Sale 1138 — The Hanover Collection of Superb-Quality U.S. Stamps, Part 2
Sale Date — Thursday, 6 October, 2016
Category — 1912-23 Issues (Scott 482A-518b)
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (482A). Incredibly deep rich color on bright paper, with full Schermack perforations on both sides, with additional margin to left of Schermack perforations, wide margins at top and bottom, centered to left as are virtually all known examples, cancelled by perfect wavy-line machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE IN EXISTENCE. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY AND ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
Scott 482A, like its slightly more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines. The Schermack "Sealer and Stamper" machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the hyphen-hole perfs on one side would be cut off. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, has a very small survival rate.
Our census of Scott 482A (available at www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/482A/482A.pdf ) records one pair (ex Zoellner), three covers, one unused single and 34 used singles for a total of 40 stamps.
Schermack Type III stamps are often cut into the design by the oblong perforations or miscut with one side of the perforated margin missing. This problem for collectors, which meant very little to contemporary users of the stamps, resulted from two consecutive events. First, the sheets were perforated with the Schermack holes, creating an opportunity for misalignment between the stamps. Second, when the strip of stamps was fed through the Schermack affixing machine, the cutting blade did not always align with the space between stamps. The stamp offered here is remarkable because the Schermack perforations just touch the design, and it was cut with margins well clear of the design and with Schermack perforations intact.
Census No. 482A-CAN-20. Ex Twigg-Smith and "Scarsdale". 1989 and 2001 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $135,000.00)
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Mint N.H., massive margins including significant portions of all eight adjoining stamps, clearly showing the 2c denomination on five of the adjoining stamps, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT CARMINE ERROR OF COLOR IS GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE GRADING CHART AND ONLY ONE EQUALS THIS GRADE.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate No. 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 by far the rarest of the three.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade in SMQ, SMQ $40,000.00 as 100). This is the highest grade possible on the grading chart and only one other shares this grade. This error is normally seen as part of a block, for the singles collector this represents a rare opportunity to acquire an example that also shows surrounding 2c stamps.
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line pair, lightly hinged, deep rich color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II 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 1971 and 2001 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (487). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb joint line pair, ex Hoffman, with 1997 A.P.S. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,000.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only two others share this grade
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (493). Mint N.H. joint line pair, intense shade and impression, beautiful centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $775.00), only three have graded higher (highest is 98J)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H. joint line pair, vibrant color and crisp impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $725.00), only five have graded higher (all at 98)
1c Green (498). Mint N.H., bright color, beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $325.00), only three have graded higher
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., characteristic Ty. Ia vivid color, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, long and full perforations on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT DEEP ROSE TYPE Ia WHICH IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
The Type Ia Scott 500 was created during an experiment of the Bureau in creating a new type of transfer roll. A die was made from the old Type I transfer roll, having ten impressions on it. A new transfer roll was then made, using the new ten-impression master die. This new transfer roll was then used to create two new plates. There are noticeable differences between the plates created using this method and the old method of using one die impression to create the transfer roll.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $9,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and no others share it.
3c Dark Violet, Ty. II (502). Mint N.H. with selvage at top, deep rich color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $400.00), only six have graded higher and only three others share this grade
4c Brown (503). Mint N.H., intense color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp with great eye appeal, with 2002 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $425.00)
5c Blue (504). Mint N.H., deep shade and detailed impression, choice centering with well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $475.00), only three have graded higher
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 11 5-CENT ERROR OF COLOR, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
During the production of the normal 2c plate No. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was sent back 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 as Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 (Scott 467, 485 and 505).
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,250.00). Only two have graded higher (at 100)
7c Black (507). Mint N.H., bright shade, remarkably detailed impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,650.00), only one has graded higher (at 100) and this is the only example to achieve this grade, this is the highest grade we have offered in one of our auctions
9c Salmon Red (509). Mint N.H., vibrant color, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $300.00)
11c Light Green (511). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, intense color and impression, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $625.00), only four have graded higher (all at 100) and only four others share this grade, this is the first time we have offered this desirable grade in one of our auctions
12c Claret Brown (512). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $600.00), only two have graded higher (at 100) and only one other shares this grade, this is the first example graded above 98 we have offered in one of our auctions
12c Brown Carmine (512a). Mint N.H., radiant color, beautiful centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.F. certificate (Superb 98)
13c Apple Green (513). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,350.00), this is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
15c Gray (514). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 20-CENT PERF 11 FRANKLIN, SCOTT 515. THIS IS GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE ON THE GRADING CHART. IT IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $3,500.00 as 100). This is the highest grade possible on the grading chart and no others share it.
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 50-CENT PERF 11 ISSUE, SCOTT 517, WHICH IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $3,250.00). Only one has graded higher and three others share this prestigious grade.
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp with great eye appeal, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,600.00)
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Mint N.H., deep rich color in the true Deep Brown shade, choice centering for this most difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1917 ISSUE IN THE DEEP BROWN SHADE. DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION, ESPECIALLY IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE.
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 Mint Never-Hinged examples such as the stamp offered here are true condition rarities -- this is only the third unduplicated Mint N.H. example we have offered since keeping computerized records.
With 1990, 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates.