Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — 1915-17 Issues (Scott 460-474)
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide and well-balanced margins, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 10 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED $1.00 FRANKLIN IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, AND IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Even though this issue is not particularly rare, collectors who have been searching know the extreme difficulty of obtaining examples with perfect centering and in pristine condition.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $13,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only four others have been awarded this highly desirable grade (this statistic has not changed since 2009)
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp h.r., intense shade and impression, well-centered, particularly in the top rowVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1915 $1.00 PERF 10 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED ISSUE, SCOTT 460.
Lewis Kaufman records only six top and six bottom plate blocks for this issue. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518).
With 2007 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Perfect centering with extra wide margins, bright shade on fresh paper, light oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1915 ISSUE, SCOTT 460, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE ONLY STAMP TO RECEIVE THIS GRADE WITH NONE HIGHER.
Ex Kirke. With 1980 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,300.00). This is the highest grade awarded and no other examples have achieved this grade. The next highest grade for a used stamp is a 95.
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Block of four, deep rich color, top stamps particularly well-centered, neat strikes of oval registry cancels, Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Block of six, deep rich color, bold strikes of Detroit Mich. registry ovals, few minor perf separations sensibly reinforced, Fine used block
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Top plate no. 7264 block of six, brilliant color, natural pre-printing paperfold at left, Very Fine
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Intense shade and impression, bold Millburn N.J. boxed cancel, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Bottom selvage, tied by "Moorestown N.J. Jan. 1 7-PM 1916" flag machine cancel on cover to Richmond Ind., fresh and Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
1c-$2.00 1916-17 Issue (462-464, 466, 468, 473-474, 476, 478, 479). 1c-3c Mint N.H., most others lightly hinged, rich colors, $1.00 with fault, otherwise Very Fine-Extremely Fine, five with certificates incl. No. 479 OGph 95
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H. right plate no. 7258 block of six with wide selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown (465). Mint N.H., gorgeous color, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $625.00 as 95, $1,900.00 as 98)
4c Orange Brown (465). Top plate no. 7348 block of six, lightly hinged, pretty shade, Very Fine and choice
5c Blue (466). Bottom plate no. 7633 block of six with unusually wide selvage, deep rich color, lightly hinged, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful plate block
5c Blue (466). Huge Jumbo margins and precise centering, deep rich color on crisp paper, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $400.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it, the next highest grade for a used stamp is 95J
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ROSE PERF 10 ERROR. ONE OF ONLY THREE TO ACHIEVE THE P.S.E. GRADE OF SUPERB 98 -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $12,000.00). Only three have graded 98 with none higher.
5c Carmine, Error (467). Lightly cancelled by part of machine datestamp and wavy lines, rich color, Fine, scarce in used condition
6c Red Orange (468). Top plate no. 7137 block of six, bright color but with slight oxidation, bottom right stamp has small natural gum skip which the P.F. calls previous hinging, Fine-Very Fine, ex Saddleback, with 2007 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
7c Black (469). Mint N.H., incredibly well-centered with beautiful balanced margins, clean impression on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.S.E. Certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,000.00). This is one of only four to have been awarded this premium grade with only one higher (98J)
7c Black (469). Mint N.H. wide bottom plate no. 7719 block of six, intense shade on bright paper, choice centering and post-office freshEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB WIDE BOTTOM PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 7-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED WASHINGTON ISSUE.
Top or bottom plate blocks of the 7c Perf 10 Unwatermarked Issue are exceedingly scarce, especially in Mint N.H. condition. This wide bottom Mint N.H. plate block is one of the finest we have handled.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
8c Olive Green (470). Single hinge mark, Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, vivid color, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem quality, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $350.00 as 98), one of four graded 98J (two hinged and two NH)
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H. wide right imprint and plate no. A 5724 block of six, vivid color, fresh and bright, natural diagonal flat plate bend, Very Fine and choice, a scarce Perf 10 Unwatermarked plate block, with 2005 P.F. certificate
8c Olive Green (470). Pretty shade on crisp paper, wide and balanced margins, face-free oval registry cancel, tiny indentation on Franklin's chin mentioned only on most recent certificate, otherwise Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $490.00), this is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins, bright color, precise centering, fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with older certificates and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95J; SMQ $800.00 as 95, $2,350.00 as 98)
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H. left plate no. 6905 block of six, choice centering, bright color, natural vertical gum skips, Very Fine, an exceptionally well-centered plate block of the 9c Perf 10 Unwatermarked
9c Salmon Red (471). Vibrant color, perfectly centered with unusually wide margins, bold oval registry cancel at bottom left, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $900.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only two others share this grade
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H., vivid color and bright fresh paper, perfect centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 10-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE ONLY 98J AWARDED AND COMPARES FAVORABLY TO THE TWO CERTIFIED 100-POINT STAMPS.
The 1916-17 Perf 10 Unwatermarked Issue (Scott 462-480) is difficult to obtain in the higher grades. The difference between this 98 Jumbo and the two 100-point examples of Scott 472 is a microscopic difference in margin balance; however, this stamp has noticeably wider margins.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo, SMQ $4,750.00 as 98). This is the only 98J awarded (apart from the two 100's).
10c Orange Yellow (472). Wide bottom plate no. 7205 block of six, barest trace of previous hinge, vivid color, choice centering, Very Fine, a desirable and very scarce wide bottom plate block
11c Dark Green (473). Top plate no. 7498 block of six, lightly hinged, intense shade, choice centering, Very Fine and scarce 11c Perf 10 Unwatermarked top-margin plate block
12c Claret Brown (474). Wide bottom plate no. 6900 block of six, lightly hinged at top center, deep rich color, beautifully centered, Very Fine, exceptionally choice wide bottom plate block