12 minute read
airmaiL and errors | Lots 9-25
wednesday 15 february, 2017
LEft
Lot 24 | An Imprint Block of Twelve Bolivia 1924 Center Invert 10-Centavo Air Post Stamps
9
a united States 5-cent Buffalo Balloon: Type I & Type II tête-Bêche Pair
the back signed Nicolas Sanabria in pencil, with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘Unused, no gum, genuine, with a natural horizontal crease between stamps’. $5,000-7,000
10
comprising: two singles and two blocks of four 65-cent stamps, a single and a block of four $1.30 stamps, a single and a block of four $2.60 stamps. $2,000-3,000
11
a collection of united States Airmail Stamps
1918-1929 comprising: two singles and two blocks of four 1918 Curtiss Jenny 6-cent stamps, three singles and two blocks of four 1918 Curtiss Jenny 16-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1918 Curtiss Jenny 24-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1923 Propeller 8-cent stamps, two singles and two blocks for four 1926 Map and Mail Plane 20-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1927 Beacon 5-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1927 Winged Globe 5-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1927 Lindbergh 10-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1931 Winged Globe 5-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1931 Winged Globe 8-cent stamps, a two singles and two blocks of four 1934 Winged Globe 6-cent stamps, a two singles and two blocks of four 1933 Century of Progress: Zeppelin 50-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1934 16-cent special delivery stamps a single and a block of four 1936 16-cent special delivery stamps, a single and a block of four 1935 Trans-Pacific 25-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1937 Trans-Pacific 20-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1937 Trans-Pacific 50-cent stamps, a perforated sheet of 50 1938 6-cent stamps and a 1929 5-cent airmail envelope. $1,000-1,500
12
a united States 1918 24-cent carmine Rose & Blue airmail Inverted Jenny Stamp
POSITION 79 with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘It is genuine, with original gum, partly disturbed from hinge removal, small thins and a small paper clip impression at right.’ $200,000-300,000
A New Era Begins with an Error
Designed to usher-in a new frontier in mail delivery, the 1918 series of airmail stamps hold a unique position that transcends the philatelic community and achieved a position in pop-culture relevancy not seen elsewhere within the hobby. While the new technology of airplane flight used to deliver mail became a staple of 20th century communication, the stamps notability, or infamy rather, can be traced to an error in a printing process that dates back to the 15th century. While debates still continue about the lore and process that led to the creation of the 24-cent “Inverted Jenny” error, the stamp itself has solidified itself as one of the most easily recognizable and desirable stamps for any collector.
Clad in red and blue ink on a white ground, the stamp exudes the patriotic fervor typical of the young nation embroiled in conflict overseas. The high cost of the stamp (24-cents) relative to the 3-cent cost of a regular postage stamp also illustrates the trepidation and expense of the new technology of air travel and its application regarding mail delivery. At the center of the stamp is a Curtiss-JN4 ‘Jenny’ airplane. A modified version of this plane would be used to transport America’s first government-sponsored mail services across the Eastern seaboard.
What led to the misprint and dispersal of the infamous sheet of 100 errors remains shrouded in debate and folklore. The process of creating a two-color stamp required two passes through an intaglio press. At some point in the process after the red outer frame was applied, either the plate or the paper was inserted upside down. This is a source of intense debate within the philatelic community. The result, however, is a single sheet of 1918 24-cent stamps issued to the post office with the Jennys inverted.
Upon hearing of the new stamps, and the process by which they were to be printed, noted philatelist William T. Robey sought out these stamps in the hopes that such an error would be found. His luck and determination would pay-off as on May 13th, he discovered the only known block of 100 inverts. Days later he agreed to sell the sheet of 100 to noted stamp dealer “Colonel” H.R. Green for a hefty sum of $20,000. A value which is equivalent to nearly a quarter of a million dollars in 2017.
The sheet of 100 stamps was then broken up into singles and blocks and dispersed throughout the philatelic community. Painstaking efforts have been made to reassemble the original sheet when a stamp appears on the market. In 2016, two spaces still remained blank, their location unknown to the public. Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is honored to be able to fill the gap previously left in position 79 in this sale of Inverted Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
13
a Block of four united States 1901 Deep Red-Brown & Black Pan-American Inverted center 4-cent Stamps
#296a with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘It is genuine, unused, with slightly disturbed O.G., the block with some rejoined horizontal perforations at right, a small horizontal crease at top right, the top left stamp partly reperforated at top, and the bottom right stamp with a diagonal crease’. $150,000-250,000
14
a united States 1901 carmine & Black Pan-American Inverted center 2-cent Stamp
#295a with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘Unused, OG, Previously Hinged’, together with five singles and four blocks of four regular examples #295. $15,000-25,000
15
a Strip of five united States 1938 Dark Blue & carmine Airmail with a Vertical Imperforate Pair 6-cent Stamps
#C23b with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘Unused, OG, Genuine, Never Hinged, except previously hinged in the margins at left and right; the error pair with a faint diagonal crease at top left and both stamps with faint vertical crayon marks’, together with a block of six and block of twelve #467 carmine 2/5-cent error and a single and a plateblock of eight 1918 Curtiss Jenny double-transfer 6-cent stamps. Literature: The sheet from which this strip came was advertised on December 14, 1940 by Emil Bruechig. The imperforate pair represents positions 16 and 17 on the sheet. $10,000-15,000
16
a collection of central and South american air Post Stamps
comprising: a Bolivia inverted green-ink air post surcharge 1930 10-centavo stamp, a Bolivia inverted blue-ink air post surcharge 1930 10-centavo stamp, a Bolivia inverted air post surcharge 1930 15-centavo stamp, a Bolivia inverted air post surcharge 1930 25-centavo stamp, a Bolivia inverted air post surcharge 1930 1 boliviano stamp, an imperforate block of four Brazil 1929 Augusto Severo 5000 reis stamps, an imperforate block of four Brazil 1929 New York to Rio 3000 reis stamps, a Honduras 1925 ‘Afro Correo’ surcharge error 20-centavo stamp on a block of twelve, a block of four Honduras 1925 Aero Correo surcharge 1 peso stamps a block of four Honduras 1930 air post surcharge 10-centavo stamps, a block of four Honduras 1930 air post surcharge 20-centavo stamps, a vertical pair of Honduras 1930 air post surcharge 50-centavo stamps, a block of four Nicaragua 1932 Inverted and misspelled ‘corroe’ Surcharge 15-centavo stamps, a block of four Nicaragua 1932 Inverted and missing ‘I’ surcharge 15-centavo stamps, a block of four Nicaragua 1932 Inverted and misspelled ‘ofiaial’ surcharge 15-centavo stamps, a block of four Nicaragua 1932 missing ‘I’ surcharge 20-centavo stamps, a block of four Nicaragua 1931 additional surcharge 25-centavo stamps, a partially perforated sheet of 50 Panama 1931 5-centavo stamps, a block of four Nicaragua 1930 40-centavos stamps, a Nicaragua 1930 front and back printed 75-centavo stamp, all with certification from The Philatelic Foundation. $20,000-30,000
17
a Sheet of 50 Panama 1931 Deep Blue Airmail Perforation Error 5-cent Stamps
#C15 & C15b with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘Genuine, unused, no gum, complete sheet of fifty, with vertical perforations omitted in left margin, and between rows 2 & 3 and 4 & 5 producing 20 pairs, imperforate between’. $10,000-15,000
18
a Venezuela 1930 Deep Red Airmail Offset Printing Error 75-centimo Stamp
#C6VAR / SANABRIA 6b with certification from The Philatelic Foundation, stating: ‘Genuine, unused, no gum, printed on both sides, together with a 1930 block of four slate green 40-centimo airmail stamps also with certification from The Philatelic Foundation. $2,000-3,000
19
a collection of Mexico air Post Stamps
comprising: a plate block of four 1935 Amelia Earhart commemorative 20-centavo stamps, a block of four 1928 Mexico Red & Green ink 25-centavo stamps, a block of four 1928 Mexico Black & Blue ink 25-centavo stamps, a block of four 1928 Mexico Black & Green ink 25-centavo stamps, a block of four 1928 Mexico Green & Blue ink 25-centavo stamps, a block of four 1928 Mexico Purple & Blue ink 25-centavo stamps, an imperforate block of four 1928 Green & Black ink 25-centavo stamps, two Mexico 1928 25-centavo issued specimens, an imperforate pair of Mexico 1928 25-centavo issued specimens. $5,000-7,000
20
comprising: two Italy 1933 Balbo Triptych Trans-Atlantic Squadron stamps and covers, an imperforate block of four Lithuania 1926 Air Post 60-centu stamps, a block of four Spain 1927 inverted surcharge Red Cross 1-peseta stamps, a block of four Spain 1927 inverted surcharge Red Cross 10-centavo stamps, a block of four Spain 1927 inverted surcharge Red Cross 5-centavo stamps. $1,500-2,500
21
an australia 1919 Ross-Smith: First Aerial Post Miniature Sheet
SAN 1 with certification from The Philatelic Foundation stating: ‘Unused, OG Miniature Sheet of One, Genuine, Never Hinged.’ $5,000-7,000
22
a Block of four Papua 1930 Green & olive Brown Inverted Overprint 1 Shilling airmail Stamps
#C4a stamped Sanabria on reverse with certification from The Philatelic Foundation stating: ‘Unused, OG inverted overprint, block of four, genuine, previously hinged.’ $10,000-15,000
23
a Set of four Republic of china 1933 Sinkiang Overprint Stamps
#C1, C2, C3, & C4. comprising: 5-cent claret, 10-cent dark blue, 15-cent deep blue and 30-cent brown violet examples, each with certification from The Philatelic Foundation. $3,000-5,000
24
an Imprint Block of twelve Bolivia 1924 Center Invert 10-centavo air Post Stamps
Perkins, Bacon & Co. Ltd., Grabadores, Londres imprinted in the margin, accompanied by certification from the Philatelic Foundation stating: 'It is genuine, never hinged, except previously hinged on the right vertical pair and center selvedge tabs 3 & 4'. $10,000-15,000
25
a collection of canada and newfoundland Stamps
comprising: a set of ten 1922 Canada regular issue stamps, a single and a block of four 1928 Canada air post 5-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1930 Canada air post 5-cent stamps, a block of four 1932 Canada partial overprint air post 5/6-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1932 Canada air post 6-cent stamps, a single and a block of four 1932 Canada Ottawa Conference Surcharge 6-cent stamps, a single and a cancelled cover 1927 Newfoundland De Pinedo air post 60-cent stamps, an imperforate block of four Newfoundland 1933 air post 5-cent stamps, two singles, an imperforate pair, a vertical perforated pair and a block of four Newfoundland 1931 air post 15-cent stamps, two singles and an imperforate pair of Newfoundland 1931 50-cent air post stamps, two Newfoundland 1931 $1 Transatlantic stamps, a single and a block of four 1932 Newfoundland Dornier DO-X surcharge $1.50 air post stamps, two singles and a block of four 1933 Newfoundland Gen. Balbo Flight surcharge $4.50 air post stamps, Canada 1, 2 and 5-cent Postage Due stamps, and a Canada 20-cent Special Delivery stamp. $10,000-15,000
