The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT WITH LIGHTLY-HINGED ORIGINAL GUM, FRESH COLOR AND BRIGHT PAPER. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS ICONIC INVERT EXTANT.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901. Of the 600 to 700 known, many have disturbed gum or are off-center. The stamp offered here is remarkably fresh and certainly one of the best-centered examples known. It was the bottom right stamp in a superb block of four that was offered in the Sotheby Parke Bernet sale on April 29, 1980 (lot 545). The PFC 91985 issued to Andrew Levitt Inc. on October 24, 1980, indicates that the block was broken soon after the auction.

With 1980 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $35,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only four others share it. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY SIX SOUND USED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT, AND OF THE SIX THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED COPIES.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901. According to the revised Johl-King book (p.7) "The first known copies of this error were discovered at Bessemer, Alabama, by the Carrell Jewelry Company on some circulars just prior to mailing them. When they realized the find they had made they lost no time in removing the stamps from the circulars and thus saved them to philately."

The 1c Pan-American Invert in used condition is considerably scarcer than unused. Our updated census, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/294a/294a.pdf , records 48 used examples plus three on cover, for a total of 51 copies. 39 off-cover stamps plus one on cover have faults ranging from corner creases to repairs.

Census No. 294a-CAN-05. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

A survey of the Levi records produced 64 single unused stamps (excluding the block of four and rejoined block of four). Many of these were described in auction catalogues more than 40 years ago; therefore, the determination of soundness is uncertain. However, assuming the old descriptions were reaffirmed today, approximately 45% of singles across all centering categories have faults.

With 1995 P.S.E. certificate stating "genuine unused o.g. with small natural gum bend at lower right" (Image)

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FINE CENTERING. A VERY ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the "Electric Vehicle Service," as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. One of the two men seated at the front was Samuel B. Hege, B&O's passenger agent, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law.

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. Based on the centering of this stamp, absence of "Specimen" overprint, and the shifted vignette, we believe this stamp comes from "Sheet 1 Left" as diagrammed in our catalogue for the "Beverly Hills" collection (Siegel Sale 1052, pages 52-53).

With 1987 P.F. certificate stating "genuine with part o.g. and with two removed inclusions at top" (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. ONLY SEVEN BLOCKS ARE RECORDED.

This block shows the wheels of the automobile in the vignette touching the surrounding brown frame. Based on the centering of this block, absence of "Specimen" overprint, and the shifted vignette, we believe this block comes from "Sheet 1 Left" as diagrammed in our catalogue for the "Beverly Hills" collection (Siegel Sale 1052, pages 52-53).

A review of our Levi records located seven blocks of four. One has not been seen since the 1944 Col. Edward H. R. Green auction and has probably been broken into singles, and another has not been seen since 1970. One of the well-centered blocks (with thin spots) realized $325,000 hammer in our sale of the Alan B. Whitman collection (Sale 968B).

Ex Lilly. (Image)

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