Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — 1908-13 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 331-396)
2c Carmine (332). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a truly magnificent Gem 100 Jumbo example of this workhorse Washington-Franklin issue, ex Merlin and "Hanover", with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $1,150.00 as 100), only three other examples have achieved this perfect grade
2c Carmine (332). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2018 P.F. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo)
4c Orange Brown (334). Mint N.H. with wide part imprint selvage at top, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1908 4-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $3,000.00 as 98). Only two grade higher (at 100 and 100J)
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., blazing color on post-office fresh paper, essentially perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1909 ISSUE, SCOTT 338, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex "Golden Oak". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,900.00). Only one grades higher (at 98J, we have never offered it) and two others share this grade
13c Blue Green (339). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 339, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2003 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,300.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others.
5c Blue, Imperforate (347). Mint N.H., huge margins including parts of five adjoining stamps and also part imprint at right, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $475.00)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, bright color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), only three pairs grade higher (at 100) and four others share this desirable grade
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H., precise centering with wide margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $800.00), only one grades higher and two others share this grade
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 351 IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
Interestingly, this is the only 5c Washington-Franklin perforated vertical coil stamp ever produced. Demand proved to be so low that no others were made. The guide line occurs between the 10th and 11th stamps on a roll. Apart from the 10c, Scott 356, this 5c vertical coil, Scott 351, has the lowest quantity of issued stamps of the series. The existence of a line pair in such superb condition is remarkable.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $13,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is the only example to achieve this grade. By way of comparison, only one Mint N.H. pair and four Mint N.H. singles share this grade with none higher.
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. guide line pair, wonderful depth of color and proof-like impression, outstanding centering and margins, post-office freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 351, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex Depew. With 2006 P.S.E. and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,000.00). Only one guide line pair grades higher (at 98, offered in previous lot) and only four others share this grade
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., deep rich color, unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2004 P.F. and 2003 and 2020 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,100.00). This is the highest grade awarded and shared by only three others.
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, outstanding centering and marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352.
Ex Depew. With 2003 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,900.00). Only one Mint N.H. guide line pair grades higher (at 95) and one other shares this 90 grade
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. pair with 2mm spacing, near perfect centering, rich color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Depew. With 2003 (for strip of four) and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,750.00). No other Mint N.H. pairs of Scott 352 in the P.S.E. Population Report equal or exceed the 95 grade awarded to this Gem pair
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, vivid color, extra wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 353.
Ex Depew. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,250.00). With 2019 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is a very elusive coil in the higher grades. No Mint N.H. pair has been graded by P.S.E. higher than the 90 offered here and no others even share this 90 grade. The XF-Superb 95 grade by the P.F. is also the highest awarded. Whichever expertizer is correct on the numerical grade this is a stunning pair.
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H. guide line pair, beautifully centered with wide and well-proportioned margins, fresh and bright colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE SCARCE 4-CENT 1909 HORIZONTAL COIL IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Ex "Silver Lake" and Depew. With 2004 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $6,200.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. guide line pair by both P.S.E. and the P.F. and it is shared by only one other (P.F.)
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Left imprint and plate no. 4837 block of six with wide selvage, rich color on deeply blued paper, lightly hinged, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, a fantastic plate block and certainly one of the finest in existence, ex "MLG" and Curtis, with 2009 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Rich color on deeply blued paper, Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Beautiful bright color on nicely blued paper, typical centering for this difficult issue, tiny natural inclusion at centerFRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
With 2013 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Vivid color on blued paper with characteristic intense watermark, fresh and Very Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Lightly hinged, rich color, three wide margins, Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Fresh color on blued paper, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2021 P.F. certificate
2c Lincoln, Imperforate (368). Mint N.H., massive margins showing large part of all adjoining stamps, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade, SMQ $250.00 as 100), the highest grade possible and shared by only nine others, this is the only we have offered
2c Alaska-Yukon, Imperforate (371). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins all around with portions of all adjoining stamps, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in 100J grade, SMQ $225.00 as 100)
1c Green (374). Jumbo margins and precise centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $225.00)
5c Blue (378). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, wonderful depth of color on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE PERFECT 5-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK SCOTT 378. THIS ASTONISHING STAMP HAS RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO FROM P.S.E.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ in this grade, SMQ $4,000.00 as 100). This is the highest grade possible and it is shared by only one other.
2c Carmine, Imperforate Horizontal Coil (384H). Tied by "Hudson Term. Sta. Feb. 8 7:30PM 1915" machine cancel on cover to Waucoma Iowa, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce example of this imperforate coil used on cover, with 2003 A.P.S. as earliest documented use (the new EDU is March 9, 1912) and 2005 P.F. certificates, the large three year gap between the old EDU and the new EDU speaks to the rarity of this issue on any cover
1c Green, Coil (390). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and detailed impression, mathematically perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 390 HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex Depew. With 2019 P.F. certificate (Gem 100). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,900.00). Early coil pairs, and especially guide line pairs, are exceedingly difficult to obtain in this perfect grade. For multiples such as this both stamps must be perfectly centered. This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others.
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H. guide line pair, radiant color on post-office fresh paper, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1911 HORIZONTAL COIL HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADED MINT NEVER-HINGED SCOTT 393 IN ANY FORMAT.
Ex Depew. With 2019 P.F. certificate. With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $6,500.00). This is the only Mint N.H. example of Scott 393 to achieve this perfect P.S.E. grade in any format (guide line pair, pair, single). To find a line pair in this superior grade is truly remarkable. The next highest line pair is graded 95
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF SCOTT 394, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2007 and 2019 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95).
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, wide margins, fresh color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT COIL, SCOTT 396, WITH THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 FROM BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Ex Depew. With 2010 P.S.E. and 2019 P.F. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $2,300.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others in the P.S.E. Population Report.
5c Blue, Coil (396). Guide line pair, wide margins and well-centered, oval cancels, Very Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate