Sale 1068 — United States Stamps and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 30 April-1 May, 2014
Category — Washington-Franklin Issues
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Guide line pair, right stamp Mint N.H., left stamp lightly hinged, brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356, WITH ONE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed.
With 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $16,000.00 does not take into consideration the one Mint N.H. stamp)
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Lightly hinged, choice centering, rich color and proof-like impression on nicely blued paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
With 1980, 1998 and 2001 P.F. certificates
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Lightly hinged, radiant color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT BLUISH.
With 1973 and 1997 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Exceptionally well-centered, strong color, reperfed at right and picked out inclusion, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Lightly hinged, uncommonly wide margins, fresh, rich color, reperfed at left, Extremely Fine appearance, an attractive-appearing example of this issue, signed E. Stern, with 2006 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Lightly hinged, intense color on deeply blued paper, fresh and Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Block of four, 2mm spacing, light central double oval cancel, Fine and scarce, with 1975 P.F. certificate
4c Brown (377). Mint N.H., gorgeous centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem
4c Brown (377). Wide right imprint, star and plate no. 5569 block of six, fresh and attractively centered, five stamps Mint N.H., Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as one hinged and five Mint N.H. singles
10c Yellow (381). Bottom imprint and plate no. 5239 and star block of six, two stamps in top row h.r. and one with pencil notation, bottom row Mint N.H., vivid color, Fine-Very Fine
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Mint N.H., bright color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 2001 P.F. certificate for block
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Wide top imprint and plate no. 4952 strip of three, selvage h.r., stamps Mint N.H., lovely pastel color, pos. 2 Fine only, other two beautiful margins and centering, left stamp especially beautiful, Extremely Fine
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-404). Plate no. singles (No. 404 rejoined), Nos. 397-399 Mint N.H., Fine lot except No. 400 very wide margins and centered, Extremely Fine
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-404). Fresh colors, Perf 12 set with wide to incredibly wide margins, No. 404 with bottom plate no. 6130 selvage, Very Fine
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-404). Five Mint N.H. incl. No. 400, Fine-Very Fine with a couple better
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-404). Both 1c and 5c Perf 10 Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, both 5c reperfed, otherwise Fine-Very Fine
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-404). No. 404 wide right plate no. 6135 selvage, most lightly hinged incl. No. 404, Fine-Very Fine
5c-10c Panama-Pacific (399, 400, 400A). Blocks of four, both 10c blocks Mint N.H., top stamps on 5c narrow h.r., bottom stamps Mint N.H., bright colors, margins at least clear throughout, Fine
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H., intensely rich color, detailed impression, outstanding centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ORANGE PERF 12 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,000.00). Only three have graded higher
5c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (403). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 6129 selvage, rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
10c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). With bottom plate no. 6139 selvage, lightly hinged, vivid color and attractively centered, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
50c Violet (422). Mint N.H., well-centered, wide margins all around, bright color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, a superb stamp
$1.00 Violet Brown (423). With top plate no. 5782 selvage, minute hinge mark, Extremely Fine, with photocopy of 1980 P.F. certificate for block
$1.00 Violet Brown (423). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
9c Salmon Red (432). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
10c Orange Yellow (433). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, vibrant shade, long full perfs all around, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate
50c Violet (440). Lightly hinged, pretty shade, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
4c Brown, 5c Blue, Coils (446-447). Mint N.H. guide line pairs, fresh, rich colors, Fine-Very Fine
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Mint N.H. joint line pair, exceptional centering with wide margins all around, brilliant color and detailed impression.VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 1915 2-CENT TYPE I VERTICAL COIL. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY.
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. After plate wear was noticed, further strengthening was necessary, resulting in the Type III stamps. Scott 449 was not produced until almost a year and a half after the Type I horizontal coil, Scott 453. Due to the unpopularity of vertical coils, this Type I stamp was in production for only a short period of time before being discontinued. 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). Joint line pair, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Mint N.H. joint line pair, bright color, fresh and Very Fine
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Matched top and bottom plate no. singles, one Mint N.H., Fine
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H., deep rich color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. certificate for pair
4c Orange Brown (465). Mint N.H., choice centering with wide margins, deep rich color and detailed impression on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with photocopy of 2000 P.F. certificate for vertical pair
5c Blue (466). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 7623 selvage, bright color, perfectly centered with wide even margins, Extremely Fine Gem, superb in every respect, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., perfect centering, radiant color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, the 5c Perf 10 error is much scarcer in this outstanding condition than its Perf 11 counterpart, with 2000 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, 5c Rose Error (467, 505). Single errors in blocks of nine, both error stamps Mint N.H., two and three surrounding stamps respectively with disturbed gum, Fine
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, bright fresh color, post-office fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1992 P.F. certificate
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H., bright color on white paper, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with copy of 2001 P.F. certificate for block of four
11c Dark Green (473). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage, intense color and detailed impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1999 P.F. certificate
15c Gray (475). Mint N.H., radiant color, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp
50c Light Violet (477). Two, first with bottom plate no. selvage, lightly hinged, fresh color, Fine, second barely hinged if at all, light pencil signature "Ward", Fine
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Small h.r., intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., deep shade, perfectly centered, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
50c Light Violet (477). Lightly hinged, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Barest trace of hinging in one corner, rich color and sharp impression, Very Fine, with 2013 Weiss certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations, bold strike of oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect, this issue is extremely difficult to obtain with such wide margins, ex Natalee Grace, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $250.00 as 95, $850.00 as 98), only one has graded higher (at 98) and only one other shares this desirable grade, this statistic has not changed in over two years
$2.00 Dark Blue, $5.00 Light Green (479-480). Mint N.H., deep rich colors, attractive margins and centering, $2.00 small gum skips, Very Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil, (491). Joint line pair, barely hinged, deep rich color, very well-centered with nicely balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE CENTERED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS UNWATERMARKED HORIZONTAL COIL.
Unlike most other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.
With 1977 and 1999 P.F. certificates
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Position W1 or W7, four stamps top row with h.r., rest Mint N.H., bright color, Fine-Very Fine
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Position W6 with full lines at bottom and left, small h.r., attractive centering, fresh and Very Fine, with 1974 P.F. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., deep rich color, beautifully centered, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Intense shade, choice centering, Very Fine and choice, with 1983 P.F. certificate
3c Dark Violet, Ty. II, "Kiss Print" or "Double Impression"? (502 or 502d?). Showing subtle but clear doubling of the entire design as do all known used examples and most unused, light cancel leaves entire design clearly visible, Extremely Fine only four used examples (including this one) have been certified as a double impression, our census of this issue, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/502d/502d.pdf , contains four used and approximately a dozen unused copies, ex Saadi, Floyd and Natalee Grace, with 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates as a double impression and 2012 P.F. certificate as a "kiss print" -- a poster child for the problems caused by shifting standards -- Scott Retail as double impression $1,000.00, offered on its own merits
5c Blue, "Kiss Print" or "Double Impression"? (504 or 504b). Clear doubling of the entire design, deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering, New York oval registry cancel, natural pre-printing paper crease at right, Very Fine, very rare, only four used and six unused examples are known to us, the used originally formed a block of four, ex Floyd and Natalee Grace, with 2000 and 2001 P.S.E. certificates (former as a block) and 2001 P.F. certificate as a double impression, now with 2012 P.F. certificate as a "kiss print" -- if this is not a double impression, then it does not exist in used condition -- offered on its own merits, Scott Retail as the double impression $1,600.00
5c Rose, Error (505). Double error in block of twelve, unused (no gum), the errors with nice centering, Very Fine, Scott Retail as original gum double error block
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H., perfect centering, vivid color and bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. certificate
7c Black (507). Mint N.H., dark shade and detailed impression, perfectly centered with even margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Lightly hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with extra wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1917 ISSUE IN THE DEEP BROWN COLOR.
According to Johl, a small number of stamps were printed in this distinctive shade early in the issue of the 1917 $1.00 stamp. During the course of the six years that the stamp was issued, all other printings were made in the normal shade. Centered examples such as the stamp offered here are true condition rarities.
Ex Drucker. With 1984 and 2002 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H., bright colors, fresh and Very Fine
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Faintly hinged, attractive color, Very Fine, with 1990 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00, $5.00 1918-20 Issues (523-524, 547). Two of each, all with top plate no. selvage, one No. 523 Mint N.H. with small natural gum skip (h.r. in selvage), other lightly hinged, one No. 524 h.r., other lightly hinged, one No. 547 Mint N.H., nice colors with just a bit of darkening on one No. 523, Fine, Scott Retail with no premium for the positions
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with guide line, large and even margins, light natural gum bends at rightEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE RARE TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET STAMP.
Most Type VII stamps were used by private vending and affixing machine companies. However, unlike Scott 314A and 482A, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps did reach the public.
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Horizontal pair with guide line at center, large even margins all around, brilliant color, neat strike of duplex cancel, right stamp faint vertical crease not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING USED PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET STAMP. THIS IS THE ONLY USED MULTIPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
According to Armstrong, the imperforates were issued to satisfy the needs of the last remaining private coil manufacturer. The Mail-O-Meter Company merged with the Schermack Company and so these issues are also known with the Schermack Type III perforations, such as are also seen on Scott 314A and 482A. However, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps without Schermack perfs did reach the public.
Our informal review of auction catalogues and the records of the Philatelic Foundation found four blocks of four and nine pairs, of which only four are sound. The example offered here is the only used multiple we have offered since keeping computerized records, which includes all of our Rarities sales and auctions going back to 1993.
Ex Sheriff (as a block), Twigg-Smith and Natalee Grace. With 1971 P.F. certificate as block.
3c Deep Violet (537a). Rich color, well-centered for this rare and notoriously challenging stamp and shade, Salem Ohio oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine, a rare sound and well-centered used example of this color variety with a handstamped cancel rather than the Salem Ohio precancel, our census of Scott 537a in used condition, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/537a/537a.pdf , records a total of 19 used singles and two used blocks of four -- of the singles, 11 are precancelled (all at Salem Ohio), and of the 8 singles without precancels, the example offered here has the widest margins -- Census No. 537a-CAN-03, ex Natalee Grace, with 2000 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary (545). Barest trace of hinging, crisp impression, choice centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp
1c Green, 2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (545-546). First tiny h.r. near bottom, second appears Mint N.H. but slight fingerprint on gum so counted as hinged, both nicely centered, the 2c unusually so, first Very Fine, second Extremely Fine
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., extra wide margins, Very Fine and choice