The John F. Odeneal Collection of Mint United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. NO DOUBT ONE OF THE FINEST LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country. Of the 600 to 700 known, most have disturbed gum and are off-center. The stamp offered here is remarkably fresh and certainly one of the best-centered examples known.

With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF 90 BY P.S.E.

The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Estimates of surviving examples range from an early count (1945) of 55 unused and 2-3 used to the 1998 Datz estimate of 150 unused, 3-5 used and a block of four intact. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. This Extremely Fine sound stamp with original gum is among the finest known examples.

With 1950, 1976 and 1990 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90). Only one has graded higher to date, and the SMQ value of $68,300.00 is out of date due to the lack of transactions for this grade. Scott footnote states "Almost all unused copies of No. 295a have partial or disturbed gum. Values are for examples with full original gum that is slightly disturbed." (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. THIS STAMP, WITH ITS PRISTINE GUM, RICH COLOR, LONG AND FULL PERFORATIONS AND WITH THE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE, IS TRULY ONE OF THE FINEST AND MOST DESIRABLE EXAMPLES EXTANT.

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. The example offered here, from the bottom of the sheet, is extraordinary for its pristine gum, choice centering and plate number selvage.

We record only four other examples with the plate no., including a block of four with part imprint and plate no. (perfs are in at bottom), a strip of four with imprint and plate no. (perfs touch at bottom) and two other singles (one with perfs touching design at bottom).

Anyone who has attempted to form a superb set of the three Pan-American Inverts knows that the difficulty of acquisition increases exponentially from the 1c to the 4c denominations. In fact, the 4c Invert stamps in almost every "Superb" collection have been compromise copies, acquired out of frustration and desperation after staring at the last remaining blank space for too long. In our opinion, the stamp offered here could set a record not only for the 4c Invert, but for any of the Pan-American Inverts.

With 1991 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80, SMQ $75,000.00 is irrelevant for a stamp of this quality and unique character). (Image)