Sale 1044 — United States Essays, Proofs and Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 22 May, 2013
Category — 1912-22 Washington-Franklins and Later Issues (Scott 415-634A)
9c Salmon Red (415). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 P.F. certificate
10c Orange Yellow (416). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide margins, vivid color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2004 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,400.00), only two have graded higher (at 98J) and only two others share this grade
15c Gray (418). Mint N.H., wide and balanced margins, intense shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00)
20c Ultramarine (419). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1991 P.F. certificate
30c Orange Red (420). Mint N.H., vibrant color on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1982 P.F. certificate for block
50c Violet (421). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 50-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED ISSUE.
This is a difficult stamp to find with such choice balanced margins, especially in Mint N.H. condition.
From our 2002 Rarities sale. With 1992 and 1997 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,800.00)
50c Violet (422). Mint N.H., pretty shade, wide margins,Very Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (423). Mint N.H., deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate
15c Gray (437). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
30c Orange Red (439). Mint N.H., vibrant color on bright paper, long and full perforations, Very Fine, with copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block of four
50c Violet (440). Mint N.H., radiant color, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 WATERMARKED FRANKLIN, SCOTT 440. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN THE HIGHER GRADES, THIS HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- A STAMP OF GREAT BEAUTY.
With 1999 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $5,750.00 as 95, $13,000.00 as 98). This is the only example awarded this grade, and only seven have graded higher
50c Violet (440). Lightly hinged, bright shade, wide margins, Very Fine, with copy of 1993 P.F. certificate for block
3c Violet, Coil (445). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1985 P.F. certificate for pair
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Barely hinged, bright color, fresh and Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Mint N.H., bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate for pair
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate Coil (459). Mint N.H., radiant color, large margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Lightly hinged, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, wide margins, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Green (462). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Killien, with 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $900.00), only four have graded higher and only for others equal this grade
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, wide margins, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, long and full perforations, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H., brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1982 and 2004 P.F. certificates
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H., vivid color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
15c Gray (475). Mint N.H., radiant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Barely hinged, pretty shade, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1981 P.F. certificate for block
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 (476A). Position 44, Mint N.H., vibrant color on bright paperFRESH AND FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE VERY RARE 30-CENT PERF 10 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
The 30c Perf 10 Unwatermarked, Scott 476A, has no trace of the single-line watermark. Although one or two stamps from the discovery sheets have been found with "ghost" watermarks, the Scott Catalogue and The Philatelic Foundation continue to recognize Scott 476A.
With 1984 P.F. certificate.
50c Light Violet (477). Lightly hinged, pretty shade, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate stating that "It is genuine", implying Mint N.H.
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Lightly hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1992 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1995 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., radiant color, crisp impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate (482A). Gorgeous color on crisp paper, with Schermack perforations clearly visible on both sides, wavy-line machine cancel leaves design clearly visible, small corner margin crease at top right well away from designFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY 43 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY. ESPECIALLY RARE WITH THE SCHERMACK PERFORATIONS CLEARLY VISIBLE ON BOTH SIDES.
Scott 482A, like its 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, this stamp has a very small survival rate.
Our census of Scott 482A, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/482A/482A.pdf , records three covers, one unused single, a used pair and 37 used singles for a total of 43 stamps. Most examples are either cut well into the design or have the Schermack perfs trimmed away on one side. Only 16 show the Schermack perforations on both sides.
Census No. 482A-CAN-24. With 1982 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Mint N.H. single error in block of nine, huge margins incl. part of all adjoining stamps, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT CARMINE IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF NINE.
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 1983 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line pair, lightly hinged, radiant color, exceptionally well-centered, tiny corner crease at top rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A WELL-CENTERED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE II PERF 10 HORIZONTAL COIL ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
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 1965 and 2008 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Pair, exceptionally well-centered, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE II PERF 10 HORIZONTAL COIL ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
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 1975 and 2008 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Lightly hinged, vibrant colorFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 491.
With 1992 P.F. certificate for pair
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.F. certificate
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H., brilliant color, well-balanced margins, trivial natural inclusion on chin not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., brilliant color, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Lightly hinged, bright colors, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., rich colors, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 2005 P.F. certificate for block
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H., brilliant color on fresh paper, huge even margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
With 1997 (for block) and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade, attractive margins and centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS COIL WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 539.
With 1959 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary (545). Mint N.H., unusually well-centered for this issue with nicely proportioned margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine, scarce with such choice centering, with 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Mint N.H., vivid color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1978 P.F. certificate for block
5c Pilgrim Tercentenary (550). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, mathematically precise centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around, tiny inconsequential straw fiber inclusionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT PILGRIM ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2004 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,700.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and is shared by only three others
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., unusually precise centering, vibrant color, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Mint N.H., vivid color, balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H., brilliant color, long and full perforations, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate