Sale 1044 — United States Essays, Proofs and Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 22 May, 2013
Category — Trans-Mississippi, Pan American and 1902-08 Issues (Scott 289-330)
8c Trans-Mississippi (289). Mint N.H., wide margins, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.F. certificate for pair
10c Trans-Mississippi (290). Mint N.H., wide margins and attractive centering, bright shade and crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate showing selvage at right
50c Trans-Mississippi (291). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 1991 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Trans-Mississippi (292). Mint N.H., detailed impression and deep shade, beautiful wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE IN A WONDERFUL STATE OF FRESHNESS. THIS IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL UNITED STATES COMMEMORATIVE STAMP.
The $1.00 Trans-Mississippi is supposed to portray cattle in the American West and is labelled "Western Cattle In Storm" at bottom. However, the subject of the original painting by J.A. MacWhirter, who specialized in romantic landscapes and first exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy at the age of 14, was of cattle in the West Highlands of Scotland.
With 1993 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Trans-Mississippi (293). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, wonderful depth of color on fresh paper, beautifully balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE BARELY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
With 1984 and 2013 P.F. certificates
10c Pan-American (299). Mint N.H., selvage at top, choice margins and centering for this tightly-spaced issue, rich colors, natural inclusion does not show thru on an album page, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1992 P.F. certificate
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1991 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (310). Mint N.H., vivid color on crisp paper, balanced margins, tiny natural inclusion at lower right, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1992 P.F. certificate for block
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., nicely balanced margins, detailed impression, bright and freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 1981 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Mint N.H., wide and beautifully balanced margins, fresh color and paper, detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 1980 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Lightly hinged, wonderful depth of color on bright paper, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
4c Brown, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins to just just clear of design at bottom left, full Schermack perforations on right side, part perforations at left, deep rich color, wavy-line cancel, two tiny toned specks in margin at bottomFINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE WITH SCHERMACK PERFORATIONS, 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 manufacturers 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. Of these, most have faults.
From our 1973 Rarities sale. With 1972 P.F. certificate.
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., large even margins, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (317). Pair, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1908 VERTICAL COIL.
The 5c 1908 Coil stamps, which were stripped by hand, are almost always strongly centered to one side.
With 1990 P.S.E. and 1975 and 2006 P.F. certificates.
1c, 3c-10c Louisiana Purchase (323, 325-327). Full set less the 2c value, Mint N.H., nice centering and margins, exceptionally fresh throughout, Very Fine and choice, each with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c-5c Jamestown (328-330). Mint N.H. set, nice margins and centering throughout, bright colors, Very Fine and choice, with 2004, 2004 and 1991 P.F. certificates respectively