I Can't Stop Looking At The Panama-Pacific Proofs In Tuesday's Siegel Auction

If you see more than one PP proof in an auction, that's already unusual. With only 3-5 stamps made of each issue they are the ultimate in rare proofs. But this auction has hundreds including a full set of Columbians, August designs, etc. Unbelievable. I don't know who collected this all together, but I can't imagine there has been anything else like it. These stamps sell for a thousand each and more. As much as that Columbian set makes my mouth water, I'm probably not going to be bidding on it. I own exactly one PP proof at the moment. I think they are awesome. Maybe I'll manage to sneak in a buy with so many offered. Incredible. Here's a link to the Columbian lot: https://repo.siegelauctions.com/2025/1346/3570.jpg

Oh man, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Lot 3606 1c-25c Parcel Post Postage Due, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proofs (JQ1P2a-JQ5P2a) is an opportunity as a complete set of these has not been offered for a decade or more. Also several sets have been either broken or has a seriously damaged copy of one value. I know of two sound sets in collector's hands. The set sold in the Siegel 1984 Rarities of the World sale was united with a Q1P2a-Q12P2a set to be the only complete Panama Pacific Parcel Post/Parcel Post Postage Due set in private hands, unseen since 1984. The red set was picked up by the owner in 1983 The other set is held by the government and has been displayed at a national stamp show once or twice.

The damaged and removed from the cards, set of Large die proofs of JQ1-5 is a sad set but the large Die Proofs are tough to find as a set and rarely trade in the open.

I have a complete set of the Columbian plate proofs referenced in the reply above re the Oakwood Auctions sales. They are pretty common compared with the Panama-Pacific proofs.

Panama Pacifics -

Well the Columbian set went for $15,500+tip, against catalog of $41,000.

The Trans Miss set did better at $22,000 hammer.

I confess, I was surprised at the realization of lot 3512, 1c-90c 1851-60 Issue, at only $9,000 hammer. That seems cheap to me.

Most sales don't have any Panama Pacifics. I have literally never seen anything like this sale for these. Years ago, I would have sold both of my lungs and mortgaged a kidney for a 1c 1851 panama pacific. "Both" copies were in this sale.

Did you manage to grab anything?

Lot 3432, JQ1P1-JQ5P1, hammered at $325 versus a catalog listed SCV $3000 with now estimate. I called to confirm $325 was a SOLD price and not a passed price. Alas it was a sold price. I would have been happy to play at that level even being damaged by being removed from the large card backing. While such a price is a discretion call by the auctioneer, some indication that only 10-15% was an acceptable bid, likely would have driven the price up somewhat. I would have played $400 or so.

The same set as P2a, some toning, hammered for $2600. I did not play as I did not need a duplicate set. At $3080 before taxes and shipping, it was close to the SCV of $3600.

Lots of people collect them because the colors and impression are visually stunning.

Someone was determined to make 50 posts in order to sell things here. They have been a member since 2011 so that would be 2025 minus 2011 equals 14 years. 50 posts divided by 14 years equals approximately 3.5 posts per year (quality contributions) OR you can cram most of them into a day or so.

Well. 50 is 50, even if some 15 are minimalistic messages posted in a few hours after you have been told you cannot offer anything until your reach 50 posts.

It feels like it's going to take a long time for the effects of all the proofs sold during the Bill Langs estate sales to bring the market back to "normal."

I really like the art of proofs and they certainly represent reasonable rarity right now...