The Mahendra Sagar Collection of Inverted Centers
October 5-6, 2011
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #1 United States 1869 Pictorials 1869 15c brown and blue, 24c green and violet, 30c ultramarine and carmine, also 90c carmine and black, the complete set of inverted centers, plate proofs on card, each with a sheet margin, fresh and beautiful colors, very fine and magnificent set of blocks, with 2001 PSE certificates,  PCatalog #120a-22a,129aP4 Catalog Value $60,000 | Price Realized $38,500.00 |
 | Lot #2 United States 1869 Pictorials 1869 15c brown and blue, type II, center inverted, rich colors and proof-like impressions, rosette cancel struck towards top leaves, with vignette clearly visible, centered slightly to left but perfs are well clear all around, v.f. and attractive copy, with 2004 PFC. Only 91 examples of the 15 cent 1869 Pictorial invert are recorded in the Trepel census. Of these, very few are sound and with perforations clear all around. This example is considered to be one of the top four or five in existence. The Trepel census of 1869 Inverts contains 91 examples of the 15c Invert, including three unused and 88 used (one in the British Library's Tapling collection and three No. 119c varieties). Only twelve to fifteen used copies are estimated to be sound, including copies with tiny corner creases. More than half are noted to be seriously faulty or repaired. This stamp, with its rich colors, cancel that does not obscure the design, and sound condition, ranks among the top four or five (Scott's Catalogue note: "most ex O Catalog #119b Catalog Value $ 20,000 | Price Realized $25,000.00 |
 | Lot #3 United States 1869 Pictorials 1869 24c green and violet, center inverted, neat circle of wedges cancel leaving design clearly visible, rich colors on bright paper, well centered, v.f. and rare, sound example, with 1987 PFC. There are only 89 known copies existing including four unused and the unique used block of four. Of the used singles, the vast majority have some degree of faults, with only 15 or so believed to be in sound condition. The Trepel 1869 Invert census (with unpublished updates) contains 88 copies of the perforated 24c Invert, including four unused stamps, two used pairs and the unique used block of four. Of these, there are very few sound singles where the perforations are clear of the design on all four sides (Scott's Catalogue note: "most examples of No. 120b are faulty. Values are for fine centered examples with only minimal faults.") O Catalog #120b Catalog Value $ 35,000 | Unsold |
 | Lot #4 United States 1869 Pictorials 1869 24c green and violet, center inverted, tied in combination with 1873 3c green (158), paying 9-times the letter rate on a slightly reduced legal size cover to the Common Pleas Court at Paducah, Ky., illegible town postmark, docketed March 10, 1874; large sealed tear in cover, the invert lifted for inspection and replaced, fine, ex-Ackerman, DuPont (where it realized $75,000 in 1984 Siegel Rarity Sale) and Walske (Lafayette) collections, with 2004 PFC stating “single 24c, inverted center, single 3c, on 1874 cover to Paducah, Ky, genuine usage. The inverted stamp removed and replaced on this cover of origin. The cover with a large sealed tear at top center.” This is the only recorded usage of an 1869 Inverted Center on cover. One of the great rarities of U.S. Philately and the highlight of the Sagar Collection,  Catalog #120b Catalog Value $ 105,000 | Price Realized $115,000.00 |
 | Lot #5 United States 1869 Pictorials 1869 24c green and violet, imperforate without grill center inverted, huge margins, fresh color and paper, v.f., ex-Ferrary, Col. Green (sold in the Eugene Costales 1945 Sale), Lilly (1967), Hewitt, Kelly, David Zlowe, Grunin and Walske (Lafayette) collections, with 2004 PFC stating “unused, center inverted, imperforate single without grill, genuine”. This stamp was originally part of a set of seven imperf. values from the 1869 Issue, all unique. This is a must have for the ultimate 1869 specialist and for the Rarities of the World connoisseur. It should be noted that the perforated, unused 24c invert is catalogued in Scott's at $750,000; the unique imperf. Is unlisted (*) Catalog #120bvar | Price Realized $75,000.00 |
