh and certainly one of the best-centered examples known.

With 1970 and 1993 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90, SMQ $26,300.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only three others share this grade. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP, WITH ITS SUPERB CENTERING, BRIGHT FRESH COLOR AND PRISTINE ORIGINAL GUM, IS THE HIGHEST-GRADED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. BY FAR THE RAREST OF THE PAN-AMERICAN INVERTS IN CHOICE SOUND CONDITION.

The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum. The example offered here, with near-perfect centering and in pristine condition, is a rare exception.

Anyone who has attempted to form a superb set of the three Pan-American Inverts knows that the difficulty of acquisition increases exponentially from the 1c to the 4c denominations. In fact, the 4c Invert stamps in almost every "Superb" collection have been compromise copies, acquired out of frustration and desperation after staring at the last remaining blank space for too long. In our opinion, the stamp offered here could set a record not only for the 4c Invert, but for any of the Pan-American Inverts. The 4c Invert with plate number, offered in our Odeneal sale (Sale 941) with a P.S.E. grade of 80, realized $300,000 hammer. Prospective bidders should use the Odeneal realization as a benchmark for the value of the stamp offered here, which is two grade levels higher.

Ex Clifford C. Cole. With 1947 A.P.S., 1988 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90). SMQ does not even price this stamp above the grade of 80. SMQ $300,000.00 as 80, which is two full grades below this. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT PLATE BLOCK OF THE CLASSIC 20TH CENTURY COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.

This should truly be considered a condition rarity. With 1991 and 2006 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT PLATE BOCK OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.

We have rarely encountered this plate block with such choice centering. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.

Especially desirable with such choice centering. (Image)