2007 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE. A DRAMATIC EXAMPLE OF THE GROUNDED PLANE VARIETY FROM THE SANABRIA SHEET.

The true Grounded Plane stamps, in which the wheels of the plane break thru the top of "Cents", come from portions of three sheets. The discovery sheet was owned and broken up by J. Klemann of Nassau Stamp Company. A second sheet was discovered in 1946 and sold in the Thomas A. Matthews sale (H.R. Harmer, Nov. 4, 1964), where it was purchased by Georges A. Medawar, publisher of Sanabria Airmail Catalogue. In Linn's Stamp News of April 21, 1986, specialist Joseph R. Kirker Jr. published his research revealing a third source of this variety.

Sanabria backstamp and pencil notation of plate position on back. (Image)

VERY FINE AND AN EXCEPTIONALLY STRONG DOWNWARD SHIFT OF VIGNETTE.

From the Pasadena collection and offered for the first time in more than fifty years. (Image)

FINE APPEARANCE. LONG THOUGHT LOST TO PHILATELY, THIS INVERTED "JENNY" IS OFFERED AT AUCTION FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE EUGENE KLEIN BROKE APART THE SHEET SHORTLY AFTER ITS DISCOVERY. AN ICONIC STAMP AND FANTASTIC PIECE OF AMERICAN PHILATELIC HISTORY.

According to Jenny by George Amick (Amos Press, 1986), the original sheet of 100 Inverted "Jenny" stamps was purchased for $24 by William T. Robey at the New York Avenue Branch Post Office window in Washington D.C., on May 14, 1918, one day after the stamp was first placed on sale at the main post office. On May 20, Robey sold his sheet for $15,000 to Eugene Klein, a Philadelphia stamp dealer. Klein had already arranged to sell the sheet to Col. Edward H. R. Green for $20,000. Colonel Green instructed Klein to divide the Inverted "Jenny" sheet into singles and blocks, and to sell all but a few key position blocks.

It is well-known among stamp specialists and professionals that examples of the Inverted "Jenny" come in different grades of freshness and condition. Many of the original 100 stamps were mistreated by collectors during the years, despite the stamps' rarity and value. Colonel Green himself allowed moisture to affect some of the stamps he retained. Other examples have become slightly toned from improper storage and climatic conditions. Hinge removal has caused thins and creases in numerous stamps, and a few have been "lost" to philately -- or nearly so, as in the case of the copy swept up in a vacuum cleaner.

Ex Colonel Green. With 2007 P.F. certificate. (Image)

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF SIX OF THE 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE AND SCARCE AS A COMPLETE SET OF TOP PLATE BLOCKS.

A search of our computerized database indicates that we have only offered six sets of top plate blocks over the past 13 years. Tops are widely considered to be the most desirable plate blocks. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.60 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ $5,700.00). Only one has graded higher, and only 19 others share this grade. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL FLOWN FIRST DAY COVER OF THE GRAF ZEPPELIN SET.

This 1930 Zeppelin First Day cover is especially desirable as a 5c Air Post entire with red and blue border. (Image)

FRESH AND VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SET OF 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN FIRST DAY COVERS.

Especially desirable as all three were flown and show appropriate markings. (Image)