Sale 1028 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used U.S. Stamps, Part Three: 1902 and Later Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 20 September, 2012
Category — 1902-08 Issue (Scott 300-315)
1c Blue Green, Booklet Pane of Six (300b). Intact pane with tab, gorgeous overall centering, deep rich color on bright paper, neat strikes of Philadelphia oval registry cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING AND RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 ONE-CENT BOOKLET PANE -- THIS IS BY FAR THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED INTACT USED PANES. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF BOOKLET PANE COLLECTING.
The normal 1c stamp of the 1902 series (Scott 300) was issued in early 1903. However, the booklets were not issued until March 6, 1907. Little interest in them was shown by collectors at the time. This was the first 1c booklet pane issued by the U.S. It was quickly superseded by the 1c 1908 series booklet, Scott 331a, in December of 1908.
Illustrated below are the three intact panes with tabs. It appears that each was used to pay part of the 8c registry fee. Our full census of Scott 300b in used condition is available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/300b/300b.pdf and includes these three intact panes with tabs plus three others without tab (one of which is on cover).
Census No. 300b-CAN-01. Ex Brody. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Catalogue value is loosely based on the realization of this remarkable pane in the 2002 Brody sale.
2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (301c). Position D with plate no. 1585 in tab at upper right, radiant color, wide margins, neat strikes of New York oval registry cancels, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced at lower leftVERY FINE. ONLY FIVE INTACT USED PANES OF THE 2-CENT 1902 ISSUE ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF BOOKLET COLLECTING.
According to Johl, the proofs of this stamp were considered masterpieces, but when the stamp was issued in red using the wet paper printing method it was widely criticized. Washington's nose was excessively red and the details of the design were lost. The New York Times wrote that "if not labelled Washington it could be taken for Adams, Madison or Monroe". Faced with such criticism the Post Office Department rushed a replacement stamp into use -- the 2c Shield issue (Scott 319 and 320) -- less than nine months later.
Illustrated below are the five intact panes with tabs. Our full census of Scott 301c in used condition is available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/301c/301c.pdf and includes these five intact panes plus three without tabs (two of which are on cover).
The last used example we offered was in our Twigg-Smith sale in 2001.
1c-15c 1902 Issue (300-305, 307-309, 314). Rich colors, the imperforate is a horizontal pair, each individually selected by the owner for their superior quality, all are far better centered than usually seen, fresh and Extremely Fine, the lower-denomination issues are often the most labor-intensive to obtain because dealers do not consider it worth their time to find and stock them, 15c with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
8c Violet Black (306). Gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, proof-like impression, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $500.00 as 98), only one has graded higher to date (at 98J) and this is the only example to be awarded this grade
50c Orange (310). Vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering with unusually wide and even margins, oval registry cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp
50c Deep Orange (310 var). Intense shade that is distinctly different than the normal shade, bright paper, wide margins, light strike of oval registry cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful example of this scarce shade variety, ex Twigg-Smith
$1.00 Black (311). Perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations, detailed impression, face-free oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp in every respect, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,000.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and only five others share this grade
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on crisp paper, bold strikes of New York oval registry cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a scarce stamp in higher grades (only two have graded over 95 to date), with 1999 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Deep rich color and remarkably detailed impression on bright paper, superior centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, face-free strike of oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 MARSHALL. THIS IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB USED CONDITION.
This issue is difficult to obtain in choice used condition. Some were used as a means of transferring money between individual post offices and the Department and were then destroyed. Others were used on heavy insured packages, which were prone to damage or destruction.
Ex Hinrichs. With 1985 and 2004 P.F. certificates.
4c Brown, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins with full Schermack perforations on both sides, deep rich color, neat strike of duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE, SCOTT 314A. ONLY 31 USED SINGLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufactures for supplies of imperforate stamps, which could then be privately perforated to conform to each firm's machine. In May 1908, a supply of 25 sheets (400 stamps per sheet) of the 4c 1902 Issue, without perforations, was delivered to the Schermack Mailing Machine Co. in Detroit. The entire supply was cut into coils with Schermack Type III perforations, designed for the firm's patented affixing machine and delivered to the Winfield Printing Co. for use on mass mailings of advertising material. Approximately 6,000 were used on a mailing for Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturer, and almost all of the 4,000 balance were used on a mailing for Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
Our recently-completed census of Scott 314A incorporates the records of the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records (which represents over 40 years of auction sales) and our own computerized sales history, and is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/314A/314A.pdf . The census reveals a startling fact -- there are only 31 used singles (two on piece), a used strip of three and three covers (one of which bears a strip of three), for a total of 39 used stamps. Our previous assumption was that this number was much higher.
An analysis of our census found nine copies in sound condition with Schermack perforations on both sides. Five of these have poor centering, leaving a population of only four to vie for the title of finest in existence (Census Nos. 01, 11, 12 and 23).
Census No. 314A-CAN-01. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1970 and 2001 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins all around, deep rich color and proof-like impression, neat wavy-line machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1908 5-CENT IMPERFORATE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN USED CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AS A MULTIPLE.
According to Johl, only 29 sheets of 400 of the 5c imperforate were issued. Most were sent to Indianapolis and the majority was used by manufacturers of private coils. Some unused were no doubt kept by collectors -- 825 copies were distributed to members of the Detroit Philatelic Society. It is possible that most of the used copies originate from this supply.
Ex Hillmer where acquired in our 1999 auction. We have offered only four used pairs since 1999. With 1987 P.F. certificate.