US Stamp Values Scott Catalog C3: 24c 1918 Air Curtiss Jenny. Page 10

Scott #C3, 24c Carmine rose and blue, a magnificent top margin arrow, two “TOP” and plate nos. 8493 and 8492 block of twelve, incredibly well centered and margined, bright fresh colors, crisp and intact, the vignette shifted forward (approaching a “Fast Plane” variety), o.g., n.h., extremely fine; among the finest quality 1918 Twenty Four Cent Air Post plate blocks we have ever offered; 2000 PF certificate.

Spink Shreves Galleries, Jul 2012, Sale 140, Lot 339

Airmail, 1918, 24¢ carmine rose & blue (Scott C3), bright carmine rose and blue colors radiate a beautiful hue of colors, top margin plate block of 12 with two plate numbers, arrow and two “TOP”, o.g., lightly hinged on two stamps, ten are never hinged, Very Fine and choice. Scott $1,430 as singles. Estimate price $1,000 – 1,500. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1960

Airmail, 1918, 24¢ carmine rose & blue (Scott C3), beautiful top margin plate no. 8492 single, incredibly large margins and dazzling rich colors, o.g., stamp never hinged, hinged in selvage only, Extremely Fine. Scott $140. Estimate $100 – 150. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1958

Airmail, 1918, 24¢ carmine rose & blue (Scott C3), impressive top margin part arrow single, fabulous prooflike colors, o.g., never hinged, Extremely Fine. Scott $140. Estimate value $100 – 150. (Image 1)

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 630, Lot 1959

UNITED STATES Air Post 1918 24c carmine rose and blue, left margin arrow block of four, well centered, h.r., v.f., with 2004 PSE cert.

Cherrystone Auctions, Jun 2012, Sale 201206, Lot 159

24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post, Grounded Plane Variety (C3 var). Mint N.H., plane well into lettering at bottom, perfs in at bottom, small indentation at upper left not mentioned on accompanying certificate also leaves small mark on gum, otherwise Fine and rare, with 2011 Weiss certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1493

24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (Scott C3). Top arrow, double plate no. and double “TOP” block of twelve, few h.r., slightly disturbed original gum at left, pos. 3 natural paper crease, Very Fine appearance

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1492

24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (Scott C3). Top arrow, double plate no. and two “TOP” block of twelve, h.r. and gum bends, well-centered, tiny thin spot in selvage, otherwise Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1491

24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (Scott C3). Mint N.H., bright colors, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ value $425.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1026, Lot 1490

U.S.; Airpost, 1918, 24¢ on first flight cover, #C3. Tied by Airmail Service May 15, 1918 first trip cancel, addressed to New York NY with hs. “Fee Claimed”, Fine. Scott $750. Estimate value $250.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, May 2012, Sale 93, Lot 432

UNITED STATES Air Post 1918 24c carmine & blue, vignette shifted downwards, used, fine

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2012, Sale 201204, Lot 154

Airmail, 1918, 24¢ carmine rose & blue (Scott C3 var), eye catching almost “Grounded Plane” variety with the wheels just cutting into “Cents”, o.g., never hinged, small natural gum skip of no consequence, one of the most desirable vignette shifts on our first airmail stamp, a true grounded plane; reperf at top, otherwise Fine, grounded plane examples are quite rare, 2011 PF Certificate not the true “grounded plane” variety. Estimate $300 – 400.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2012, Sale 629, Lot 451

24c Carmine Rose & Blue, Center Inverted (Scott C3a). Position 74, small trace of single hinge at top, centered a bit to bottom left with extra wide margins, vivid colors as this stamp has been kept in a closed album for most of the last 80 years VERY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE FAMOUS 1918 24-CENT INVERTED “JENNY.” THIS STAMP HAS BEEN IN THE POSSESSION OF THE FRELINGHUYSEN FAMILY FOR MOST OF ITS EXISTENCE. 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. This stamp, Position 74, was owned by former U.S. Senator Joseph S. Frelinghuysen (1869-1948), a second cousin of Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen Jr. Senator Joseph Frelinghuysen sold the stamp at auction through George B. Sloane on December 14, 1932, and the successful bid of $2,750 was made by a “Mrs. F” of Morristown N.J., the mother of Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen Jr. At the time of the Sloane sale the stamp was still Mint N.H., and the price paid was a record. The Inverted “Jenny” was the centerpiece of 18-year old Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen Jr.’s exhibit of worldwide air post stamps at the February 1934 National Stamp Exhibition held at Rockefeller center in New York City. The teenage philatelist won a gold medal, and Stamps magazine remarked, “All the great rarities were included.” This stamp has remained with the Frelinghuysen family until now, and it is offered to the market for the first time since 1932. Among the known Inverted “Jenny” examples, this stamp has the longest continuous ownership. 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 at least seven have been “lost” to philately — or nearly so, as in the case of the copy swept up in a vacuum cleaner. This example is notable for its pristine state of preservation, fresh colors and barely-hinged gum.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1021, Lot 514

Airmail, 1918, 24¢ carmine rose & blue (C3), top plate no. single, original gum, never hinged, small natural paper inclusion, Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Scott price $140

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2012, Sale 344, Lot 4786

24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (Scott C3). Mint N.H., huge margins and precise centering, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $450.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1019, Lot 915