United States Stamp Treasures: The William H. Gross Collection continued...

DESCRIPTION

4¢ Columbian, Blue Error of Color (233a), strip of four from the lower right of the plate of 200 with AMERICAN BANKNOTE COMPANY.” imprint, plate No. 17” and plate letter D”, original gum, very deep shade of the Blue color, which resulted from an ink mixture error and exists in lighter and darker shades

PROVENANCE

* Benjamin D. Phillips (bought in H. R. Harmer sale, 10/4/1966; collection sold privately to Weills, 1968)

* Bought by William H. Gross privately from Hagendorf/Columbian

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* David Lidman, Treasury of Stamps: 1,200 Rare and Beautiful Stamps in Color, fig. 137, p. 79

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (1998)

CONDITION NOTES

* Extremely Fine; right stamp has negligible small thin spot at center

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/94.pdf (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

DESCRIPTION

8¢ Trans-Mississippi, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (289a), bottom margin block of four with BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING” imprint and plate number 609, block containing two error pairs, original gum, deep rich color, detailed impression, choice centering

PROVENANCE

Pane of 50 (as discovered):

* Robert Watts (discoverer), sold privately to Herman Lewis for $8

* Sold privately to William S. F. Pierce (Pierce divided the pane into three units--he kept block of 20 with top and bottom plate blocks)

Block of 20 with plate blocks: Sold by Pierce to New England Stamp Co.

Bottom plate number block (offered in this sale):

* Col. Edward H. R. Green, Part 26, Harmer, Rooke sale, 3/25-29/1946, lot 236, to Eno

* Amos Eno, Harmer, Rooke sale, 5/18/1954, lot 125

* H. R. Harmer 1000th Sale, 4/11/1956, lot 589, to Cole

* Arthur Hetherington, Quality” collection, H. R. Harmer sale, 10/27/1983, lot 22, to Weills for Kobacker

* Arthur J. Kobacker, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/25/1991, lot 531, to Hagendorf/Columbian (sold privately to William H. Gross)

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* Donna O’Keefe, Linn’s Philatelic Gems 4, p. 144

* World Stamp Show 2016 Court of Honor (Gross)

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (1957 and 1983)

CONDITION NOTES

* Very Fine; a few natural gum wrinkles as usual

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/95.pdf (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

DESCRIPTION

50¢ Trans-Mississippi (291), block of eight from bottom of right pane with BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING” imprint and plate number 603, half arrow and straight edge at left, original gum, hinge remnants and sliver reinforcements, remarkably fresh, exceptionally choice centering for this Bureau commemorative issue

CONDITION NOTES

* Fine-Very Fine; slight natural gum creases (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

DESCRIPTION

$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292), block of four from bottom of left pane with BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING” imprint and plate number 606, original gum, left pair Mint N.H., other two stamps previously hinged, deep shade, fresh paper

CERTIFICATION

* Professional Stamp Experts (2001)

CONDITION NOTES

* Fine-Very Fine (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

DESCRIPTION

$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293), block of six from top of left pane with BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING” imprint and plate number 613, original gum, previously hinged, astoundingly well-centered, deep rich color

PROVENANCE

* Ambassador” collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 5/2/1966, Sale 300, lot 337

* Arthur J. Kobacker, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 9/25/1991, lot 536, to Weills for Dr. Test

* Dr. Charles E. Test, Westport” collection, Christie’s Robson Lowe sale, 2/2/1994, lot 24, to William H. Gross

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (1994)

CONDITION NOTES

* Extremely Fine; very slightly oxidized color at left and right

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/98.pdf (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

DESCRIPTION

50¢ Trans-Mississippi (291), left straight edge margin with centerline, rich color, tied by collector friendly” lightly struck Washington, D.C. oval cancel, five-line purple REGISTERED/JUN 17 1898/WASHINGTON, D.C./Sub-Station No. 29/No. 768” registry datestamp with manuscript number struck on June 17, 1898, First Day of Trans-Mississippi Issue cover, manuscript return address J. M. Bartels, Washington”, typewriter address to Herrn Hermann August Kah., Baden-Baden, Germany”, red 23679” handstamped registry number, New York Exchange” registry label (number 59442), backstamped with New York, N.Y., Regy. Div. 6-18 1898” double-oval datestamp and purple 6/18/98” in circle registry datestamp over flap, Baden-Baden receiving backstamp (Jun. 26, 1898), blue crayon 337” on flap

PROVENANCE

* Fred Langford, Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, 1/24-27/2012, Sale 45, lot 1377, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* Henry Scheuer, The King of First Day Covers,” Virtual Stamp Club http://www.virtualstampclub.com/king_fdc.html

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (2011)

CONDITION NOTES

* Very Fine

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/99.pdf (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

DESCRIPTION

1¢-$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (285-293), the complete set of nine values, $1.00 well-centered, $2.00 centered to top, lightly cancelled and tied by New York Station P double-oval cancels, purple framed REGISTERED/ OCT 7 1898/BRANCH P.O./STATION P/NEW YORK P.O.” registry datestamp on large blue cover with printed addess to The Bank of British North America, in London, England, the name C. A. Hoare” is written above the bank name, sender’s ship directive Per S.S. Etruria”, red and black London receiving datestamps (Oct. 15 and 17), transit and receiving backstamps, red wax seals

PROVENANCE

* Ethel B. McCoy (collection sold privately)

* Dr. Alfred S. Martin, Siegel Auction Galleries, 3/30/2005, Sale 893, lot 156, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

* United States Specialist, October 1972

CERTIFICATION

* The Philatelic Foundation (1986)

CONDITION NOTES

* Very Fine appearance; all stamps have slight creasing or small fault; left side of cover has been refolded underneath to reduce size for exhibit page, some mounting glue stains on back

VIEW PDF OF HISTORY AND COMMENTARY at https://siegelauctions.com/2018/1188/100.pdf (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com