Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — Specialized Private Die Proprietary Issues: Match Companies, Collection Lots thru Letter C
Private Die Match Company Issues Collection. Phenomenal collection of approximately 312 stamps, some minor duplication and also includes a few multiples, all attractively mounted on custom made album pages, including Nos. RO1a, RO2b, RO5a (2), RO19a, RO19b, RO22b, RO22u, RO33c, RO34a, RO37a with imprint, RO37b, RO39d, RO44a, RO46a, RO47d block of six, RO49i, RO51a, RO53a, RO66a, RO66b, RO70d, RO76a, RO86c, RO90a, RO94c, RO96b, RO101b, RO102a, RO106c, RO118a, RO146P1, RO156a, RO165b, RO178a, RO178b, RO182a, detailed spreadsheet accompanies which includes some (but not many) identified as experimental silk (not all counted in catalogue value), some faults to be expected
VERY FINE. AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF A PRIVATE DIE MATCH COMPANY ISSUES COLLECTION.
The consignor purchased the balance lot from our Inman sale 1160 and then added to the collection (some Inman stamps may have been removed). Eight with P.F. certificates. Scott value approximately
Private Die Match Company Issues Collection. Substantial collection balance mounted on descriptive album pages in four binders, wonderful range of issues which formed the backbone of an important collection, the rarities were removed some years ago and became part of the "Scarsdale" collection, what remains is sure to please any collector of private die revenue stamps, including loads of die and trial color proofs (most are cut down sizes), multiples of varying sizes, varieties, some covers and ephemera, Scott values on some to $500 or a bit more, condition is typical for these issues but the owner looked for attractive appearing stamps and proofs even if small faults were present
A FINE AND DESIRABLE COLLECTION OF PRIVATE DIE MATCH COMPANY ISSUES.
This lot has substantial Scott value. Review is recommended as it would be impossible to describe every page.
Akron Match Co., 1c Blue, Old Paper (RO1). Choice centering, bright color, "Feb. 70" handstamp (or possibly printed cancel), small faults, otherwise Very Fine, ex Tolman, "Scarsdale" and Inman
Alexander's Matches, 1c Blue, Silk Paper (RO3b). Rich color, repaired at bottom where short perf, otherwise Fine, the Aldrich census records only 13 examples of this Match stamp rarity, all but one have faults, with 1986 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1986 PF No. 159223 View Cert
Alligator Match Co., 1c Blue, Plate Proof on India (RO7P3). Block of 18, large margins all around including right sheet margin, few trivial faults as normally found on this fragile paper, Extremely Fine and attractive
American Match Co., 1c Black, Old Paper (RO10a). Eight singles and a vertical pair, showing overprints in red, violet and black, reading up and down, one without overprint, some faults, still a Fine group
American Match Co., 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO10e). With purple printed cancel, detailed impression, small thin and crease at top left, Fine appearance, rare, this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, with 2021 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2021 PF No. 579537 View Cert
American Match Co., 3c Black, Old Paper (RO11a). Outstanding centering with wide and balanced margins, crisp impression, two tiny thins at left, tiny tears at top left and bottom right, Extremely Fine appearance and rarely found with such choice centering, with 2019 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2019 PF No. 565768 View Cert
American Match Co., Cleveland O., 3c Black, Silk Paper, Double Transfer (RO11b var). Clearly showing the double transfer at lower left and upper right corners, detailed impression, light vertical creases, some slight soiling at left, otherwise Fine and scarce
American Match Co., 1c Black, Old Paper (RO12a). Two horizontal strips of three, intense shades, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as singles
American Match Co., 3c Green, Old Paper (RO13a). Deep rich color, some slight toning, few small faults
FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE AMERICAN MATCH CO. ROCK ISLAND PRIVATE DIE STAMP. ONLY TWELVE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN THE ALDRICH CENSUS AND AT LEAST NINE ARE FAULTY TO SOME DEGREE.
Of the twelve recorded examples, at least nine are faulty to some degree. At least one of the three potentially sound copies has perfs into the design on two sides.
Ex Himpsl and Inman.
Barber Match Co., 1c Ultramarine, Old Paper (RO17u). Clear "Nov. 69" handstamp cancel, some faults, otherwise Very Fine and scarce, with 1980 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1980 PF No. 84833 View Cert
Barber Match Co., 3c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO19e). Showing few small blue silk paper fibers, three wide margins, light vertical crease, Fine appearance, with note from Eric Jackson
Barber & Peckham, 3c Black, Old Paper (RO21a). Vertical pair, original gum, lightly hinged, vertical crease at center and right, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, Fine appearance, a scarce original-gum multiple, Scott value as used singles $600
B. Bendel & Co., 1c Brown, USIR Watermark (RO24d). Purple cancel, few faults including crease and short perfs at right, otherwise Very Fine, the Aldrich census records only 28 examples, none qualifying as sound
B. Bendel & Co., 12c Brown, Silk Paper (RO25b). Pretty shade, choice centering, few short perfs, otherwise Very Fine
Bent & Lea, 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper, Double Transfer (RO29e var). Showing few short blue silk fibers, crisp impression, showing clear doubling in several areas, puled perf at bottom, tiny scuff at center, otherwise Fine example of this scarce variety
Wm. Bond & Co., 4c Black, Silk Paper (RO32b). Intense shade and impression, wide margins and choice centering, couple trivial small thin spots, appears Extremely Fine — easily the widest margined and best centered example listed in Power Search
Bousfield & Poole, 3c Lilac, Old Paper (RO36a). Brilliant color which is fresher than many we have offered, better centering than most, few small faults which are also no worse than found on the majority of this difficult issue
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE BOUSFIELD & POOLE 3-CENT MATCH ISSUE ON OLD PAPER, IN AN UNUSUAL COLOR AND WITH UNUSUALLY CHOICE CENTERING.
In Private Die Match Stamps by Christopher West, the nom-de-plume of Elliott Perry, the author states "it is hard to say what the color looked like when it was printed for the stamps always have a faded out appearance and range from a dirty pale grayish brown to a deeper reddish brown that is not quite so hideously unattractive." The example offered here has a far more distinct color than the other two found with Power Search.
The Aldrich census contains 20 examples, of which 15 have faults. We have never encountered a sound example. With 2020 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
2020 PF No. 572816 View Cert
Boutell & Maynard, 1c Black, Silk Paper (RO38b). Crisp impression, completely sound, wide margins, Very Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate (F 70), we would have graded this higher
Certificate
2018 PF No. 551349 Graded 70 View Cert
Brown & Durling, 1c Black, Old Paper (RO43a). Manuscript cancel, choice centering, couple small faults such as pulled perf at lower right, otherwise Very Fine example of this scarce Match stamp, of the 20 examples recorded in the Aldrich book he notes that only five are sound, many have extensive faults worse than the example offered here
L. W. Buck & Co., 1c Black, Old Paper (RO45a). Intense shade, defective with thinning and repair, otherwise Fine and rare, the Aldrich book records only sixteen examples including several of which have been repaired
L. W. Buck & Co., 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO45e). Intense shade and impression, few clearly visible silk fibers, clipped perfs at bottom, few thins, otherwise Fine, scarce, the Buck plant was destroyed by fire circa 1870 and was never rebuilt, leaving a brief period when the stamps would have been used, only 20 are recorded in the Aldrich census, ex Bulkley and Ambassador Middendorf, with 2012 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2012 PF No. 509415 View Cert
D. Burhans & Co., 1c Black, Experimental Silk Paper (RO46e). Showing small silk fibers which are markedly different from those in the previous lot, thin spot and couple short perfs, only the former mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine appearance, though overshadowed by the Silk paper variety, this is a rare stamp as well with only 18 recorded in Aldrich book, of which only half are potentially sound (and very likely fewer than that), ex "Scarsdale" and Ambassador Middendorf, with 2009 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2009 PF No. 475944 View Cert
Byam, Carlton & Co., 1c Black Wrapper, 131 x 99mm (RO50a). Three large margins, just touching at top as always, typical small black adhesive stains, small edge tear and small hole at right, Very Fine appearance, this is in better condition than most (nearly all examples have multiple faults due to the large size and fragile paper), Aldrich records eighteen, we have sold only five others since keeping computerized records, ex "World Traveler"
Frank E. Clark, 1c Lake, Experimental Silk Paper (RO59e). Showing several silk paper fibers including between "A" and "T" and on back, thin spot and light vertical paper wrinkle, Very Fine appearance, scarce and undercatalogued in Scott, with 2025 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2025 PF No. 614799 View Cert
Chicago Match Co., 3c Black, Old Paper (RO60a). Choice centering, intense shade, single clipped perf at top left, small tear at left, still Very Fine, only 42 recorded in Aldrich, who notes nearly all have perfs in or touching
Henry A. Clark, 1c Green, Silk Paper (RO61b). Beautifully balanced margins top-to-bottom and side-to-side, deep rich color on bright paper, tiny thin spot at top, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2019 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2019 PF No. 565691 View Cert
James L. Clark, 1c Green, Rouletted, USIR Watermark (RO63d). Deep rich color, tiny thin speck, Very Fine appearance, only 30 are recorded in the Aldrich census of which at least half have faults (and probably more than that as every example except one we have sold since 1993 has had a fault)
Cramer & Kemp, 1c Blue, Experimental Silk Paper (RO66e). Pretty shade, evident blue silk fiber, thinned, crease at lower right, otherwise Fine and rare, ex Cunliffe
Cramer & Kemp, 1c Ultramarine, Old Paper (RO66u). Two in distinctly different shades, one with few thin spots and small faults, other with tiny pinhole on a perf, Fine and unusual