Sale 1138 — The Hanover Collection of Superb-Quality U.S. Stamps, Part 2
Sale Date — Thursday, 6 October, 2016
Category — 1912-23 Issues (Scott 441-461)
1c Green, Coil (441). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep shade and remarkably detailed impression, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 441, WHICH IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share it. The highest grade we have offered in one of our auctions is 95.
2c Carmine, Coil (444). Mint N.H. guide line pair, intense shade and impression on bright paper, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 1914 2-CENT SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 444.
With 1993 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,900.00). Only two have graded higher (both at 98) and six others share this grade. This is the highest grade we have offered in one of our auctions.
3c Violet, Coil (445). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 445, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2003 and 2006 P.F. certificates (Superb 98). By way of comparison, only one has achieved this grade in the P.S.E. Population Report with none higher.
4c Brown, Coil (446). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 446.
With 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Mint N.H. joint line pair, exceptional centering with wide margins all around, brilliant color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 1915 2-CENT TYPE I VERTICAL COIL. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.
The 2c Type I rotary plate was used very briefly to make vertical coils issued in late 1915. It was briefly used because the Type I plate was not very deeply engraved and the curvature of the rotary press yielded impressions lacking in some of the details. The Bureau noticed this immediately, and quickly replaced it with the Type III plate (according to Scott, the EDU for No. 449 is Oct. 29, 1915, and the EDU for Type III is Dec. 10, 1915). The joint line pair offered here, in Mint N.H. condition and with such choice centering and color, is a major rarity. We doubt whether more than three or four exist in such condition.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (450). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, attractive centering with wide margins side-to-side, Extremely Fine, a pretty Mint N.H. joint line pair which is difficult to obtain in higher grades, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,300.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. joint line pair and the only example to achieve it
1c Green, Coil (452). Mint N.H. joint line pair, deep shade and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Dr. Killien and "Golden Oak", with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $500.00)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Mint N.H. joint line pair, beautifully centered, rich color on white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 453.
The Type I rotary press stamps were produced using the same master dies as had been used for flat plate printings. However, due to the curve of the plate to fit the rotary press, the impressions lacked some of the details of the flat plate printings. New dies were made with strengthened lines, resulting in the Type II stamps. The web-fed rotary printing and perforating process made it very difficult for well-centered examples to be consistently produced.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 1997 P.S.E. and 2006 P.F. certificates
3c Violet, Coil (456). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, perfs intact at sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 1916 3-CENT COIL, SCOTT 456, WHICH IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
Scott 456 was the first 3c stamp to be printed on the Stickney rotary printing press. It was current for a little over a year. The joint line occurred after every 17 stamps, so is considerably scarcer and more difficult to obtain in higher grades than a normal pair.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade.
4c Brown, Coil (457). Mint N.H. joint line pair, gorgeous bright color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00), only two have graded higher (at 98) and seven others share this desirable grade
5c Blue, Coil (458). Mint N.H. joint line pair, rich color and detailed impression, beautiful centering with Jumbo margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 458, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES IT.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $2,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it.
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate Coil (459). Mint N.H. joint line pair, large margins all around, brilliant color, lacking usual crease along guideline, Extremely Fine, ex Drucker, with 1985 and 2005 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1915 $1.00 PERF 10 ON DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED PAPER, SCOTT 460. THIS STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The change from 12-gauge to 10-gauge perforations occurred after single-line watermarked paper was introduced. However, unlike the other denominations, the $1.00 was never printed on the new single-line watermark paper. The 50c and $1.00 denominations were originally printed in plates of 200 subjects, and the Bureau still had stocks of the double-line watermark paper in this size on hand. The other denominations were printed in sheets of 400. The Bureau continued to use up their stocks of this paper, but the stamps were perforated on the newly-outfitted Perf 10 perforating machines.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $13,750.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98J) and four others share this desirable grade.
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Mint N.H., brilliant color and crisp paper, gorgeous centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1915 2-CENT PALE CARMINE RED PERF 11 ON SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED PAPER, SCOTT 461. THIS WAS THE FIRST ISSUE TO BE PERFORATED 11, AND ONLY A LIMITED QUANTITY WAS PRODUCED. THIS MARVELOUS EXAMPLE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The Bureau switched from 12-gauge to 10-gauge perforations to address criticism that the stamps separated too easily. However, the Perf 10 stamps had the opposite effect, often causing users to tear their stamps. Facing public criticism, Third Assistant Postmaster General Dockery experimented with this Perf 11 issue. In June 1915 90,000 stamps with the trial perforation were issued and deemed satisfactory. However, due to the frugality of wartime conditions the Bureau did not change to the new Perf 11 wheels until all of the old Perf 10 wheels had worn out. The change was not started until almost two years later. By this time the Bureau was using unwatermarked paper -- this is the only perf 11 stamp printed on single-line watermarked paper.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $6,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade. This is also the first time we have offered this grade in one of our auctions.