The Grant Inman Collection, Part 4: Proprietary and Other Revenue Issues continued...

FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE ONE-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT ON VIOLET PAPER. ONLY 24 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED, MOST OF WHICH ARE FAULTY. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE, WITH THE RED HANDSTAMP CANCEL, IS ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records 23 examples of this invert error, most of which have thins or creases, or are off center. We offered one additional copy in our 2006 Tolman sale, bringing the total to 24. Of these, at least sixteen have faults. This example with the red printed cancel is easily one of the most attractive.

Ex Joyce and Lyons. With 1999 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PROPRIETARY ISSUE ON VIOLET PAPER WITH CENTER INVERTED. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF UNITED STATES REVENUE COLLECTING.

Only two examples of this invert are recorded: 1) the example offered here; and 2) single penstroke cancel, tiny pinhole and faint translucency, ex Cunliffe and Curtis.

Ex Lyons. With 1979 and 1993 P.F. certificates. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT ON GREEN PAPER. ONLY FOURTEEN EXAMPLES OF THIS INVERT ARE RECORDED. THE 2-CENT IS THE ONLY INVERT DENOMINATION KNOWN ON GREEN PAPER.

In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records 13 copies of the 2c Proprietary Invert on green paper. One additional example has come to light since his census, offered in our Sale 1037. Of the total recorded, nine appear to be unused, and all but two have at least one fault. This example with only a tiny corner margin crease is highly desirable.

Ex Weill and Zoellner. With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as used (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE SEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.

In his privately published census of the 3c Proprietary inverts, Larry Lyons records only seven examples (none is known on green paper). Of these seven, one has a missing corner, one has a margin added, two others have repaired corners, one has thins and is stained and one has creases and nibbed perfs. The stamp offered here, with trivial nibbed perfs not mentioned on the accompanying certificate, is by far the finest recorded example.

Ex Weill and Zoellner. With 1989 P.F. certificate. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING. ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF ALL INVERTS AND REVENUE STAMPS.

In his privately published census, Larry Lyons records six examples of the 4c Proprietary invert on violet paper (none is known on green paper). All have flaws to varying degrees and four are defective. This example with beautiful centering and a light cancel is quite desirable.

Ex Cunliffe. With 1974 and 2009 P.F. certificates. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE CELEBRATED UNIQUE 5-CENT PROPRIETARY INVERT. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF UNITED STATES PHILATELY AND THE KEY TO ANY COMPLETE REVENUE COLLECTION OR COLLECTION OF INVERTS.

It is believed that this stamp was purchased from Hiram Deats by the noted Philadelphia stamp dealer, Philip H. Ward Jr., for his personal collection. The stamp then passed into the hands of famed New Orleans dealers Raymond and Roger Weill, who purchased Ward's collection intact from his estate. They retained the stamp for more than twenty years. The late Robert Zoellner acquired the stamp in the 1989 Weill Stock sale for $77,000 (including premium), which was the standing record price for a United States revenue stamp. That record held until this stamp was offered in our 2000 Zoellner sale, where it realized $120,000 hammer.

It is worth noting that the 5c Proprietary Invert is the only face-different postage or revenue stamp in United States philately (excluding Carriers and Locals, and the Thomas E. Wilson M.D. Private Die Medicine stamp). All other unique listings are varieties of a more common design.

Ex Deats, Ward, Weill Brothers (where illustrated on the front cover) and Zoellner. Illustrated in Linn's Philatelic Gems 5 on p. 140. With 1989 P.F. certificate. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com