US Stamps
1846-1847 Prepayment by the Sender
2012 SOLD for $ 630K including premium by Robert A. Siegel
2018 SOLD for $ 460K including premium
PRE 2018 SALE DISCUSSION
Following the example of the British who created the postage stamp in 1840, the US Congress Act of March 3, 1845 standardized the postal rates, with a basic price at 5 cents. This decision favors payment by the sender rather than by the addressee. The modernization of the US Postage is launched : the prepayment by stamp will become mandatory in 1855.
The new rates take effect on July 1, 1845. A few days later, without waiting for any federal stamps, offices in New York and Baltimore issue provisional stamps.
The postmaster at New Haven chooses another solution, the printing of the prepayment on an envelope prepared by his office. Its administrative wording without illustration is not appealing. A complete envelope survived in good condition. The mark dated October 21 (1845) was hand stamped during the expedition.
In 1895 during an inventory in a commercial firm in Philadelphia, two pre-paid envelopes surface in flawless condition. At the top right of the envelope, its circular pre-impression in carmine red is a negative figure of the eagle and shield with the wording POST OFFICE ANNAPOLIS. The inscriptions '5' and 'PAID' have been added by hand stamps of the same color.
Several examples of the same circular mark on documents or envelopes are known, but the specimens of Philadelphia are the only examples of Annapolis pre-printed envelopes. The hypothesis of a specific request made to the postmaster by a customer who frequently used the postal service could be considered.
The date mark has been hand stamped, confirming that the shipments were made from Annapolis Md on March 20 and April 8. The unidentified year can only be 1846 or 1847.
The March 20 envelope was sold on March 28, 2012 by Siegel for $ 630K including premium over a lower estimate of $ 200K. It is estimated $ 300K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 3. Here is the link to the section devoted to the Gross collection on the auction house website.
Following the example of the British who created the postage stamp in 1840, the US Congress Act of March 3, 1845 standardized the postal rates, with a basic price at 5 cents. This decision favors payment by the sender rather than by the addressee. The modernization of the US Postage is launched : the prepayment by stamp will become mandatory in 1855.
The new rates take effect on July 1, 1845. A few days later, without waiting for any federal stamps, offices in New York and Baltimore issue provisional stamps.
The postmaster at New Haven chooses another solution, the printing of the prepayment on an envelope prepared by his office. Its administrative wording without illustration is not appealing. A complete envelope survived in good condition. The mark dated October 21 (1845) was hand stamped during the expedition.
In 1895 during an inventory in a commercial firm in Philadelphia, two pre-paid envelopes surface in flawless condition. At the top right of the envelope, its circular pre-impression in carmine red is a negative figure of the eagle and shield with the wording POST OFFICE ANNAPOLIS. The inscriptions '5' and 'PAID' have been added by hand stamps of the same color.
Several examples of the same circular mark on documents or envelopes are known, but the specimens of Philadelphia are the only examples of Annapolis pre-printed envelopes. The hypothesis of a specific request made to the postmaster by a customer who frequently used the postal service could be considered.
The date mark has been hand stamped, confirming that the shipments were made from Annapolis Md on March 20 and April 8. The unidentified year can only be 1846 or 1847.
The March 20 envelope was sold on March 28, 2012 by Siegel for $ 630K including premium over a lower estimate of $ 200K. It is estimated $ 300K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 3. Here is the link to the section devoted to the Gross collection on the auction house website.
1847 Sixty Cents within a Bible
2018 SOLD for $ 590K including premium
The first set of US national stamps is available from July 1847 and invalidated in July 1851 due to the lowering of the postal rates. It consists of two denominations, 10 cents with the portrait of Washington and 5 cents with Franklin.
Users respond overwhelmingly to the US Postage's offer to reimburse the obsolete stamps through an exchange with the 1851 denominations of 1 cent, 3 cents and 12 cents. 10 cents was not a negligible amount for the user. Unused survivors of the original Washington are rare, even as individual stamps. A block of six and two blocks of four are known.
The block of six Washington surfaced in an auction in 1912, accompanied by a block of six of the first Franklin in perfect condition. They had kept their original gum. Both blocks were sold separately but undoubtedly came from the same estate. The Washington block, in Very Fine condition, has since then been considered as an icon of US philately.
Philatelists have tried to reconstruct its history. One of them, close to the file since the 1912 sale, unveils in 1925 the family name of the original owner. He later acquired the block and published in 1948 an information transmitted to him in a private mail by the expert Scott revealing that the 1912 seller had found these stamps between the pages of a Bible.
The Washington block of six thus becomes the Bible Block. The owner of the Bible is identified as Senator Rives who inscribed it in 1825. Rives carried out two diplomatic missions to France, from 1829 to 1833 and from 1849 to 1853.
Robert A. Siegel auction house experts find that the scissors section of the right edge of the block of six exactly matches the left profile of one of the surviving blocks of four, supporting the hypothesis of an original block of ten separated in the project of a letter to someone in France.
The story may be considered in relation with the 'retaliatory' rate that applied to some TransAtlantic mails before the application in February 1849 of the US-British postal treaty. The postage of the Rush cover, mailed from Philadelphia to Paris in 1848, is made with the same configuration of six Washington stamps. The block was indeed too expensive for the 1849 rate.
The block of four Washington was sold for $ 450K before fees by Siegel in 2012. The Bible Block of six Washington is estimated $ 500K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 14. Here is the link to the section devoted to the Gross collectionon the website of the auction house.
Users respond overwhelmingly to the US Postage's offer to reimburse the obsolete stamps through an exchange with the 1851 denominations of 1 cent, 3 cents and 12 cents. 10 cents was not a negligible amount for the user. Unused survivors of the original Washington are rare, even as individual stamps. A block of six and two blocks of four are known.
The block of six Washington surfaced in an auction in 1912, accompanied by a block of six of the first Franklin in perfect condition. They had kept their original gum. Both blocks were sold separately but undoubtedly came from the same estate. The Washington block, in Very Fine condition, has since then been considered as an icon of US philately.
Philatelists have tried to reconstruct its history. One of them, close to the file since the 1912 sale, unveils in 1925 the family name of the original owner. He later acquired the block and published in 1948 an information transmitted to him in a private mail by the expert Scott revealing that the 1912 seller had found these stamps between the pages of a Bible.
The Washington block of six thus becomes the Bible Block. The owner of the Bible is identified as Senator Rives who inscribed it in 1825. Rives carried out two diplomatic missions to France, from 1829 to 1833 and from 1849 to 1853.
Robert A. Siegel auction house experts find that the scissors section of the right edge of the block of six exactly matches the left profile of one of the surviving blocks of four, supporting the hypothesis of an original block of ten separated in the project of a letter to someone in France.
The story may be considered in relation with the 'retaliatory' rate that applied to some TransAtlantic mails before the application in February 1849 of the US-British postal treaty. The postage of the Rush cover, mailed from Philadelphia to Paris in 1848, is made with the same configuration of six Washington stamps. The block was indeed too expensive for the 1849 rate.
The block of four Washington was sold for $ 450K before fees by Siegel in 2012. The Bible Block of six Washington is estimated $ 500K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 14. Here is the link to the section devoted to the Gross collectionon the website of the auction house.
1851 Transatlantic Postage
1993 SOLD for $ 715K including premium by Christie's Robson Lowe
2018 UNSOLD
PRE 2018 SALE DISCUSSION
The invention of the postage stamp by the British in 1840 facilitated the communications between nations. In an early phase it required bilateral negotiations between countries that were gradually adopting this new practice.
The treaty between Canada and the United States comes into effect on April 6, 1851, at a rate of 6 pence or 10 cents. US stamps remain available at Canadian post offices.
On April 23 the first stamp of the Province of Canada is issued. It is worth 3 cents which is the basic rate for domestic postage. With its vignette displaying a beaver, it is the first official stamp in the world to be illustrated on a theme other than portraits of personalities and national emblems.
Reverend Ryerson, a prominent Canadian Methodist educator, is temporarily in London. Somewhere in Canada, someone manages to send him a letter. The new rules must be applied but it is a little complicated. The letter will have to be embarked in New York for crossing the Atlantic.
The local postmaster accepts the postage in the following conditions. A 3-cent beaver stamp pays the transfer to the United States border. The letter will only transit through the United States and the journey between border and New York is not considered. The departure of a British steamer of the Cunard company is scheduled for May 7 and this information is written on the envelope.
The Transatlantic rate of 24 cents is paid by five 5 cent stamps. On March 3 an act of the US Congress had announced the imminent obsolescence of this original denomination of the US Postage and consequently the sender chose to pay 1 cent more than required by the US-British postal treaty of 1848, certainly for using his stock.
The transfer to New York is fast. On May 6 the letter is embarked on a US ship. Despite the 1848 treaty, competition is fierce. The New York foreign mail office collects 22 cents in this operation, avoids paying 19 cents to the Cunard, offers a discount of 2 cents and hand stamps on the cover an overpayment of 3 cents. The receipt of the letter in London is recorded by a date hand stamp on May 19.
This piece surfaces in 1944 in an auction. Known as the Beaver Cover, it is a supreme delight in philately : very fine condition, paid with a mix of stamps from the very first US and Canadian federal issues, and bearing the marks and cancellations that reveal the significant details of its routing.
The Beaver Cover was sold for $ 715K including premium by Christie's Robson Lowe on September 28, 1993. It is estimated $ 600K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 26. Here is the link to the section dedicated to the Gross collection on the website of the auction house.
The invention of the postage stamp by the British in 1840 facilitated the communications between nations. In an early phase it required bilateral negotiations between countries that were gradually adopting this new practice.
The treaty between Canada and the United States comes into effect on April 6, 1851, at a rate of 6 pence or 10 cents. US stamps remain available at Canadian post offices.
On April 23 the first stamp of the Province of Canada is issued. It is worth 3 cents which is the basic rate for domestic postage. With its vignette displaying a beaver, it is the first official stamp in the world to be illustrated on a theme other than portraits of personalities and national emblems.
Reverend Ryerson, a prominent Canadian Methodist educator, is temporarily in London. Somewhere in Canada, someone manages to send him a letter. The new rules must be applied but it is a little complicated. The letter will have to be embarked in New York for crossing the Atlantic.
The local postmaster accepts the postage in the following conditions. A 3-cent beaver stamp pays the transfer to the United States border. The letter will only transit through the United States and the journey between border and New York is not considered. The departure of a British steamer of the Cunard company is scheduled for May 7 and this information is written on the envelope.
The Transatlantic rate of 24 cents is paid by five 5 cent stamps. On March 3 an act of the US Congress had announced the imminent obsolescence of this original denomination of the US Postage and consequently the sender chose to pay 1 cent more than required by the US-British postal treaty of 1848, certainly for using his stock.
The transfer to New York is fast. On May 6 the letter is embarked on a US ship. Despite the 1848 treaty, competition is fierce. The New York foreign mail office collects 22 cents in this operation, avoids paying 19 cents to the Cunard, offers a discount of 2 cents and hand stamps on the cover an overpayment of 3 cents. The receipt of the letter in London is recorded by a date hand stamp on May 19.
This piece surfaces in 1944 in an auction. Known as the Beaver Cover, it is a supreme delight in philately : very fine condition, paid with a mix of stamps from the very first US and Canadian federal issues, and bearing the marks and cancellations that reveal the significant details of its routing.
The Beaver Cover was sold for $ 715K including premium by Christie's Robson Lowe on September 28, 1993. It is estimated $ 600K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 26. Here is the link to the section dedicated to the Gross collection on the website of the auction house.
1857 Jefferson in Red
2009 SOLD for $ 805K including premium by Robert A. Siegel
2018 SOLD for $ 470K including premium
PRE 2018 SALE DISCUSSION
At the first issue of postage stamps by the United States in 1847, the base rate is 5 cents. Two denominations are created : 5 cents in red brown with the portrait of Franklin and 10 cents in black with Washington. The postal success is so great that the rates go down as early as 1851. The old stamps are removed from circulation and replaced by 1 cent in blue and 3 cents in orange brown.
The withdrawal of the 5 cents and 10 cents was a bad decision. These values can be used to top-up a heavier shipment or a foreign destination. They are recreated in 1856 with new portraits. The 10 cents becomes green. The new Jefferson 5 cents keeps the red brown color of the old Franklin emission.
600,000 Jefferson are printed in 1856, probably in a single run as their color is very homogeneous. This non-perforated variant is very rare. In terms of unused blocks, only two blocks of four survived. One of them was deposited in a university with an inalienable clause. The other remains the only unused block in private hands. It is estimated $ 200K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 35. It is graduated Very Fine and has kept its original gum.
Perforations appear and become mandatory in 1857. The 5 cents remains a rarely used value and the remaining large stocks of red brown sheets from the previous year are punched at this stage. A new printing becomes necessary in 1858. The preparation of the colors is slightly changed, with the vast majority of the sheets in Indian red and some in Brick red.
The rarity of the brick red Jefferson suggests that it had not been the subject of a separate run. It cannot be considered as an error but rather as an anomaly in the mixture of inks, early detected and corrected. The brick red sheets buried within the stacks appeared in circulation from seven months onward after the Indian red.
Only one unused brick red block survived, also consisting of four stamps. Graded Extremely Fine with its original gum, it was sold for $ 805K including premium by Siegel on January 27, 2009 over an estimate of $ 375K. It is estimated $ 400K for sale on October 3 by Siegel, lot 47.
Here is the link to the section dedicated to the Gross collection in the website of the auction house.
2018 RESULTS including premium :
Unperforated : $ 307K
Perforated : $ 470K
At the first issue of postage stamps by the United States in 1847, the base rate is 5 cents. Two denominations are created : 5 cents in red brown with the portrait of Franklin and 10 cents in black with Washington. The postal success is so great that the rates go down as early as 1851. The old stamps are removed from circulation and replaced by 1 cent in blue and 3 cents in orange brown.
The withdrawal of the 5 cents and 10 cents was a bad decision. These values can be used to top-up a heavier shipment or a foreign destination. They are recreated in 1856 with new portraits. The 10 cents becomes green. The new Jefferson 5 cents keeps the red brown color of the old Franklin emission.
600,000 Jefferson are printed in 1856, probably in a single run as their color is very homogeneous. This non-perforated variant is very rare. In terms of unused blocks, only two blocks of four survived. One of them was deposited in a university with an inalienable clause. The other remains the only unused block in private hands. It is estimated $ 200K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 35. It is graduated Very Fine and has kept its original gum.
Perforations appear and become mandatory in 1857. The 5 cents remains a rarely used value and the remaining large stocks of red brown sheets from the previous year are punched at this stage. A new printing becomes necessary in 1858. The preparation of the colors is slightly changed, with the vast majority of the sheets in Indian red and some in Brick red.
The rarity of the brick red Jefferson suggests that it had not been the subject of a separate run. It cannot be considered as an error but rather as an anomaly in the mixture of inks, early detected and corrected. The brick red sheets buried within the stacks appeared in circulation from seven months onward after the Indian red.
Only one unused brick red block survived, also consisting of four stamps. Graded Extremely Fine with its original gum, it was sold for $ 805K including premium by Siegel on January 27, 2009 over an estimate of $ 375K. It is estimated $ 400K for sale on October 3 by Siegel, lot 47.
Here is the link to the section dedicated to the Gross collection in the website of the auction house.
2018 RESULTS including premium :
Unperforated : $ 307K
Perforated : $ 470K
1861 Pony versus Iron Horse
2009 SOLD for $ 630K including premium
How did we communicate in 1860 between California and the East Coast of the United States? The answer to this question is a condensed history of progress and the adventure of the Pony Express is its most romantic (and less profitable!) episode.
Postal systems using horses existed since antiquity, with interruptions. Used by the kings and governments to communicate their messages and instructions, it required to establish stations at regular intervals to take fresh horses. Thus, as later for the railroad, the messenger had no choice for his course.
California, land of the Gold Rush, was part of the USA since 1850. Wells Fargo for the West and American Express in the East were the two sides of the same operation that was organizing the transfer of freight and mail by coach.
The idea to go faster by bearing the lighter mail by galloping horsemen is the origin of the Pony Express, which lasted 18 months between April 1860 and October 1861. The stamp was from its beginnings in 1840 the popular support for the registration of payment. Wells Fargo & Co edited a private stamp dedicated to the delivery of letters by the Pony Express, with values of $ 1, 2 and 4. The stamps are illustrated with a galloping rider, of course.
In the East, the Pony Express started from St. Joseph, Missouri, a city which had been reached by the railroad in 1859. The breakthrough which led to the ruin of the Pony Express was not however the iron horse, but the telegraph as soon as its transcontinental line was completed in October 1861. It was not until May 10, 1869 to celebrate and use the connection between East and West by rail.
On December 5 in New York City, Robert A. Siegel disperses a philatelic collection dedicated to the Pony Express. A particularly interesting cover, with a lower estimate of 500 K$, starting from San Francisco on September 7, 1861, had been forwarded to its destination in Switzerland where it arrived on October 10. It bears the double stamping of Wells Fargo and of the usual US stamps, the latter having been required to pay the end of the trip, of course.
For full details on the Pony Express, I recommend reading the catalog for this sale reference 979, to download in pdf from the site of the auction house. Also on the same page The Despatch Siegel No 35 Copyright © 2009 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. The dates of delivery of the letter to Switzerland and the estimate are extracted from the catalog.
To put this story in its context, I recommend the articles Pony Express and History of Wells Fargo of Wikipedia.
POST SALE COMMENT
Excellent price, $ 550K before fees, for this outstanding philatelic piece.
Postal systems using horses existed since antiquity, with interruptions. Used by the kings and governments to communicate their messages and instructions, it required to establish stations at regular intervals to take fresh horses. Thus, as later for the railroad, the messenger had no choice for his course.
California, land of the Gold Rush, was part of the USA since 1850. Wells Fargo for the West and American Express in the East were the two sides of the same operation that was organizing the transfer of freight and mail by coach.
The idea to go faster by bearing the lighter mail by galloping horsemen is the origin of the Pony Express, which lasted 18 months between April 1860 and October 1861. The stamp was from its beginnings in 1840 the popular support for the registration of payment. Wells Fargo & Co edited a private stamp dedicated to the delivery of letters by the Pony Express, with values of $ 1, 2 and 4. The stamps are illustrated with a galloping rider, of course.
In the East, the Pony Express started from St. Joseph, Missouri, a city which had been reached by the railroad in 1859. The breakthrough which led to the ruin of the Pony Express was not however the iron horse, but the telegraph as soon as its transcontinental line was completed in October 1861. It was not until May 10, 1869 to celebrate and use the connection between East and West by rail.
On December 5 in New York City, Robert A. Siegel disperses a philatelic collection dedicated to the Pony Express. A particularly interesting cover, with a lower estimate of 500 K$, starting from San Francisco on September 7, 1861, had been forwarded to its destination in Switzerland where it arrived on October 10. It bears the double stamping of Wells Fargo and of the usual US stamps, the latter having been required to pay the end of the trip, of course.
For full details on the Pony Express, I recommend reading the catalog for this sale reference 979, to download in pdf from the site of the auction house. Also on the same page The Despatch Siegel No 35 Copyright © 2009 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. The dates of delivery of the letter to Switzerland and the estimate are extracted from the catalog.
To put this story in its context, I recommend the articles Pony Express and History of Wells Fargo of Wikipedia.
POST SALE COMMENT
Excellent price, $ 550K before fees, for this outstanding philatelic piece.
1868 The Grilled Stamps
2015 SOLD for $ 660K including premium
The grilled stamps are regular but short lived variants of US philately. The idea was to indent the stamp to discourage the cleaning of the cancellation ink. The types of grills are identified by letters which are not related to their pattern of points.
The first tests are carried out with the A Grill in 1867. The tests are promising, but the A Grill covers the entire surface of the stamp, which reduces the production yield due to an excessive mechanical stress.
The B Grill is an experimental or involuntary aberration. Used in 1868 during the phase of removal of the A Grill, it was too large against the new specified standard that was the F Grill. The four known stamps with a B Grill are 3 cents. They were circulated on a single cover in February 1869 and discovered in 1969. They have been detached later.
The 1868 Z Grill is common for some stamp values but very rare for 1 cent, 10 cents and 15 cents for which it had not been planned, probably for reasons of production sequence.
The 1 cent Z Grill is known in two examples only. Only one of them is remaining in private hands. In a nice freshness, it was sold for $ 965K including premium by Robert A. Siegel in October 1998. This result is still now announced on the site of the auction house as the world record for a used US stamp.
The sale by Robert A. Siegel on June 25 in New York offers three grilled stamps among the rarest variants. Lot 3101 is one of eight known copies of the 30 cents A Grill. Lot 3102 is one of the four 3 cents B Grill discussed above. Lot 3103 is a beautiful specimen of 10 cents Z Grill, from six recorded units. The catalog value of these three stamps is respectively $ 210K, 1M and 650K.
RESULTS BEFORE FEES :
30 cents A Grill : $ 250K
3 cents B Grill : $ 575K
10 cents Z Grill : $ 325K
The first tests are carried out with the A Grill in 1867. The tests are promising, but the A Grill covers the entire surface of the stamp, which reduces the production yield due to an excessive mechanical stress.
The B Grill is an experimental or involuntary aberration. Used in 1868 during the phase of removal of the A Grill, it was too large against the new specified standard that was the F Grill. The four known stamps with a B Grill are 3 cents. They were circulated on a single cover in February 1869 and discovered in 1969. They have been detached later.
The 1868 Z Grill is common for some stamp values but very rare for 1 cent, 10 cents and 15 cents for which it had not been planned, probably for reasons of production sequence.
The 1 cent Z Grill is known in two examples only. Only one of them is remaining in private hands. In a nice freshness, it was sold for $ 965K including premium by Robert A. Siegel in October 1998. This result is still now announced on the site of the auction house as the world record for a used US stamp.
The sale by Robert A. Siegel on June 25 in New York offers three grilled stamps among the rarest variants. Lot 3101 is one of eight known copies of the 30 cents A Grill. Lot 3102 is one of the four 3 cents B Grill discussed above. Lot 3103 is a beautiful specimen of 10 cents Z Grill, from six recorded units. The catalog value of these three stamps is respectively $ 210K, 1M and 650K.
RESULTS BEFORE FEES :
30 cents A Grill : $ 250K
3 cents B Grill : $ 575K
10 cents Z Grill : $ 325K
1869 The Two-Colored Errors
2013 SOLD for $ 920K including premium
In 1869, the United States renew their postage stamps. Ten values are released, from 1c to 90c, but only three of them maintain the tradition of featuring the heads of the great statesmen of the past. The other seven display scenes and symbols of American patriotism.
Another innovation is technical. Four of these values are printed in two colors, the first step towards the modern polychromatic stamp: 15c, 24c, 30c and 90c Lincoln.
The printing is done in two stages. When the sheet is presented in reverse to its second pass, the two elements of the image are one another inverted. This error of image position did not prevent the stamps to be used.
The controls were not strict enough. Similar errors of the 1901 Pan American issue were certainly better filtered, and only a single sheet escaped the controls of the 1918 Air Post.
Coming back to the Pictorial Issue of 1869. Survivors of uncirculated inverts are very rare: their total for the three usual values is estimated at 14 units. On February 9, 2008, Philip Weiss sold for $ 1.27 million including premium one of the four 24c, sound but unevenly centered and without gum.
On October 9 in New York, Robert A. Siegel sells the best known inverted example of the two other usual values. Each one is the only specimen in its category to have retained its original gum. The 15c stamp, whose colors are very fresh, is estimated $ 1.25 M. The 30c, perfectly centered, is estimated $ 1M.
The Grant administration, which has made this release, had reluctantly inherited this project from Johnson and did nothing to promote it to the users. After a few months, the traditional figuration returned to the US stamp, explaining the scarcity of the Pictorial issue and of its errors.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very rare and beautiful in their class, both stamps remained however below the expected price. Before fees, the 15c stamp was sold for $ 800K and the 30c stamp for $ 600K. The auction house charges a buyer's premium of 15%.
Another innovation is technical. Four of these values are printed in two colors, the first step towards the modern polychromatic stamp: 15c, 24c, 30c and 90c Lincoln.
The printing is done in two stages. When the sheet is presented in reverse to its second pass, the two elements of the image are one another inverted. This error of image position did not prevent the stamps to be used.
The controls were not strict enough. Similar errors of the 1901 Pan American issue were certainly better filtered, and only a single sheet escaped the controls of the 1918 Air Post.
Coming back to the Pictorial Issue of 1869. Survivors of uncirculated inverts are very rare: their total for the three usual values is estimated at 14 units. On February 9, 2008, Philip Weiss sold for $ 1.27 million including premium one of the four 24c, sound but unevenly centered and without gum.
On October 9 in New York, Robert A. Siegel sells the best known inverted example of the two other usual values. Each one is the only specimen in its category to have retained its original gum. The 15c stamp, whose colors are very fresh, is estimated $ 1.25 M. The 30c, perfectly centered, is estimated $ 1M.
The Grant administration, which has made this release, had reluctantly inherited this project from Johnson and did nothing to promote it to the users. After a few months, the traditional figuration returned to the US stamp, explaining the scarcity of the Pictorial issue and of its errors.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very rare and beautiful in their class, both stamps remained however below the expected price. Before fees, the 15c stamp was sold for $ 800K and the 30c stamp for $ 600K. The auction house charges a buyer's premium of 15%.
1869 The Pictorial Failure
2018 SOLD for $ 740K including premium
When an operation is stopped because of public displeasure, the produced pieces acquire a high rarity. Numismatists have the 1793 Chain cent and philatelists the 1869 Pictorial stamps.
Developed by the Postmaster General of the Johnson Administration, the Pictorial series was innovative. Users did not like the small and square format, the tiny illustrations and the poor adhesion of the gum. The mixing of themes is excessive and confusing between traditional presidential portraits, official symbols, the history of the Post Office and the heroic paintings of the Capitol.
Politics got involved, pushed by disputes over the choice of the printing subcontractor. The Grant Administration had no reason to support Johnson's initiatives. The Pictorial series had been released in March 1869 just after Grant's inauguration. Its obsolescence in favor of a new series of presidential figures on an enlarged format was decided in September 1869 and the availability of the Pictorials ceased in April 1870.
The four highest denominations of the Pictorials are the first two-color stamps in production, made in two successive printing runs. The tooling is poorly designed, generating inversions of the central vignette within the frame. An unused 15c Inverted graded Very Fine with original gum was sold for $ 920K including premium by Siegel on October 9, 2013.
A block of four 24c with inverted centers and cork cancels from New York City was discovered in Liverpool in the late 1880s. It had probably contributed to mail a parcel. This unique piece has become one of the stars of philately. Graded Very Fine, it is estimated $ 750K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 89. Here is the link to the section dedicated to the Gross collection in the website of the auction house.
Developed by the Postmaster General of the Johnson Administration, the Pictorial series was innovative. Users did not like the small and square format, the tiny illustrations and the poor adhesion of the gum. The mixing of themes is excessive and confusing between traditional presidential portraits, official symbols, the history of the Post Office and the heroic paintings of the Capitol.
Politics got involved, pushed by disputes over the choice of the printing subcontractor. The Grant Administration had no reason to support Johnson's initiatives. The Pictorial series had been released in March 1869 just after Grant's inauguration. Its obsolescence in favor of a new series of presidential figures on an enlarged format was decided in September 1869 and the availability of the Pictorials ceased in April 1870.
The four highest denominations of the Pictorials are the first two-color stamps in production, made in two successive printing runs. The tooling is poorly designed, generating inversions of the central vignette within the frame. An unused 15c Inverted graded Very Fine with original gum was sold for $ 920K including premium by Siegel on October 9, 2013.
A block of four 24c with inverted centers and cork cancels from New York City was discovered in Liverpool in the late 1880s. It had probably contributed to mail a parcel. This unique piece has become one of the stars of philately. Graded Very Fine, it is estimated $ 750K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on October 3, lot 89. Here is the link to the section dedicated to the Gross collection in the website of the auction house.
1901 Two Invert Blocks
2009 SOLD for $ 920K including premium
I have already discussed in this group the Inverted Jenny, this single sheet of American 24 cent stamps showing an aircraft whose image had been reversed by mistake from the text in 1918.
I discussed also about blocks, these artefacts which are especially popular with philatelists. Interviewed by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, the collector Alan Whitman explains why: Once separated, a block is lost forever for philatelists, who are therefore proud to contribute to their preservation.
Two prestigious blocks of four stamps with inverted centers are coming in the second sale of the Whitman collection, organized by Siegel in New York on April 14 and 15: a 2-cent showing a steam train and a 4-cent showing a mailcoach. Both stamps are part of the Pan American series of 1901.
Source for the above: The Siegel Despatch, Copyright © 2009 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.
Wikipedia knows this inverted variant of 1901, and assesses the value of a single stamp between 30 and 50 K $. Of course, the value of the two blocks described above will be much higher.
It is difficult to decide whether it is really an error or an unauthorized test conducted by a manager of the United States Post Office Department.
POST SALE COMMENT
All conditions were met for these two blocks reaching top results. At this price level, it is the buyer who decides what is the most outstanding object. Ratings gave a slight advantage to the 4c, but the result is inverted (!):
$ 800 K for the block of 2c; $ 325 K for the block of 4c.
These prices are before fees.
I discussed also about blocks, these artefacts which are especially popular with philatelists. Interviewed by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, the collector Alan Whitman explains why: Once separated, a block is lost forever for philatelists, who are therefore proud to contribute to their preservation.
Two prestigious blocks of four stamps with inverted centers are coming in the second sale of the Whitman collection, organized by Siegel in New York on April 14 and 15: a 2-cent showing a steam train and a 4-cent showing a mailcoach. Both stamps are part of the Pan American series of 1901.
Source for the above: The Siegel Despatch, Copyright © 2009 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.
Wikipedia knows this inverted variant of 1901, and assesses the value of a single stamp between 30 and 50 K $. Of course, the value of the two blocks described above will be much higher.
It is difficult to decide whether it is really an error or an unauthorized test conducted by a manager of the United States Post Office Department.
POST SALE COMMENT
All conditions were met for these two blocks reaching top results. At this price level, it is the buyer who decides what is the most outstanding object. Ratings gave a slight advantage to the 4c, but the result is inverted (!):
$ 800 K for the block of 2c; $ 325 K for the block of 4c.
These prices are before fees.
1918 Block of four Inverted Jenny US error stamp
2005 SOLD for $ 2.97M including premium by Robert A. Siegel
Shared by Wikimedia :
1918 The Blocks of Colonel Green
2019 SOLD for $ 1.45M before fees
The 24-cent Air Mail stamp is available on May 14, 1918. In the morning, the administration is informed that a full sheet with the upside-down plane has been sold to a customer in the post office of Washington DC.
Two-color editions are conducive to this type of error. The discoverer, William T. Robey, had rushed at the opening of the post office while one of his friends was doing the same in Philadelphia. Warned after the transaction, the employee had not been in position to prevent it.
In the afternoon of the same day, the sale to the public is suspended for two hours in Philadelphia, New York and Washington for an inspection of the stock and the scrap of the defective sheets.
The reaction of the administration had been extremely rapid. On May 21, when the dealer Eugene Klein buys for $ 15,000 from Robey this Inverted Jenny sheet paid $ 24 six days earlier, it already appears that the additional checks have been effective and that this example will remain unique.
A few hours later, Klein sells the complete sheet to the rich and eccentric collector Colonel Green. The centering quality of the stamps within the perforations is not homogeneous and the right edge has no margin. Green will only accept the best positions for his collection and entrusts the sale of the rest to Klein. It is at this point that Klein numbers each stamp on the reverse of the sheet to record the original position of each element.
In the 1940s the auctions of the Green deceased estate reveal his preferences : a block of eight, three blocks of four, a vertical block of two and a few single stamps. Some stamps in bad condition appear in the same sales : these are the unsold stamps which had been returned at some point by Klein to Green.
The block of eight consisted of positions 85-88 and 95-98 with the plate number printed in the bottom margin below the 97. Its condition was uneven. After the Green sale, the block was separated into a very fine block of four, retaining the inscribed bottom margin, plus four single stamps. This block of four with a hinge trace was sold for $ 2.97M including premium by Robert A. Siegel on October 19, 2005.
On September 27 in New York, Spink sells as Lot 1 one of the blocks of four from Green's selection, consisting of the central positions 45, 46, 55 and 56 of the original sheet. This block is in very fine condition with a small disturbing to the original gum which is common in the Green collection. The range of estimates, $ 2M to $ 3M, is indicated in the press release of August 23.
In the same series of auctions, lot 101 offers the position 39. This rare example of a single Inverted Jenny from the selection of Green had certainly been retained by him for its perfect centering. It is in very fine condition with a tiny hinging trace on its original gum.
Here is the link to the website of the auction house.
RESULTS BEFORE FEES :
Block of four SOLD for $ 1.45M
Position 39 SOLD for $ 425K
Two-color editions are conducive to this type of error. The discoverer, William T. Robey, had rushed at the opening of the post office while one of his friends was doing the same in Philadelphia. Warned after the transaction, the employee had not been in position to prevent it.
In the afternoon of the same day, the sale to the public is suspended for two hours in Philadelphia, New York and Washington for an inspection of the stock and the scrap of the defective sheets.
The reaction of the administration had been extremely rapid. On May 21, when the dealer Eugene Klein buys for $ 15,000 from Robey this Inverted Jenny sheet paid $ 24 six days earlier, it already appears that the additional checks have been effective and that this example will remain unique.
A few hours later, Klein sells the complete sheet to the rich and eccentric collector Colonel Green. The centering quality of the stamps within the perforations is not homogeneous and the right edge has no margin. Green will only accept the best positions for his collection and entrusts the sale of the rest to Klein. It is at this point that Klein numbers each stamp on the reverse of the sheet to record the original position of each element.
In the 1940s the auctions of the Green deceased estate reveal his preferences : a block of eight, three blocks of four, a vertical block of two and a few single stamps. Some stamps in bad condition appear in the same sales : these are the unsold stamps which had been returned at some point by Klein to Green.
The block of eight consisted of positions 85-88 and 95-98 with the plate number printed in the bottom margin below the 97. Its condition was uneven. After the Green sale, the block was separated into a very fine block of four, retaining the inscribed bottom margin, plus four single stamps. This block of four with a hinge trace was sold for $ 2.97M including premium by Robert A. Siegel on October 19, 2005.
On September 27 in New York, Spink sells as Lot 1 one of the blocks of four from Green's selection, consisting of the central positions 45, 46, 55 and 56 of the original sheet. This block is in very fine condition with a small disturbing to the original gum which is common in the Green collection. The range of estimates, $ 2M to $ 3M, is indicated in the press release of August 23.
In the same series of auctions, lot 101 offers the position 39. This rare example of a single Inverted Jenny from the selection of Green had certainly been retained by him for its perfect centering. It is in very fine condition with a tiny hinging trace on its original gum.
Here is the link to the website of the auction house.
RESULTS BEFORE FEES :
Block of four SOLD for $ 1.45M
Position 39 SOLD for $ 425K
1918 Jenny in a Bank Vault
2018 SOLD for $ 1.6M including premium
The existence of the Inverted Jenny sheet, which will remain unique, is revealed by the New York Times on May 21, 1918, a few days after the release of this two-colored 24 cents stamp designed for the US Air Post. Since then the fate of its one hundred positions has been passionately followed by all lovers of philatelic errors. Before breaking the sheet, the dealer who had bought it from the discoverer had taken care to serialize each stamp on the back.
Until recently, there were two stamps that had never been located after the separation. Position 79, found in a collection with some minor flaws including the mark of a paper clip, was sold for $ 300K including premium by Leslie Hindman on February 15, 2017.
The mapping of the original separation is now complete. The last missing position, 49, surfaced in a bank vault. From the region of the sheet that displayed the best centering, this stamp had been hoarded as soon as it was purchased.
Found by a descendant of the original investor, 49 had never been handled during these one hundred years of storage away from light. It has very fresh colors and never had a hinge. It is the best specimen with an intact gum, graded Mint Never Hinged Extremely Fine 90 by the Philatelic Foundation. It is estimated $ 850K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on November 15, lot 644.
Before the discovery of this time capsule, the best Never Hinged were the position 77 graded VF-XF 85, sold for $ 575K including premium by Spink on May 21, 2014 and the position 68 graded VF 80 sold for the same price, $ 575K including premium, by Siegel on October 9, 2013.
The surfacing of 49 did not overcome the best specimen from that sheet, 58, graded 95 Between Extremely Fine and Mint - Previously Hinged, which was sold for $ 1.35M including premium by Siegel on May 31, 2016.
It should be noted that all of these best specimens along with the 87-88-97-98 block that was sold for $ 2.97M including premium by Siegel on October 19, 2005, come from the six lower rows and the four right columns of the original sheet.
Until recently, there were two stamps that had never been located after the separation. Position 79, found in a collection with some minor flaws including the mark of a paper clip, was sold for $ 300K including premium by Leslie Hindman on February 15, 2017.
The mapping of the original separation is now complete. The last missing position, 49, surfaced in a bank vault. From the region of the sheet that displayed the best centering, this stamp had been hoarded as soon as it was purchased.
Found by a descendant of the original investor, 49 had never been handled during these one hundred years of storage away from light. It has very fresh colors and never had a hinge. It is the best specimen with an intact gum, graded Mint Never Hinged Extremely Fine 90 by the Philatelic Foundation. It is estimated $ 850K for sale by Robert A. Siegel in New York on November 15, lot 644.
Before the discovery of this time capsule, the best Never Hinged were the position 77 graded VF-XF 85, sold for $ 575K including premium by Spink on May 21, 2014 and the position 68 graded VF 80 sold for the same price, $ 575K including premium, by Siegel on October 9, 2013.
The surfacing of 49 did not overcome the best specimen from that sheet, 58, graded 95 Between Extremely Fine and Mint - Previously Hinged, which was sold for $ 1.35M including premium by Siegel on May 31, 2016.
It should be noted that all of these best specimens along with the 87-88-97-98 block that was sold for $ 2.97M including premium by Siegel on October 19, 2005, come from the six lower rows and the four right columns of the original sheet.
A superb example of the classic 1918 "inverted Jenny" error brought nearly $1.6 million at a recent auction, setting a new record https://t.co/KRszXj8aUS #philately #stamps @LinnsStampNews pic.twitter.com/kDQLEgIeeJ
— David L. Tranbarger (@dltcoins) November 17, 2018
1918 Trials and Errors of the Airmail
2016 SOLD for $ 1.35M including premium
May 15, 1918 is a historic date for the civil aviation: the first regular airmail service is inaugurated in Washington DC by President Wilson. It connects New York to Washington and return, with a change of plane in Philadelphia.
Shipping was set at 24c and the two-color stamp was available since the day before. The blue center displays the biplane model selected for this service, a Jenny, nickname for the Curtiss JN-4. The preparation of the stamp was made in a hurry. The die for printing the plane had been completed only six days earlier. The engraver added in the picture the serial number of the aircraft scheduled for the official inaugural flight, 38262.
We are still in the heroic time of aviation. The President is upset : he is wasting his precious time. 38262 takes off southward instead of going toward Philadelphia. The pilot tried to land in the countryside and bogged down in a swamp this plane carrying the first mailbag of the new service. Fortunately in the opposite way on the same day the first north-south transfer is successful.
Philatelists rush. One of them acquires for $ 24 a complete sheet of 100 stamps in which the blue print of the image is inverted by reference with its rose carmine frame. He does not know it yet : this error is unique.
The pieces from this Inverted Jenny sheet were dispersed shortly afterwards. Two of them can be rightly considered as the gems of US philately.
The block of four nicely centered stamps, positions 87-88-97-98, has been sold for $ 2,97M including premium by Robert A. Siegel on October 19, 2005.
The same auction house sold the best single stamp, position 58, for $ 577K including premium on June 3, 2005. It is graded by PSE XF-Sup 95 Mint OG, meaning between extremely fine and superb, not canceled, keeping its original gum (with minor hinging traces). Its centering with wide full margins contributes to its grading at 95.
Position 58 comes back at Robert A. Siegel for sale in New York on May 31, lot 275.
Shipping was set at 24c and the two-color stamp was available since the day before. The blue center displays the biplane model selected for this service, a Jenny, nickname for the Curtiss JN-4. The preparation of the stamp was made in a hurry. The die for printing the plane had been completed only six days earlier. The engraver added in the picture the serial number of the aircraft scheduled for the official inaugural flight, 38262.
We are still in the heroic time of aviation. The President is upset : he is wasting his precious time. 38262 takes off southward instead of going toward Philadelphia. The pilot tried to land in the countryside and bogged down in a swamp this plane carrying the first mailbag of the new service. Fortunately in the opposite way on the same day the first north-south transfer is successful.
Philatelists rush. One of them acquires for $ 24 a complete sheet of 100 stamps in which the blue print of the image is inverted by reference with its rose carmine frame. He does not know it yet : this error is unique.
The pieces from this Inverted Jenny sheet were dispersed shortly afterwards. Two of them can be rightly considered as the gems of US philately.
The block of four nicely centered stamps, positions 87-88-97-98, has been sold for $ 2,97M including premium by Robert A. Siegel on October 19, 2005.
The same auction house sold the best single stamp, position 58, for $ 577K including premium on June 3, 2005. It is graded by PSE XF-Sup 95 Mint OG, meaning between extremely fine and superb, not canceled, keeping its original gum (with minor hinging traces). Its centering with wide full margins contributes to its grading at 95.
Position 58 comes back at Robert A. Siegel for sale in New York on May 31, lot 275.
This #InvertedJenny stamp is the highest graded in the worldhttps://t.co/XYoBeb3YQG pic.twitter.com/Y4xTSUEfVX
— Paul Fraser (@PFCollectibles) May 12, 2016
1918 The Safra Specimen of the Inverted Jenny
2014 SOLD 575 K$ including premium
For being more pretty and less inviting to counterfeiting, bicolored stamps were issued in the United States from 1869. Their printing in two runs was a source of error by reversing the figures.
In 1918, through strengthening the quality, the administration believes that such anomaly is no longer possible. Collectors are watching. The day after the release of the 24 cent airmail stamp, a lucky fan buys a full sheet of one hundred stamps with reversed figures, the Inverted Jenny.
This sheet was the only error that has escaped. For the following runs, the word TOP is added at the top edge of the sheet and is checked in a specific production control.
The one hundred Inverted Jenny stamps each have their features and defects. The centering of the margins varied during the processing. This is certainly also the case for the vividness of original colors. Storage conditions have tarnished some stamps. The use of hinges has more or less removed the gum. Six units are not localized.
The condition of a stamp is graded by Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) on a scale from 10 to 100. Top grades are 100 (gem), 98 (superb), 90 (extremely fine) and 80 (very fine) with intermediate values at 95 and 85. The rank of the best Inverted Jenny (position 58) is 95.
On May 21 in New York, Spink sells the Inverted Jenny from the Safra collection, position 77. Graded 85, it is the best among the very few never hinged Inverted Jennys. The margins are wide and regular and the perforations have no damage.
The colors remained very fresh on this stamp which neighbored on the original sheet with the sensational block of four (87-88-97-98) that was sold for $ 2.97 million including premium by Siegel on October 19, 2005.
This stamp is shown in the press release shared by the auction house.
POST SALE COMMENT
The stamp was sold for $ 575K including premium.
In 1918, through strengthening the quality, the administration believes that such anomaly is no longer possible. Collectors are watching. The day after the release of the 24 cent airmail stamp, a lucky fan buys a full sheet of one hundred stamps with reversed figures, the Inverted Jenny.
This sheet was the only error that has escaped. For the following runs, the word TOP is added at the top edge of the sheet and is checked in a specific production control.
The one hundred Inverted Jenny stamps each have their features and defects. The centering of the margins varied during the processing. This is certainly also the case for the vividness of original colors. Storage conditions have tarnished some stamps. The use of hinges has more or less removed the gum. Six units are not localized.
The condition of a stamp is graded by Professional Stamp Experts (PSE) on a scale from 10 to 100. Top grades are 100 (gem), 98 (superb), 90 (extremely fine) and 80 (very fine) with intermediate values at 95 and 85. The rank of the best Inverted Jenny (position 58) is 95.
On May 21 in New York, Spink sells the Inverted Jenny from the Safra collection, position 77. Graded 85, it is the best among the very few never hinged Inverted Jennys. The margins are wide and regular and the perforations have no damage.
The colors remained very fresh on this stamp which neighbored on the original sheet with the sensational block of four (87-88-97-98) that was sold for $ 2.97 million including premium by Siegel on October 19, 2005.
This stamp is shown in the press release shared by the auction house.
POST SALE COMMENT
The stamp was sold for $ 575K including premium.
