Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — 1912-15 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 405-461)
1c Green (405). Mint N.H., bright shade and detailed impression, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $375.00), the highest grade awarded is 98J
7c Black (407). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, intense shade and proof-like impression on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 7-CENT BLACK, SCOTT 407, IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Merlin and Curtis. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,600.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only three others share this grade
2c Carmine, Coil (411). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, bright color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb Mint N.H. coil, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $550.00), this is the highest grade awarded in any category and only two others share this perfect grade
9c Salmon Red (415). Mint N.H. left plate no. 6907 block of six, brilliant color, wonderful centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful Mint N.H. plate block, ex Byers
20c Ultramarine (419). Mint N.H. with full right plate no. 6926 selvage, rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002, 2006 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,550.00 without premium for the plate number), only six grade higher
1c Green, Perf 12 x 10 (423A). Deep color, wavy-line machine cancelFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1914 ISSUE WITH 12 x 10 COMPOUND PERFORATIONS.
Our census of Scott 423A, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/423A , contains 37 singles, a block of four and seven pairs in used condition.
Census no. 423A-CAN-37.
Ex "Sirron". With 1997 and 2010 P.F. certificates
2c Rose Red, Ty. I, Perf 12 x 10 (423B). Rich color, margins clear all around, bold registry oval cancelFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 2-CENT PERF 12 x 10 ISSUE. THIS IS THE FIRST SOUND EXAMPLE WE HAVE OFFERED IN NEARLY A DECADE.
Our census of Scott 423B, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/423B , contains 33 used and one unused example of this rarity. A significant portion of the surviving population has faults or is off-center. Of the used examples in our census, this is the only stamp with a clear registry cancel. Most have either duplex or wavy-line machine cancels.
Census no. 423B-CAN-09. Ex "Georgetown" and "Sirron". With 1990 P.F. and 2020 P.S.E. certificates (Fine 70; unpriced in SMQ at this grade)
1c Green, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (424c). Top stamp h.r., deep rich color, typical centering for this scarce issue, bottom stamp tear at lower left, Fine appearance, signed in pencil and small purple backstamp, with 1950 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (428). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Curtis, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,850.00), this is the highest grade awarded
6c Red Orange (429). Mint N.H., vibrant color on fresh paper, perfectly centered, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 429, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $6,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others. This is the first in this grade we have offered since 2009.
6c Red Orange (429). Mint N.H., vivid color, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $250.00)
7c Black (430). Mint N.H., crisp impression, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 7-CENT PERF 10 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE, SCOTT 430. THIS STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER AND TWO OTHERS SHARE THIS GRADE.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,500.00). Only one grades higher (at 98J) and two others share this grade
8c Pale Olive Green (431). Mint N.H. with top part imprint selvage, lovely warm color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,750.00), only three grade higher (at 98J) and nine others share this desirable grade
10c Orange Yellow (433). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, deep rich color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates
12c Claret Brown (435). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich color and proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED SCOTT 435, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
According to Johl, in 1914 the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had difficulty securing proper inks, and the red which was used as the basic color for the 12c (and also the 2c) was the most difficult to obtain. In August 1914 World War I was just getting under way, and Great Britain allowed all dies and chemicals not manufactured domestically for printing U.S. stamps to be shipped from Germany. The Copper Red shade (Scott 435a) was from the earlier printing before the inks were received.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $3,500.00). This is the only Scott 435 at the Gem 100 grade, with just one higher
20c Ultramarine (438). Rich color nicely complemented by bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade in SMQ, SMQ $2,000.00 as 100), this is the highest grade awarded in any category and the only example to achieve this grade
50c Violet (440). Block of four, lightly hinged, intense shade on bright paper, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, a scarce block, ex Hall and Byers, with 1989 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (441). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep shade and remarkably detailed impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, absolute perfection, ex "Hanover" and Byers, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,500.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it
3c Violet, Coil (445). Barely hinged, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 445, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 1994 P.F. (as pair) and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Gem 100; SMQ $2,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share it, the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. single is one at 98J
5c Blue, Coil (447). Pair, wide margins and outstanding centering, duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful used pair, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,400.00), only one used pair grades higher
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Mint N.H., brilliant color, beautiful centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1915 2-CENT TYPE I VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 449, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY BOTH P.S.E. AND THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The 2c Type I rotary plate was used very briefly to make vertical coils issued in late 1915. It was briefly used because the Type I plate was not very deeply engraved and the curvature of the rotary press yielded impressions lacking in some of the details. The Bureau noticed this immediately, and quickly replaced it with the Type III plate (according to Scott, the EDU for No. 449 is Oct. 29, 1915 and the EDU for Type III is Dec. 10, 1915).
Ex Depew. With 2019 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). With 2005 (copy, for a pair) and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $13,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to any unused Scott 449 in the P.S.E. Population Report, and it is shared by only one other Mint N.H. single
1c Green, Coil (452). Mint N.H. pair, essentially perfect centering, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Depew, with 2019 P.F. certificate (Superb 98), with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,000.00), only three grade higher (at 100)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Mint N.H. pair, outstanding centering, fresh colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 453.
Ex Depew. With 2002 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,750.00). Regardless of which grade is more accurate, this is a scarce Mint N.H. pair in such choice condition -- for P.S.E. the highest grade awarded is 95 (2 at that grade)
2c Red, Ty. II, Coil (454). Mint N.H. joint line pair, choice centering and margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, ex Depew, with 2019 P.F. certificate (XF 90), with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,600.00), the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. joint line pair of this issue
5c Blue, Coil (458). Mint N.H., near perfect centering, rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $475.00), only one single grades higher
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate Coil (459). Mint N.H., large margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $350.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate Coil (459). Mint N.H. joint line pair without crease between stamps but with two natural vertical gum creases, brilliant color, Extremely Fine
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Lightly hinged, well-centered, intense shade, Very Fine