The William H. Gross Collection: United States Multiples continued...

DESCRIPTION

30¢ Red Brown (J20), Mint N.H. block of ten from top of pane with "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY" imprint and "No. 332" plate number, rich color and crisp impression

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$3,250.00 as hinged

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

Since we started keeping computerized records, we have offered only two other Mint N.H. plate blocks of this issue--one top and one bottom. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States J20]

DESCRIPTION

30¢ Bright Claret (J27), Mint N.H. block of ten from top of pane with "AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY" imprint and "No. 332" plate number, brilliant color in the distinctive Bright Claret shade

PROVENANCE

Louis Grunin, Siegel Auction Galleries, 11/30/1971, Sale 404, lot 761

Dr. J. Paul Wampler, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 4/24-25/1998, lot 428, to William H. Gross

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine; a few reinforced perfs in ungummed selvage, light crease in selvage well above the imprint and plate number

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$8,700.00 as hinged

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

According to George Arfken's book on Postage Due stamps, in 1891 the American Bank Note Co. switched to a new kind of ink, which included aniline dye. The color is significantly brighter than the older Postage Due issues, and, unlike the older issues, it fluoresces under ultraviolet light. When questioned at the time, the Third Assistant Postmaster General Haven responded in a letter "the changes... are due partly to inappreciable differences in the fibre of the paper... and to mistakes in the mixing of the ink preparatory to printing."

The high denomination Postage Dues were not used very often. When American Bank Note Co. turned over plates, transfer rolls and stamps on hand to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) in 1893, there was an ample supply of stamps. The BEP did not release their own 30¢ Postage Due stamps until 1895, after trying to exhaust the existing supply of American Bank Note Co. stamps. It is not known how many were printed in the new Bright Claret color, but it seems reasonable to assume that quantities were extremely limited.

Our exhaustive search of auction records and The Philatelic Foundation failed to find another plate block. The Todd collection, which was probably the most comprehensive plate block collection ever formed, contained a top imprint and plate number strip of six. The Philatelic Foundation has only certified a bottom imprint and plate number strip of six. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States J27]

DESCRIPTION

1¢ Rose (J59), top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint, plate number 5510 and star block of six, top center stamp lightly hinged, other five stamps and selvage Mint N.H., typical centering for this difficult issue, brilliant color

PROVENANCE

Dr. J. Paul Wampler, Shreves Philatelic Galleries, 4/24-25/1998, lot 456, to William H. Gross

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (2001)

CONDITION NOTES

Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$30,000.00

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

Perf 10 and Unwatermarked--A Rare Concurrence

Scott J59 was issued concurrently with its regular issue counterparts, Scott 462-478. These issues were printed on unwatermarked paper. Similar to Scott 476A, a small supply of 1¢ and 2¢ Postage Due stamps were also printed on the unwatermarked paper. Perforations were soon changed from gauge 10 to 11, so only a small quantity was printed. It is generally found with poor centering.

Our review of major plate block and Postage Due auctions, including Chapin, Cole, Kobacker, Simon, Todd, and Wampler, revealed only three plate blocks, plus a bottom position in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. The ex-Cole/Drucker plate block and the plate block from our 2012 Rarities sales have been broken into singles, tragically. The remaining plate blocks are:

1) Top Plate 5510 block of 6, ex Wampler, offered in this sale

2) Right Plate 5510 block of 8, ex Grunin

3) Top Plate 5522 block of 6, ex Curtis and Siegel 2003 Rarities of the World sale

4) Bottom Plate 5541 block of 6, Miller collection, The New York Public Library, unavailable to collectors (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States J59]

DESCRIPTION

12¢ on 6¢ Offices in China (K6), full top plate number 7837 block of six, lightly hinged, choice centering throughout

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine; some oxidation mostly at top

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$800.00 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States K6]

DESCRIPTION

2¢ on 1¢ Offices in China (K17), full top plate number F11729 block of six, top center stamp lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., deep rich color

CONDITION NOTES

Very Fine

SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)

$850.00 (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States K17]