Siegel to offer part of Saadi Struck on Stamps collection Sept. 24 in New York

By Charles Snee

Part of the splendid Wade Saadi Struck on Stamps collection will be offered Sept. 24 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries in New York City.

The 319 lots in the sale focus on postal markings and cancellations on the United States 1851-56 1¢, 2¢ and 3¢ issues.

Charles Shreve, director of Siegel International, sets the stage for the auction in a brief introduction in the sale catalog.

“It has been ten years since the first part of Wade Saadi’s ‘Struck on Stamps’ collection was sold through the Siegel firm (Sale 1074),” Shreve said. “Much water has passed under the bridge during the last decade, but through it all, Wade has been a steadfast supporter of philately and participant in philatelic auctions and events.”

“Wade’s collection contains a dazzling group of cancellations of all kinds — different colored inks, elaborate ‘killer’ designs, straightline markings, unusual town markings, pictorial fancy cancellations and private express company date-stamps, to name a few of the broad categories,” Shreve said. “The items presented in this catalog represent the cream of the exhibit collection and enormous nonexhibit collection. The quality of the strike and overall appearance of each stamp or cover have always been Wade’s main focus.”

According to Shreve, additional items from the collection in a value range of $50 to $300 will be offered in future Siegel paperless catalog sales.

Among the stamps and covers bearing cancels that feature initials, words and phrases is a letter franked with an 1861 3¢ rose George Washington stamp (Scott 65) crisply tied to the envelope by a magnificent complete strike of the negative “Nov” (November) fancy cancellation of Putnam, Conn.

This cancel is illustrated and listed as No. ND-M 15 in United States Cancellations 1845-1869 by Hubert C. Skinner and Amos Eno.

Siegel describes the letter as “the finest known cover with the Putnam ‘Nov’ cancel.”

The letter, which was mailed to Fitzwilliam, N.H., once graced the Brigham, Haas and Artemis collections. An accompanying 1980 expertizing certificate from the Philatelic Foundation in New York City states the cover is a “genuine usage.”

Siegel is offering this splendid Putnam, Conn., negative “Nov” fancy cancel cover with an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000.

Complete strikes of some fancy cancels can be difficult to find because of their size. Fortunately, the pair of 1861 1¢ blue Benjamin Franklin stamps (Scott 63) from the Saadi collection pictured nearby provide enough real estate for a remarkably clear strike of the “Union” and Waving Flag fancy cancel (Skinner-Eno PT-F 33) of Healdsburg, Calif.

As shown in the Siegel catalog, the pair is rotated 90 degrees to the right so the cancel can be viewed upright.

A 1995 Foundation certificate states that the pair is genuine and the left stamp has a diagonal crease.

Siegel lists this 1861 1¢ Franklin pair bearing the Healdsburg, Calif., “Union” and Waving Flag fancy cancel with an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000.

One of the more ornate Masonic fancy cancels from the Saadi Struck on Stamps collection — the Odd Fellows Three Links, Seeing Eye and Crossed Arrows (Skinner-Eno FR-NMb 1) of Canton, Mich. — is represented with a bold, clear strike on the Oct. 19, 1854, folded letter mailed to New Orleans, La., pictured on this page.

The cancel neatly ties the single 3¢ dull red Washington type II stamp (Scott 11A) at left and right.

According to Siegel, “Canton’s postmaster is well known for his fancy cancellations, including a Lyre, Star in Rope Circle, Negative Star, Negative ‘Paid 3’, Christian Cross and an unusual Open Triangle, as well as the star used as a Confederate Postmaster’s Provisional. This is the most elaborate of the Canton designs.”

A 1990 Foundation certificate identifies no faults and states that the 3¢ Washington stamp “is genuinely used on cover.”

Siegel is offering this 1854 Canton, Mich., Masonic fancy cancel cover with an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000.

Full details of the Sept. 24 Saadi Struck on Stamps auction, including a downloadable version of the 104-page catalog and online bidding options, are available on the Siegel website.

For additional information, contact Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 21 W. 38th St., Seventh Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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