Sale 1172 — United States Stamps and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday, 19 December, 2017
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320)
1c-$5.00 1902 Issue (300-313, 315, 319). Nos. 300-304, 307 and 308 Mint N.H., $5.00 traces of original gum, 315 pair fairly lightly hinged and with four ample margins (light natural paper wrinkle), Fine-Very Fine set, Scott Retail approximately
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., rich color, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $475.00), an inexplicably stingy grade for this choice stamp
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and detailed impression on crisp paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2004 and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,500.00). Only three have graded higher (at 98)
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Outstanding centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $3,000.00) -- we have seen our fair share of off-the-mark grades, but this takes undergrading to an entirely new level -- if this is not a 95 or 95 Jumbo, then what is?
1c Blue Green, Imperforate (314). Mint N.H., enormous margins with parts of all eight adjoining stamps, rich color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $450.00 as 100, unpriced in 100 Jumbo grade)
1c Blue Green, Imperforate (314). Mint N.H., huge margins with part imprint at left and parts of the five adjoining stamps on the other three sides, proof-like impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $450.00)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., huge margins including left sheet margin with part of plate printers' initials, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,000.00)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., large even margins, post-office fresh, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $850.00)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. pair, large margins to ample, rich color, Very Fine
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. right margin block of four with partial arrow and guide line at top, deep color, faint natural gum wrinkle between right stamps, Very Fine and choice
5c Blue, Schermack Ty. III (315). Pair, attractive margins with full Schermack perfs, rich colorVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1902 ISSUE WITH TYPE III SCHERMACK PRIVATE VENDING MACHINE PERFORATIONS.
A Power Search review reveals how elusive the 1902 5c imperforate coil is with Schermack perforations. Since keeping computerized records we have sold only two other pairs, including one that had faults.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (317). With wide leader tab at top, beautifully centered with large imperforate coil margins, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 317, WITH ATTACHED LEADER TAB.
According to Johl, these first government coils were an experiment, and collectors and dealers were generally unaware of their existence. Regular sheets of 400 were printed and then perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were hand pasted together to form rolls. As such, they are almost always strongly centered to one side.
With 2017 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo)
2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with enormous margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent stamp, with 2006 and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,150.00), only three have graded higher (highest is 100J) and two shares this grade
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate (320). Mint N.H., enormous margins all around including top part imprint margin, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $350.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate (320). Mint N.H., enormous margins all around including part imprint at right, potions of all five adjoining stamps on the other three sides, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $350.00)
2c Scarlet, International Vending Machine Co., Perforated Approximately 12-1/2 (320b var). Pair, right stamp small h.r., deep intense shade, choice centering for this difficult issue which is often found with perfs cutting into the design, Very Fine, the International Vending Machine Co. installed their machines in post offices, using the 2c Shield stamp with their own 12-1/2 gauge perforations, these coils were replaced with government coils in July 1908, purple backstamp left stamp, with 1963 and copy of 2015 P.F. certificates for strip of four
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320A; formerly 320a). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins including parts of five adjoining stamps and part imprint at left, deep intense shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo)
1c-10c Louisiana Purchase (323-327). Mint N.H., rich colors, 2c small corner crease, still Very Fine and choice set, 3c-10c with 1990s P.F. certificates
5c Louisiana Purchase (326). Mint N.H. with wide top sheet selvage with plate no. 2100, proof-like impression and intense color, wide and beautifully balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE ISSUE, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
According to Johl (Volume 1), the Louisiana Purchase stamps were not popular with the public or collectors when they were issued -- due to their larger size and unfavorable comparisons to the designs of the previous 1901 Pan-American stamps. As a result, fewer were saved.
With 2000 P.F., 2008 and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $4,750.00). Only one example has graded higher (at 98J, offered in our Sale 1150, realized $14,500 hammer).