Sale 1028 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used U.S. Stamps, Part Three: 1902 and Later Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 20 September, 2012
Category — 1918-20 Offset Printing Issues (Scott 525-536)
1c-3c 1918-20 Offset Issues (525a, 526-530, 536). Nine used stamps, each with far superior centering than normally seen and with clear cancels, brilliant colors, Extremely Fine Gems, a rare opportunity to acquire these low-catalogue-value issues in superb used condition
1c Gray Green, Double Impression (525d). Showing clear doubling of the entire design, centered to bottom left, neat wavy-line machine cancel, some central thinning, Very Good appearance, a great rarity as only two used examples have ever been certified as genuine, the other copy has a straight-edge at right and small tear and is illustrated below, there are far more unused copies (approximately 120), with 2006 P.F. certificate, listed but unpriced in Scott
2c Carmine, Ty. VI, Double Impression (528Ad). Radiant color, showing clear doubling of the entire design, wide margins, neat strike of duplex cancel, Very Fine and choice, an extremely rare double impression of the 2c Carmine Type VI Offset Printing issue, ex Liberman, with 1988 and 2010 P.F. certificates, this is the only certified used copy of this double impression and only nine unused have been certified, undercatalogued in Scott
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Double Impression (528Be). Block of four, brilliant color, showing clear but subtle doubling of all four designs, doubling is especially noticeable around lettering at top and bottom, bold strikes of "Chicago Ill. 507" oval registry cancelsFINE. THIS BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII 1920 ISSUE WITH DOUBLE IMPRESSION CONTAINS THE ONLY CERTIFIED USED COPIES OF THIS RARITY. ONE OF THE GREATEST OFFSET ISSUE RARITIES IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of Scott 528Be, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/528Be/528Be.pdf , records this unique used block of four and two unused singles. No others have been certified as genuine.
With 1983 and 2006 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as singles.
3c Violet, Ty. III, Double Impression (529a). Bright color, crisp impression showing clear doubling of the entire design, centered to top right, neat machine cancel, Very Good, a great rarity as only two used examples of this double impression have ever been certified as genuine, our census is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/529a/529a.pdf , accompanied by cover dated Nov. 30, 1918 on which this originated (technically making this the earliest documented use), there are approximately 20 certified unused copies, with 2005 P.F. certificate, listed but unpriced in Scott
3c Purple, Ty. IV, Double Impression (530a). Radiant color, crisp impression showing distinct doubling of the entire design, tied by "Stanford University Cal. Apr. 8, 1919" duplex on cover to San Francisco, cover with sealed opening tears at top left, the stamp is soundFINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS DOUBLE IMPRESSION ON COVER AND THE ONLY SOUND STAMP AMONG THE THREE CERTIFIED USED COPIES IN EXISTENCE. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO SHOW A CONTEMPORARY DATE, MAKING THIS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE.
Our census of Scott 530a records approximately 141 unused copies (including a pane of 100) and three used (two off cover), which are illustrated below and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/530a/530a.pdf . An additional example has been certified as genuine but decline opinion as to whether the cancel is contemporary. This is the only sound used copy.
With 2000 A.P.S. and 2005 P.F. certificates.
1c-3c 1918-20 Offset Issues, Imperforate (531-534A, 535). Six horizontal pairs, complete less the rare 534B (offered in the following lot), large to huge margins, No. 532 with guide line, brilliant colors, nice range of cancels incl. wavy-line, duplex, mute oval, registry oval and large double-circle datestamp, completely sound, Extremely Fine, a beautiful group, ex Twigg-Smith, Nos. 534 and 534A with 2001 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Horizontal pair with guide line at center, large even margins all around, brilliant color, neat strike of duplex cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET STAMP. THIS IS THE ONLY USED MULTIPLE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
According to Armstrong, the imperforates were issued to satisfy the needs of the last remaining private coil manufacturer. The Mail-O-Meter Company merged with the Schermack Company and so these issues are also known with the Schermack Type III perforations, such as are also seen on Scott 314A and 482A. However, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps without Schermack perfs did reach the public.
Our informal review of auction catalogues and the records of the Philatelic Foundation found four blocks of four and nine pairs, of which only four are sound. The example offered here is the only used multiple we have offered since keeping computerized records, which includes all of our Rarities sales and auctions going back to 1993.
Ex Sheriff (as a block) and Twigg-Smith. With 1971 P.F. certificate as block.