Sale 1028 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used U.S. Stamps, Part Three: 1902 and Later Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 20 September, 2012
Category — Perf 11 Double-Line Watermark Issue, 1916-17 Perf 10 Unwatermarked Issue (Scott 461-480)
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, unusually choice centering for this issue with wide margins, long and full perforations, part of Millburn N.J. boxed cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 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.
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 trial 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, and by this time the Bureau was using unwatermarked paper.
With 1959 and 1999 P.F. certificates as block of four. The stamp offered here has the best centering of any in the block, and also of any we have encountered.
1c-50c 1916-17 Unwatermarked Issue (462-466, 468-477). Deep rich colors, individually selected by the owner for superior centering and overall quality, all have neat cancels, all are Extremely Fine Gems, a group of this quality is extremely difficult to assemble, this set has been through several upgrades to reach this high level of quality, 8c with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), no doubt several others would grade at least as high
5c Carmine, Error (467). Brilliant color on bright paper, neat wavy-line machine cancel, choice centering for this difficult issue, small thin spot at bottom, Very Fine appearance, a great rarity, during the course of production of the normal 2c from plate 7942, three positions were noted to be defective, the plate was returned to the siderographer, who burnished out the three positions and mistakenly re-entered them using a transfer roll for the 5c stamp, the error passed unnoticed and the sheets were issued to the public Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 (Scott 467, 485 and 505), the imperforate is not known used, we have not offered a used example of this issue in almost a decade and virtually every example off cover we have been able to locate has a fault, this is a great unheralded rarity of used collecting, with 1986 P.F. 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, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $250.00 as 95, $800.00 as 98), only one has graded higher to date (at 98) and only one other shares this desirable grade
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive strike of oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $385.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and only six others share this grade
$5.00 Light Green (480). Jumbo margins, radiant color, crisp impression, neat oval cancel struck at upper right leaves design clearly visibleEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 MARSHALL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
According to Johl, the war caused a sudden demand for high-denomination stamps for shipments of parts to Russia and for valuable shipments of Liberty bonds. The Bureau did not have time to prepare new designs, so they used the original dies from 1902 to lay down one new plate of each denomination.
Ex Tahoe. With 1989 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $780.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other has achieved this grade. We are surprised SMQ is so low given its rarity in this high grade.