Sale 932 — The Scarsdale Collection, Part 4: Washington-Franklin Issues
Sale Date — Friday, 30 March, 2007
Category — 1916-17 Issue (Scott 462 to 480)
1c Green (462). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, perfectly centered with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent stamp, with 2000 P.F. and 2000 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ in any grade higher than 98, SMQ $880.00 as 98), this is the only example to achieve this exalted grade, which is the highest awarded to date
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent stamp, with 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,650.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other has been given this grade
4c Orange Brown (465). Mint N.H. with plate no. at top with wide selvage, rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (466). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1990 and 2000 P.F. certificates
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H. double error in block of twelve, natural s.e. at bottom, brilliant color, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED DOUBLE ERROR BLOCK OF THE PERF 10 5-CENT CARMINE ERROR.
With 1993 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, tiny natural inclusion at bottom not mentioned on accompanying certificate, tiny natural perf indent at bottom left, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. and 1999 P.S.E. certificates
6c Red Orange (468). Mint N.H., dazzling color as fresh as the day it was printed on post-office fresh paper, tiny natural inclusion, Extremely Fine, with 1990 and 2000 P.F. certificates
7c Black (469). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, superb centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.F. certificate
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, pretty color, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H., luminous color on crisp paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1984 and 1999 P.F. certificates
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1916 10-CENT PERF 10 ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY, THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE, AND THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS ILLUSTRIOUS GRADE.
Unwatermarked paper arrived at the BEP during the transition from Perf 10 to Perf 11 gauge. The use of unwatermarked paper in conjunction with the old Perf 10 gauge was not expected by collectors, and the supply available to philatelists was relatively small.
Ex Killien. With 1997 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $6,850.00).
11c Dark Green (473). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1991 and 2001 P.F. certificates
12c Claret Brown (474). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1999 P.F. and 1998 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,450.00), only one stamp has graded higher on the P.S.E. Population Report
12c Deep Claret Brown (474 var). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate as normal shade
15c Gray (475). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 15-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE, WHICH HAS ACHIEVED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1988 and 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $9,000.00). Only one other has received this lofty grade.
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 20-CENT UNWATERMARKED PERF 10 ISSUE, SCOTT 476. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS EARNED THE LOFTY GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
Ex Killien. With 1985 and 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $11,100.00). Only one other shares this grade.
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 (476A). Position 77 from Plate No. 6911, Mint N.H., vivid color on post-office fresh paperFRESH AND VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE VERY RARE 30-CENT PERF 10 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
Despite the recent P.S.E. claim that a watermark has been "discovered" on one stamp from one of the 476A panes, the vestige of a watermark on the dandy roll used to make unwatermarked paper has been known to philatelists since 1918. The unwatermarked paper supplied to the Bureau for printings of sheets that were perforated gauge 10 and 11 is known to have had "ghost" watermarks where the brass pieces were removed. We currently side with the group of philatelists who believe that the 30c Perf 10 Unwatermarked, Scott 476A, was legitimately issued.
With 1984 and 2000 P.F. certificates
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
This 50c issue was only available in post-office stocks for a very short period of time, because it was released only three weeks prior to the beginning of the new Perf 11 series.
Ex Piedmont. With 1987 and 2001 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
This stamp was only used for less than six months before the Perf 11 stamps were produced. Due to its short production run and the only difference between this and the previous $1.00 stamp (Scott 460) being the watermark, many collectors and dealers of the day overlooked this stamp.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine, ex Piedmont, with 1998 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, choice centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 MARSHALL 1917 PERF 10 ISSUE.
With 1992 and 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,050.00 as 95, $3,350.00 as 98)