1922-25, ½¢-$5 Definitives complete + 2¢ Harding, each with a "Colonias" handstamp. Sent by the U.S. government to Portugal with Portuguese "COLONIAS" diagonal overprint. applied by the Portuguese Post Office upon receipt from the UPU in Berne before sending to one of its Colonial Post Offices, mounted on nine pieces of government backing, a Very Fine and rare set.
Scott No. 551-573; Estimate $750 - 1,000. US$750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1437
Symbol:Cat No:556a

1923, 4¢ Martha Washington, vertical pair, imperf horizontally. Top right corner margin block of eight containing one vertical pair of the variety, the block incurred damage during production and was subsequently repaired, with brown paper applied to the back at the Bureau, Very Fine appearance, with 1998 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 556a; $12,500.

ONE OF THE GREAT 20TH CENTURY ERRORS OF WHICH THIS AND ONE OTHER EXAMPLE ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.

The second example is similar to this item with the error in a block of nine. It too has a similar repair by the Post Office with brown paper tape. The block of nine was sold in 2009 for a hammer price of $11,500 (Siegel Sale 868B, Lot 727).

As per Gary Griffith's book "United States Stamps 1922-26", the brown paper on the back served as a typical repair method by the Bureau. Sheets of 400 or half-sheets of 200 that suffered damage during the perforating process were taped back together to salvage usable panes. US$0 (Image)

Scott $12,500

1923, 4¢ Martha Washington, perf 10 at bottom. Precancelled "San Francisco California", Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 556b; $7,000.

EXTREMELY RARE WITH WITH ONLY A SMALL HANDFUL KNOW TO EXIST PART PERF 10 - MANY OF WHICH ARE DEFECTIVE.

At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. US$0 (Image)

Scott $7,000

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1439
Symbol:Cat No:573

1923, $5 America. Showing strong vignette shift to the left, o.g., never hinged, exceptional centering amid wide margins, rich colors and quite fresh, Extremely Fine to Superb, with 2023 P.F. certificate Graded (XF-S 95, SSV $425).
Scott No. 573; $180. US$0 (Image)

Scott $180

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1440
Symbol:Cat No:573

1923, $5 America. O.g., never hinged, precise centering amid beautifully balanced margins, deep colors and Post Office fresh, Extremely Fine to Superb, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate Graded (XF-Sup 95, SMQ $475).
Scott No. 573; $180. US$0 (Image)

Scott $180

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1441
Symbol:Cat No:573

1923, $5 America. O.g., never hinged, beautifully centered, brilliant colors, Extremely Fine to Superb, with 2021 P.S.A.G. certificate Graded (95, SSV $425).
Scott No. 573; $180. US$0 (Image)

Scott $180

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1442
Symbol:Cat No:573

1923, $5 America. Centerline block of 4, o.g., never hinged, rich colors and attractive centering, Very Fine.
Scott No. 573; $825. US$0 (Image)

Scott $825

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1443
Symbol:Cat No:578-579

1923, rotary press coil waste, 1¢ and 2¢ complete. O.g., never hinged, wide margins and beautifully matched centering, strong bright color, Very Fine and choice, 1¢ with 1989 P.S.E. certificate.
Scott No. 578-579; $290. US$0 (Image)

Scott $290

1923, 2¢ Washington, rotary press coil waste, perf 11 x 10. Exceptional centering and margins, neat slogan cancel, Extremely Fine and choice, a difficult stamp to find in this gem condition, with 2020 P.S.A.G. certificate Graded (90, SSV $260).
Scott No. 579; $140. US$0 (Image)

Scott $140

Sale No: 115
Lot No:1445
Symbol:Cat No:595

1923, 2¢ Washington, rotary press coil waste. O.g., never hinged, fresh with deep color, well centered for this difficult issue, Very Fine to Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. & 2024 P.S.E. certificates, the latter Graded (VF-XF 85, SMQ $550).
Scott No. 595; $450. US$0 (Image)

Scott $450