2004 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE TRUE "GROUNDED PLANE" VARIETY OF THE 24-CENT 1918 AIR POST ISSUE.

With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A COVER OF GREAT HISTORICAL VALUE.

The card enclosure explains: "This cover is #[114] of 300 postmarked just prior to the launch of Apollo 15 on July 26, 1971 at Kennedy Space Center, stowed aboard the spacecraft in a sealed fireproof jacket, carried to the lunar surface in LM 'FALCON', returned to earth in CM 'ENDEAVOUR', an postmarked immediately after splashdown on August 7, 1971 by the U.S. Navy Postal Station aboard the recovery ship USS OKINAWA." A large number of the flown covers were held by the United States government and only released to Alfred Worden after litigation. This is one of those covers. (Image)

FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING APOLLO 15 FLOWN COVER TO THE MOON AND BACK.

The card enclosure explains: "This cover is #[118] of 300 postmarked just prior to the launch of Apollo 15 on July 26, 1971 at Kennedy Space Center, stowed aboard the spacecraft in a sealed fireproof jacket, carried to the lunar surface in LM 'FALCON', returned to earth in CM 'ENDEAVOUR', an postmarked immediately after splashdown on August 7, 1971 by the U.S. Navy Postal Station aboard the recovery ship USS OKINAWA." (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SECOND SPECIAL DELIVERY ISSUE.

This issue was released in 1888 with the last of the American Large Bank Note issues. Collectors of that series know the challenge of locating Mint Never-Hinged examples in superior grades.

With copy of 2002 P.F.. certificate for block of four, this being the top left stamp (Image)

FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.

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 No. 170, May 1996, offers 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 estimates 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.

With 2003 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT 30-CENT POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTING.

It has been estimated that no more than 179 examples of the 30c Postage Due Special Printing reached the public.

With 1971 and 1999 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1884 RED BROWN POSTAGE DUE. AN ENORMOUS STAMP.

With 2004 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1884 POSTAGE DUE IN THE DEEP RED BROWN SHADE.

Despite having the same retail value as its Red Brown counterpart, the deep shade is far rarer. With 2002 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN INCALCULABLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 ONE-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES IN EXISTENCE.

The Perf 10 stamps were printed on unwatermarked paper for a brief time. Well-centered original-gum examples are exceedingly rare. As evidence, we offer the fact that we have not sold a Mint Never Hinged single approaching this quality. The Zoellner copy was Very Fine, and we had one other example approaching this quality that had an inclusion. This Mint Never-Hinged copy with the finest centering available for this stamp is a true condition rarity.

With color copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for plate block (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED 2-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.

With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)