Sale 1315 — The Eugene L. Grace Collection of United States and Confederate States Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 12-14 March, 2024
Category — 1902-08 thru 1908-10 Issues
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, ex Merlin, with 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), only five grade higher (three at 98, one each at 98J and 100) and only five others share this grade, this is the first example in this grade we have offered since 2017
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1991 (as block) and 2011 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ)
5c Blue (304). Mint N.H. with left part imprint selvage, rich color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only eight grade higher
10c Pale Red Brown (307). Mint N.H., pretty shade, Extremely Fine and attractive, with 1988 and 2014 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ)
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., unusually deep shade and unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 (as block) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., intense shade, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
50c Orange (310). Original gum, lightly hinged, fiery color on bright paper, balanced Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, ex Curtis, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo), only four grade higher and one other shares this desirable grade
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Wide margins, rich color on bright paper, bold oval registry cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue, $5.00 Dark Green (312, 313). Tied by New York double-oval registry cancels on linen piece, $5.00 perfectly centered with wide margins, an Extremely Fine Gem, $2.00 well-centered and Very Fine, very scarce in these premium grades and used together, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott value as used singles
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Well-centered with immense margins, rich color on bright paper, oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Blue Green, Imperforate (314). Two Mint N.H. items, first is single showing large part of adjoining stamps and part imprint at left, second is vertical pair showing part of all ten adjoining stamps, Extremely Fine Gems, with 2011 or 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo)
1c Blue Green, Imperforate (314). Set of six original gum position blocks, including Mint N.H. left imprint and plate no. 4498 block of six, others are blocks of four including top, bottom, left and right arrow blocks (left Mint N.H., others previously hinged), center line block previously hinged, full to large margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
1c Blue Green, Imperforate Horizontal Coil (314H). Strip of four, used with 7c Black (507), tied by Philadelphia double oval cancels, magenta "Oct. 11, 1918 Philadelphia Pa. Registered" double-circle backstamps with matching "Registered" straightline on 2c Carmine on Oriental Buff entire (U413) to Philadelphia street address, Western Stamp Co. Minneapolis Minn. backstamp, bright and fresh
EXTREMELY FINE. A choice and rare on-cover use of a strip of the ONE-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE FLAT PLATE COIL.
These coils were made from the flat plate regular issue stamps, and were issued in rolls of either 500 or 1,000. This is a very rare on-cover use. Power Search contains only one other, a pair offered in our "Lake Shore" sale in 2004.
With 1993 A.P.S. and 2010 P.F. certificates. Listed in Scott as a strip of four but unpriced. Scott value as a pair on cover $2,000
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. with huge top left corner sheet margin with platemaker's initials, lovely color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ, SMQ $1,000 as 95, $1,400 as 98)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., large to huge margins including wide top sheet margin, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. pair with top arrow sheet margin, large margins other sides, Extremely Fine, scarce and desirable position pair, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott value as normal Mint N.H. pair
5c Blue, Imperforate, U.S. Automatic Vending Co. Ty. I (315). Pair, bottom stamp Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins, deep rich color, each with neat strike of "RMS" (Railway Mail Service) in duplex cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING AND RARE USED PAIR OF THE 1908 5-CENT IMPERFORATE. THIS IS VERY RARE IN USED CONDITION.
According to Johl, only 29 sheets of 400 of the 5c imperforate were issued. Most were sent to Indianapolis and the majority was used by manufacturers of private coils. Some unused were no doubt kept by collectors -- 825 copies were distributed to members of the Detroit Philatelic Society. It is possible that most of the used copies originate from this supply. Most have indistinct wavy lines or blind oval cancels, which may not be contemporary. The "RMS" duplex cancel, which is a Railway Mail Service duplex, should be considered very desirable.
With 2001 and 2015 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Mint N.H., excellent centering, lovely bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
2c Lake, Ty. II, Booklet Pane of Six (319Fq). Mint N.H., Position E, deep rich color, unusually choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate (320). Mint N.H. block of four, enormous margins all around showing significant portion of all adjoining stamps, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; blocks are unpriced in SMQ, for reference a pair graded 100 catalogues $750)
2c Scarlet, Ty. I, Imperforate (320b). Mint N.H., brilliant color, huge margins all around including large parts of all adjoining stamps, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade, SMQ $750 as 100)
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Schermack Ty. III (320Ad; formerly 320d). Guide line pair, original gum, h.r., with intact perforations at sides, Very Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Louisiana Purchase (323). Mint N.H. with wide top imprint selvage, deep rich color, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. (as pair) and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
3c Violet, Louisiana Purchase (325). Mint N.H. with bottom imprint selvage, detailed impression, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
10c Red Brown, Louisiana Purchase (327). Mint N.H. with full imprint in enormous top selvage, deep rich color, post-office fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80)
1c-2c Jamestown (328-329). Mint N.H., rich colors, choice centering, Extremely Fine, 1c with 2004 P.S.E. and 2c with 1990 and 2014 P.F. certifcates (both graded XF 90), SMQ value as both P.S.E. graded $750
5c Blue, Jamestown (330). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
1c Green (331). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 5084 selvage, rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, ex Hinrichs and Henson, with 2010 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo), only three grade higher (at 100) and three others share this desirable grade
5c Blue (335). Mint N.H., essentially perfectly centered, beautiful bright shade, post-office fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
6c Red Orange (336). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only one hinged stamp grades higher (at 98J)
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Mint N.H. with part imprint bottom selvage, intense shade, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
1c-5c 1908-09 Issue, Imperforate (343-347). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. blocks of six, each with large and even margins, fresh colors, Extremely Fine and desirable set of top plate blocks
5c Blue, Imperforate (347). Mint N.H., massive margins all around including portions of adjoining stamps and part imprint sheet margin at left, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2018 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo)
5c Blue, Imperforate (347). Massive bottom left corner sheet margins with portions of adjoining stamps and plate finisher's initials, rich color, St. Louis Mo. precancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. guide line pair, outstanding centering with balanced margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, bright color, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1978 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Guide line pair, original gum, top stamp Mint N.H. and bottom stamp lightly hinged, brilliant color, Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80), SCV $550
5c Blue, Coil (351). Guide line pair, original gum, bottom stamp Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. and 2020 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90), SCV $1,075
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, beautiful Jumbo margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, the right stamp is particularly choice, with 1986 and 2005 P.F. certificates
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Pair with 3mm spacing, original gum, lightly hinged, fabulous centering, lovely color, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2020 P.S.E. certificates
5c Blue, Coil (355). Strip of three, rich color, purple "Brookfield, Mass." straightline cancel, Fine and very scarce with a colored straightline cancel, Power Search does not list another, with 1996 P.F. certificate, Scott value as a pair and a single
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Rich color, light duplex cancel, well-centered for this challenging issue, small diagonal crease at top right
very fine appearance. a scarce used example of the 10-cent horizontal coil, scott 356.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate.