The extraordinary "Lady Louis" uprated Mulready envelope to Malta, envelope (A151) addressed to Lady Louis, Malta and inscribed via Falmouth, bearing 1p Black, DA, Plate V (state 2) single, a 1p Black, PA-PD horizontal strip
AE-BE vertical pair and DC-DE horizontal strip of three, Plate 1, uprating a Mulready 2p envelope, a209, to India (slightly refolded at top to its original pre-use position), from Bristol (30 Sept. 1840) to Ajmeer redirected to Agra
BG, Plate 7, select four margin example tied to very scarce 1841 registered folded letter to Antrim, Ireland, superbly cancelled by a central strike of a black Maltese Cross, red double boxed "PAID/AP27/1841" handstamp
DK-EL, Plate 7, a fabulously fresh and choice
right sheet-margin block of four with partial "PRIC" imprint at bottom
right, other margins quite large except EK just touched at bottom, in
an incredible state of preservation
2c Pan-American, Center Inverted (295a). Lightly hinged, superbly centered with wide balanced margins, rich color and clear impressions of vignette and frameEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.
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.
Ex Drucker. With 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates. 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." The stamp offered here has fresh lightly-hinged gum.
2c Harding, Rotary, Perf 11 (613). Well-centered with unusually wide margins for this rotary waste issue, sharp impression, bold machine cancel. FRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT HARDING ROTARY PERF 11.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Center Inverted (121b). Absolutely perfect centering with wide balanced margins all around, sharp and lightly inked strike of Leaf cancel of New York, bright colors on fresh paper, essentially sound, for the sake of
LB-MJ, Plate 3, the incredible block of eighteen, intense color and sharp impressions on bright paper, mostly with margins but touched in places and some creasing, neat red Maltese Cross cancellations, overall in a very fine state
BF, Plate 1a, an exceptionally well margined
single tied to 1840 (May 6) folded letter from London to Paisley by two
strikes of red Maltese Cross cancels, dated in manuscript on reverse
"London 6 May 1840"
90c Blue, F. Grill (101). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression, well-defined grill, choice centering. VERY FINE AND CHOICE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 1868 90-CENT F GRILL.
#482A, 2c Deep rose imperforate, Ty. 1a, Schermack Ty. III perforations, a wonderful used example of this most sought-after 20th century rarity, featuring Schermack perforations on both the left and the right, being one of the very few copies that can claim this important and desirable characteristic, plus, quite remarkably, these perforations are well clear of the design on both sides, a quality that further enhances its desirability, in addition, its bottom margin is close but clear of the design, rich distinctive color on clean fresh paper, small corner margin crease at top right, Fine appearance, a stamp that is missing from even the most advanced collections of United States stamps, 1982 P.F. certificate. Scott #482A was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in their patented stamp-affixing machines, these stamp dispensing and affixing machines applied the stamps one at a time, often slicing the stamps not on the hyphen-hole perforations as intended, but typically well into the design and most often cutting off the perforations on one side, to date a mere 32 single have been recorded, this being Siegel census #482A-CAN-24.
10c Black, Double Transfer Ty. A (2-A). Position
1R1, original gum, typically of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson the gum
is thinly applied, but it covers the entire surface (described on
accompanying certificate as "part original gum")
4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). Beautiful colors, usual slightly disturbed original gum, unusually well-centered and freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
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.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census of Scott 197 contains only 30 examples certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. Of these, seven have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (some have not been examined in many years).
With 1954, 1992 and 2004 P.F. certificates
4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 at Bottom (556b). "Johnstown Pa." two-line precancel applied inverted, rich color, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 AT ONE SIDE STAMPS. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS PROBABLY THE BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLE IN EXISTENCE.
Our records of Scott 556b contain only four used examples. Of these, three have precancels, and one shows transitional perfs at top.
With 1993 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates