U.S. and worldwide rarities in Cherrystone's July 8-9 auction

The upcoming July 8-9 public auction from Cherrystone Auctions in New York City offers rare stamps and postal history from the United States and countries worldwide.

The sale will present more than 1,600 lots beginning with classic U.S. stamps and covers on Wednesday morning. The selection begins with an 1845 5¢ black New York postmaster’s provisional (Scott 9X1) from position 2 with double transfer, on a folded letter mailed in 1846 to Norwich, Conn.

U.S. regular issues, including a nice selection of 1867 grill issues, proofs, coil pairs, airmails, locals, revenues and other back of the book material lead into the offering of worldwide material.

The auction has a strong selection in Great Britain and British Commonwealth and Western Europe, including Germany, with German states, colonies, field post and occupation issues.

A 20th century rarity from Italy, once part of the storied King Carol of Romania collection, features in the Thursday morning session: the 1920 Italian Offices in China (Peking) “2 DOLLARI” overprint (in uppercase letters, surcharge type II), on the 5-lire ultramarine and rose Victor Emmanuel III stamp, “with violet handstamps, signed Diena etc., with 1980 Dr. Enzo Diena certificate.”

The stamp (Scott 30a) is unused with original gum never-hinged, described as “perfectly centered” and “certainly one of the best, if not the finest” of the only 15 stamps issued.

The never-hinged stamp is listed in the 2015 Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 with a value of $185,000; the Cherrystone estimate for this appealing rarity is $50,000.

From the same era comes a selection of the 1919 Polish postage dues created by overprinting Austria’s 1916 postage due stamps. Among these is a set of the three top denominations on ultramarine issues (Scott J8-J10), and separate lot offering the very rare 10-krone blue overprinted in black, plate 1 (J10a), considered the rarest stamp from Poland. This stamp is also from a known issue of just 15 stamps printed, with fewer than 10 now accounted for, according to Cherrystone. It has an $85,000 value in the Scott Classic Specialized catalog, and is offered in this auction with a $40,000 estimate.

The auction concludes with a number of collections and large lots again representing U.S. and worldwide material.

Collectors can view the entire sale online at www.CherrystoneAuctions.com, and live bids can be placed on the firm’s website.

More information is available from Cherrystone Auction Galleries, 119 West 57th St., New York, NY 10019.