The Curtis Collection: United States 20th Century and Air Post Issues continued...

FINE APPEARANCE. THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER IS THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED BLUISH PAPERS IN USED CONDITION. ONLY FOUR USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

A total of 40 sheets (4,000 stamps) were printed of the 3c on Bluish paper, using four different printing plates. A quantity was inadvertently distributed to various post offices, including the post office in New York. A small quantity was apparently used, but these have almost all been lost to philately.

Our census of Scott 359 in used condition, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/359/359.pdf , records three used copies plus one on cover. A fourth off-cover example needs to be reexamined for authenticity. This makes it as rare, or rarer, than the 5c on bluish, which catalogues three times as much.

Census No. 359-CAN-03. With 2008 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BLUISH PAPERS TO FIND IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. Given the failed experimental nature of the paper mixture, it is no surprise that virtually all copies are off center to some extent.

Ex Peyton (Isleham) and Zoellner. Owner's small purple backstamp. With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, CENTERING, SIZE OF MARGINS AND COLOR. THIS SUPERB STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-90 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.

We have only been able to locate two examples comparable to the stamp offered here. One was offered in the Zoellner sale. The other was offered in the Floyd sale held by Shreves.

Ex "Beverly Hills". 2005 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $25,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and no other example shares this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND AN UNUSUALLY WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUISH PAPER.

The Bluish Paper stamps are notoriously difficult to find well-centered. The stamp offered here, with three wide and well-balanced margins and a huge margin at bottom, is a condition rarity.

With 1969 and 1996 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT BLUISH PAPER. RARELY AVAILABLE IN WELL-CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE. APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH ARE RECORDED.

Lewis Kaufman records about a dozen plate blocks, including four from the top, seven from the left and one from the right position. A pane of 100 is also known with plate blocks at left and bottom.

With 2005 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 8-CENT BLUISH PAPER IN EXISTENCE. A SUPERB STAMP.

According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives.

Ex Lyons and Piedmont. With 1973 and 2000 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER.

Purple backstamp. With 1991 and 2000 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND RARE USED BLOCK OF THE 13-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.

The 13c on Bluish, both unused and used, is recorded as having been found only at the post office at Saginaw, Michigan. Many of the used examples show only part or blurry cancels. According to the Assistant Postmaster, John J. Spencer, "We found what was left of what no doubt had been originally ten sheets safely resting at the bottom under a lot of new stock, the coming of which had doubtless saved these from annihilation [or use]. They were readily distinguished, having a marginal pen and ink marking. We found a partial mint sheet and margins from several other sheets had been used. One or two sheets had also been precancelled. We were satisfied that ten sheets (of 100) had reached this post office."

With 1979 P.F. certificate (Image)

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