Prices of US Stamps Scott Cat. 296: 1901 4c Pan American Exposition: Electric Automobile in Washington. Page 9

4c Pan-American (Scott 296). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 1145 block of six, long sequence of siderographers’ initials, deep color, ample to wide margins on all stamps, barely short gum in a couple places at top, some perf separations in selvage at left, still Very Fine and choice Mint N.H. plate block

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1692

4c Pan-American (Scott 296). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 1145 and arrow block of ten, long sequence of siderographers’ initials, bright colors, choice centering, two small tear in selvage, otherwise Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1691

4c Pan-American (Scott 296). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1145 block of six, strong colors and excellent centering EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. With 1998 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1690

4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (Scott 296a). Disturbed original gum, rich colors, well-balanced margins, thin spot at center VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. The 4c stamp portrays an electric automobile, known at the time as the “Electric Vehicle Service,” as depicted on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad brochure from which the engraving was made. In the background one can see the dome of the Capitol. The two men depicted in the front seat are both chauffeurs. The man in the passenger compartment is Samuel P. Hege, so this stamp actually depicts a living person in violation of the law. 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. Ex Newport. With 2007 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1710

1901, 4¢ Pan-American (296), post office fresh and centered with near mathematical precision within large balanced margins and boasting flawless, never hinged original gum; an Extremely Fine to Superb gem. SMQ $1,100. Scott $190 Expertization: PSE encapsulated XF-Sup 95.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2011, Sale 338, Lot 1910

1901, 4¢ Pan-American (296), bottom right margin imprint and plate no. block of eight, fresh and well centered, original gum, some sensible strengthening in ungummed selvage (not mentioned in certificate) Extremely Fine. Scott price $3,880 as never hinged A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS VERY SCARCE COMMEMORATIVE PLATE BLOCK. Expertization: 1998 P.F. Certificate as never hinged.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2011, Sale 338, Lot 1911

o U.S.; General Issues, 1901, 4¢ Pan-American, #296. Used jumbo, Grade 95J an Extremely Fine jumbo, PSAG (2011). Scott Stamp Values $350+. Estimate price $250-300.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2011, Sale 90, Lot 1445

1901, 4¢ Pan-American (Scott 296), o.g., never hinged, premium example with oversized margins, brilliant color, Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Scott $180.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jul 2011, Sale 625, Lot 891

4c Pan-American (Scott 296). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1145 strip of three, bright and fresh, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1011, Lot 663

o U.S.; General Issues, 1901, 4¢ Pan-American, #296. Used, wide margins, Extremely Fine. Scott $19. Estimate $40.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 89, Lot 285

U.S.; General Issues, 1901, 4¢ Pan-American, #296. N.h., Fine to Very Fine. Scott $190. Estimate value $80.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Mar 2011, Sale 89, Lot 284

1901, 4¢ Pan-American (296), bottom margin imprint and plate no. block of six, nicely centered, crisp and intact, original gum, never hinged, exceptionally fresh and F.-V.F. Scott price $3,500

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2758

1901, 4¢ Pan-American (296), block of four, beautifully centered and fresh, original gum, lightly hinged at top, never hinged at bottom, Extremely Fine. Scott price $415

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 337, Lot 2757

4c Pan-American, Center Inverted (296a). With bottom sheet selvage showing brown frame plate no. 1145 and black vignette plate letters, unusually fresh original gum for this issue, which is normally found with disturbed original gum, crisp paper, slightly rounded corner perf at top left which does not detract from this great rarity VERY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED PLATE NUMBER AND PLATE LETTER SINGLES OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. A PHENOMENAL SHOWPIECE. The production and distribution of the 4c Pan-American Invert occurred under extraordinary circumstances. After the 1c and 2c Inverts were discovered, rumors of a 4c Invert caused the Post Office Department to order a special printing of 4c Inverts to retain as specimens. It was reported that two sheets of 200 were printed, for a total of 400 stamps, however, as we shall describe further on, at least four plate impressions were made. It appears that only the lower halves of the sheets were finished with gum and perforations. If the reported quantities are correct, 203 4c Inverts were released with or without the small “Specimen” overprint. Some examples, both with and without the overprint, were given away by Third Asst. Postmaster General Edwin C. Madden. When postal authorities learned of the practice, they destroyed 194 copies and put one pane of 100 into the official archives. At a later date, 97 of these were traded for rarities missing from the archives. We are in the process of studying this fascinating Invert “Special Printing” and have recorded imprint and plate number examples of the 4c Pan-American Invert from the bottoms of four different sheets of 100, each comprising left and right panes of 50 (six of the eight panes are represented by at least one bottom-margin position). The sequence of vignette plate letters in the bottom selvage, which were normally printed in the top selvage, can be used to identify Left or Right pane positions. These letters were applied each time the vignette plate was used, and the 4c Invert has the longest sequence of letters we can find on any 4c Pan-American, presumably because the plate was used for the last time to make the Invert “Special Printing” after the regular stamps were printed. There are at least 48 separate entries of the two or three-letter initials on the 4c Invert vignette plate. For the purpose of identification, we will refer to these four sheets as S1, S2, S3 and S4 (Left/Right for each). From S1 Left we record three singles with plate letters and the unique plate block of four with the imprint and plate number. None of the S1 Left imprint stamps have a “Specimen” overprint. From S1 Right we record the imprint and plate number strip of four recently sold in the Cunliffe auction by Spink-Shreves. It, too, does not have a “Specimen” overprint. From S2 we record only one imprint and plate number single, from the Right pane and without overprint, ex Odeneal (Siegel Sale 941, lot 1207). From S3 we record an imprint and plate number single from the Left pane (Siegel Sale 745, lot 717) and another from the Right pane (the stamp offered here). Finally, from S4 we record an imprint and plate number single, from the Left pane and with “Specimen” overprint, ex Green and Cunliffe. Scott Catalogue states that “Values are for examples with full original gum that is slightly disturbed”

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 1000, Lot 1168

4c Pan-American (296). Top left corner imprint and plate no. 1145 block of ten, “4c” denomination and plate letters in brown and black, the plate no. block of six Mint N.H., two others lightly hinged, naturally short gum at upper left, light crease in top left selvage during production causing few unusual stray perfs, Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate block of six and singles

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 1000, Lot 1173