Sale 1384 — 2026 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 June, 2026
Category — Air Post thru Parcel Post
6c-24c 1918 Air Post (C1-C3). Blocks of four, 16c with center line, cancelled or tied by "New York, U.S.A. Foreign 8-6 1929" double-oval datestamps and "Varick St. Sta. N.Y. Aug. 6, 1929" slogan machine cancel on legal-size 90c entire (U105) to Fairfield Iowa, also with 30c and 50c stamps (569, 570), 6c block tied by large purple "First Round-the-World Flight U.S. Air Mail" cachet, back with green "Lakehurst Aug. 29 9:30AM 1929" datestamp, light strikes of green cachet at bottom, Very Fine a colorful use of the first Air Mail stamps on an around the world flight cover
65c-$2.60 Graf Zeppelin (C13-C15). Plate blocks of ten with corner selvage and half arrows — representing the complete two top or bottom rows of the pane, 65c top plate no. 20080, $1.30 bottom plate no. 20087, $2.60 bottom plate no. 20091, original gum, a few stamps lightly hinged and tiny hinge slivers around the perimeter edges to sensibly prevent perf separations, choice centering essentially throughout, $2.60 with tear in selvage at bottom
VERY FINE AND RARE LARGE FORMAT PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 1930 GRAF-ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Plate blocks of the popular Graf-Zeppelin issue are rarely encountered in sizes larger than six. Scott value as plate blocks and singles (all hinged).
3c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J10). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color with the characteristic intense cameo on gum side, exceptional centering for this rarity with well-balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1879 POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING — THE RAREST OF THE POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Postage Due stamps were issued in May 1879 during the Hayes administration to systematize the collection and accountability of short-paid letters. Prior to July 1, 1879, local postmasters were responsible for the collection of unpaid postage. There was no formal system for accounting for cash collected. The Universal Postal Union also allowed for the sending of unpaid letters, with postage to be collected by the receiving post office. Postage Due stamps in 1c, 2c, 3c and 5c denominations, printed by the American Bank Note Co., were distributed to post offices to be affixed and cancelled as normal stamps on collection of unpaid postage. The 10c, 30c and 50c stamps were issued some months later.
From 1879 until July 1884, the Special Printing program that started in 1875 continued under the Hayes and Garfield/Arthur administrations with a series of stamps printed by the American Bank Note Co. The Special Printings were available only by order through the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office. They were not meant to be different from the regular stamps, most of which were still in circulation, so the demand from stamp collectors was very limited during the period the Special Printings were on sale. The American Bank Note Co. Special Printings have 32 listings in the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, including the seven 1879 Postage Due stamps, listed as Scott J8-J14.
The first Postage Due Special Printing was in September 1879, just four months after the May 1879 regular issue date. The American Bank Note Co. reported 1,200 1c stamps were printed and 500 were delivered to the Post Office Department.
The 1c, 2c and 3c are undoubtedly the rarest values of the American Bank Note Co. Postage Due Special Printings, although the sold quantities in the official records are relatively high. William E. Mooz, in an article on the 1c appearing in Chronicle 170 (May 1996), offered evidence to support his theory that the actual number of true Special Printings sold was significantly lower than the reported figures. For the 1c, Mooz estimated 500 sold, but it is possible that as many as 400 purchased by G. B. Calman were destroyed. It is widely accepted that nearly 9,000 1c stamps sold as Special Printings were actually regular issues.
A thorough search of the marketplace, combined with conversations with dealers and collectors, has confirmed the extreme rarity of this stamp in any condition. Of the fewer than 15 original gum examples we have offered since keeping computerized records, only three others are sound. Among the sound stamps only one other has centering that is equal to this superb stamp (2017 Rarities Sale 1159, lot 270, realized $30,000 hammer). This is an exceptional combination of rarity and condition.
From our 1968 Rarities sale and not offered to the market since that sale. With 1967 P.F. certificate.
3c Deep Brown, Special Printing (J10). Unused (no gum), deep shade and detailed impression
FRESH AND FINE. THE 3-CENT IS THE RAREST OF THE 1879 POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Although 436 copies were reported sold, it is believed that 100 copies were destroyed in the Calman lot. A thorough search of the marketplace, combined with conversations with dealers and collectors, has confirmed the extreme rarity of this stamp in sound condition with decent centering.
With 2023 P.F. certificate.
$2.00-$20.00 State, Plate Proofs on India (O68P3-O71P3). Complete set of sheets of ten, rich colors, $5.00 small repair in margin only at bottom right
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE SET OF COMPLETE SHEETS OF THE ICONIC DOLLAR-VALUE STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUE. ONLY A HALF-DOZEN ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
The dollar-value State Department issues were printed in sheets of ten with black imprint and both color plate numbers at top and with green imprint at bottom. Including the set offered in our recent Sale 1378, we have offered only six different sets of India paper sheets in our auctions since 1993 and in our Rarities Sales since 1964. In addition to the India sheets, there is believed to exist a single set of card proof sheets (Sale 937, lot 294).
96c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR47). Without gum as issued, stitch watermark at bottom, radiant color on bright paper, choice margins and centering -- far better than normally encountered on this difficult issue
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 96-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 141 sold. A Power Search review shows that most examples we have offered are either off-center or have small faults. The example offered here is a notable exception.
Ex Engel and "Hope" collection. With 1960, 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
15c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q7). Mint N.H., deep rich color, detailed impression, essentially perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Myerson. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only two grade higher (at 98J and 100) and seven others share this lofty grade.
20c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q8). Mint N.H., brilliant color, detailed impression, phenomenal centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Myerson. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only six others.
25c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q9). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, fantastic centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 25-CENT PARCEL POST, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — ONLY TWO GRADE HIGHER.
Ex Myerson. With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only two grade higher (at 98J, we have not offered once since 2008). Only eight others share this desirable grade.
50c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q10). Mint N.H. with bottom "FIFTY" selvage, radiant color, bright paper, phenomenal centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PARCEL POST ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The 50c is one of the most difficult values of the set to obtain in higher grades.
Ex Myerson. With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only three grade higher (highest is 100) and eight others share this desirable grade.
75c Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q11). Mint N.H, gorgeous color and detailed impression, phenomenal centering with unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 75-CENT PARCEL POST, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Morton. With 1999 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). Only two grade higher (at 98J and 100J).
$1.00 Carmine Rose, Parcel Post (Q12). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, proof-like impression, almost mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING JUMBO MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PARCEL POST ISSUE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Ex Myerson. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). Only one stamp grades higher (at 100) and only one other shares this desirable grade, a statistic that has not changed since 2008.