United States Stamps continued...

Specimens

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
41	S	300SE-313SE, 319SE	#300SE-313SE, 319SE, E6SE, 1c-$5.00 1902-03 Regular issue, with "Specimen." type E overprints complete, includes the 1903 2c Shield issue and 1902 10c Special Delivery as well, all accompanied by a series of four original letters from Edwin C. Madden, Third Assistant Postmaster General to a Master Fraser Whitehead in Detroit, Michigan, each attesting to the fact that the stamps which were enclosed were taken from the first sheets printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (each letter contained various values, with the fourth letter enclosing the final stamp from the series #319), one letter dated March 23, 1903 also enclosed an original small Post Office "Specimen" envelope which contained eight different values (including all three dollar values); all stamps have o.g., most of which have been lightly hinged or with minor h.r., 4c, 5c and $5.00 with natural s.e. on one side, 3c with rounded corner, overall fine-very fine; a most extraordinary set perfect for exhibition; cataloged simply as a normal set of specimen overprints. (Image)	2,175.00+ SOLD for $3,500.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
42	S	300SE-313SE, 319SE	#300SE-313SE, 319SE, E6SE, 1c-$5.00 1902-03 Regular issue, with "Specimen." type E overprints complete, includes the 1903 2c Shield issue and 1902 10c Special Delivery, quite well centered throughout, strong fresh colors, most o.g., although a few with no gum as often found (including the $2.00), h.r., couple stamps with small faults ($2.00 thinned), rest fine-very fine; a very scarce and difficult set to find in any condition. (Image)	2,175.00 SOLD for $600.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
43	S	300S-313S	#300S-313S, 1c-$5.00 1902-03 Regular issue, with "ULTRAMAR" (Specimen) violet handstamps complete, affixed to a partial page extracted from an official Portuguese postal authority archival record book, these stamps having been submitted by the U.P.U. to the Postal Administration of the Portuguese Empire as examples of stamps their various governments could expect to see on incoming mail to their countries, the "ULTRAMAR" handstamp being applied to each stamp by Portuguese authorities, couple of low values with natural s.e.'s, 2c, 6c and 13c stamps with faults, overall fine-very fine; to our knowledge this is the only known complete set bearing the "ULTRAMAR" handstamps. (Image)	Est. 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $5,250.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
44	S	300S-313S	#300S-313S, 1c-$5.00 1902-03 Regular issue, with "SPECIMEN" diagonal handstamps in black complete, a very rare set of all fourteen values, each with large "SPECIMEN" handstamp applied by British postal authorities as examples of stamps the government could expect to see on incoming mail from the United States, all with slightly disturbed o.g., six values with natural s.e. on one side, couple with trivial flaws, overall fine-very fine; while stray individual values of these distinctive specimen overprints are occasionally found, complete sets are almost impossible to locate. (Image)	Est. 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $2,800.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
45	S	308SE var.	#308SE var., 8c Violet black, with double "Specimen." type E overprint, one overprint horizontally in bottom margin, while second overprint vertically in top right margin, exceptionally well centered, no gum as often found, faint toning on reverse, very fine; despite the fact that these overprints were hand applied, overprint errors such as this are rarely encountered; 1980 PF certificate. (Image)	Est. 100-150 SOLD for $300.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
46	S	311SE	#311SE, $1.00 Black, with "Specimen." type E overprint, top sheet-margin horizontal pair, each with diagonal "Specimen." overprint at top left, signed and noted in the sheet margin as a "First Sheet" specimen by William M. Meredith, the Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, o.g., stamps n.h., centered a bit to top, fine. (Image)	400.00+ SOLD for $375.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
47	S	313SE	#313SE, $5.00 Green, with "Specimen." type E overprint, handsome bottom sheet-margin example with diagonal "Specimen." overprint at top left, signed, dated (3-18-1903) and noted in sizable sheet selvage as a "First Sheet" specimen by William M. Meredith, the Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, intense color and impression, well centered, o.g., l.h., extremely fine. (Image)	400.00+ SOLD for $1,150.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM

1902-03 Regular Issues

Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
48		300/313	#300-305, 307-313, 1c-6c and 10c-$5.00 1902-03 Regular issue, truly a unique set (less only the 8c) of mint sheet-margin singles or strips of three (2c, 3c, 6c) or nine (13c), each signed in the sheet margin by the Director or Acting Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and noted as being from the "first sheet" printed and finished, strong colors throughout, o.g., some have little gum disturbance from mounts, although some n.h. as well, several values have reinforced perforation separations, largely fine or better; Scott catalog $7,005.00 as normal stamps; ex-Fisher. (Image)	Est. 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $4,500.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
49		300-313, 319/E11	#300-313, 319, 479-480, E6, E8-11, 1c-$5.00 1902-02 Regular issue complete, plus additional values issued in later years of similar design and all related special delivery designs, mint singles of each, nearly all quite well centered and margined, particularly strong colors throughout, all o.g., most lightly hinged, just a couple with small flaws, the Five Dollar 1902 issue is expertly reperforated at right and with a faint stain spot, largely fine-very fine or better; #313 and #479 accompanied by 2001 and 1983 PF certificates respectively. (Image)	8,300.50 SOLD for $2,200.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
50	/	300-310	#300-310, 1c-50c 1902-03 Regular issue complete, each being a plate number single, deep rich colors throughout, o.g., most n.h., although a couple (including the 15c and 50c) with h.r., fine or better. (Image)	1,395.50 SOLD for $270.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
51		300-310	#300-310, 1c-50c 1902-03 Regular issue complete, mint blocks of four, each with strong rich color and all quite fresh, o.g., couple of blocks (including 50c) with h.r., one 8c and one 10c stamp with small thin spot, centering varies from mostly fine to some very fine. (Image)	4,537.50 SOLD for $1,050.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
52	O	300/320	#300-310, 314, 319, 320, 1c-50c 1902-03 Regular issue complete, used blocks of four, various cancels, strong rich colors, overall the quality is fairly nice for these difficult used multiples, although some faults (usually minor) are present, a few blocks with reinforced separated perforations, generally fine or better; a most challenging group to assemble. (Image)	569.00 SOLD for $750.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
53	PB	300-306	#300-306, 1c-8c 1902-03 Regular issue complete, each an imprint and plate number block of six (various positions), strong rich colors, o.g., some separated perforations, 6c plate with minor creasing, all fine or better. (Image)	4,585.00 SOLD for $1,900.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
54	PB	300	#300, 1c Blue green, full top margin imprint and plate no. 4688 block of six, deep luxuriant color, nicely centered, strong and intact perforations, o.g., n.h., very fine. (Image)	325.00 SOLD for $450.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
55		300 var.	#300 var., 1c Blue green, top left corner margin single, with bizzare perforations due to a foldover, o.g., small thin spot, fine appearance; the unusually large foldover makes for especially "wild" perforations within extra-large sheet selvage. (Image)	Est. 150-200 SOLD for $450.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
56		300 var.	#300 var., 1c Blue green, bottom left corner margin vertical pair with partial printer's initials in bottom margin, possessing bizzare perforations due to foldover, o.g., h.r., fine. (Image)	Est. 150-200 SOLD for $260.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
57		300 var.	#300 var., 1c Blue green, top right corner margin margin vertical pair, with huge pre-printing paper fold that causes the stamp's design to be separated and shifted at right, o.g., hinge reinforcements, fine; a particularly eye-catching variety. (Image)	Est. 200-300 SOLD for $750.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
58	/	301	#301, 2c Carmine, complete bottom left corner plate no. 1526 pane of 100, with full sheet selvages, strikingly intense color, most stamps within the pane are quite well centered, o.g., nearly all stamps n.h., there is some telescoping of perforations and considerable perf. separations throughout, nevertheless a fine-very fine and scarce pane.	3,200.00+ SOLD for $1,050.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
59		301 var.	#301 var., 2c Carmine, imperforate, unused, striking bottom sheet-margin single, with enormously large margins all around, including showing sizable portions of the adjoining stamps at sides and at top, deep luxuriant color, creased, extremely fine appearance; one of only three recorded imperforate examples, all of which have no gum and are similarly creased; the only major error found on any of the values from the 1902-03 Series, other than the perforation errors found on the 1903 2c Shield stamp; 1972 PF certificate. (Image)	Est. 5,000-7,500 SOLD for $5,500.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM
60	O	302	#302, 3c Bright violet, most unusual used block of sixteen (4x4), this being the largest recorded used multiple of this value, light registry oval pmks., natural s.e. at left, strong rich color, couple of insignificant flaws and some minor perf. separations as to be expected, fine-very fine. (Image)	Est. 150-200 SOLD for $500.00 Closing..Dec-06, 05:00 PM