Sale 1034 — The Merlin Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 November, 2012
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320a)
1c Blue Green (300). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and choice centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1987 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $225.00 as 95, $1,000.00 as 98)
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., intense color on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1902 ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade.
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H. with bottom part imprint selvage, wonderful color on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,900.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share it.
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H., lovely bright color and proof-like impression, beautifully centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $675.00 as 95, $2,900.00 as 98)
4c Brown (303). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, choice centering with extra wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $160.00 as 95, $330.00 as 98)
5c Blue (304). Mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $365.00 as 98), this is the only example of the 5 1902 Issue to achieve this perfect grade in any condition (Mint N.H., hinged or used)
6c Claret (305). Mint N.H., unusually deep shade and detailed impression, beautiful centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1902 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Scarsdale. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,250.00 as 95, unpriced in higher grade). Only one other has achieved this grade, a statistic which has not changed in more than four years
8c Violet Black (306). Mint N.H., remarkably detailed impression showing every nuance of the design, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent example of this challenging issue, ex Westchester, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,150.00), only three have graded higher (at 98)
10c Pale Red Brown (307). Mint N.H., precise centering with spectacular Jumbo margins, deep rich color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING JUMBO MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1902 ISSUE. THIS BEAUTIFUL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 1993 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $4,800.00 as 98). This stamp stands alone as the highest graded Scott 307 in the P.S.E. Population Report
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, mathematically perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE HIGHEST GRADE POSSIBLE -- GEM 100 JUMBO -- BY PROFESSIONAL STAMP EXPERTS. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
With 1990 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade possible on the grading chart and the only example to achieve it.
13c Purple Black (308). Barely hinged, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, intense color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.F., 2001 (as Mint N.H. block of four) and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (OG, Superb 98; SMQ $250.00)
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., vivid color, proof-like impression, perfect centering and exceptionally wide margins seldom seen on this issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1902 ISSUE WITH THE EXALTED P.S.E. GRADE OF SUPERB 98.
Ex Whitman. With 1993 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $13,700.00). This is the highest grade awarded, and is shared by only two others
15c Olive Green (309). Pretty shade, perfectly centered with unusually wide and mathematically balanced margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP HAS BEEN GRADE GEM 100 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED IN ANY CATEGORY.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,200.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded in any category (the highest Mint N.H. is 98) and the only example to achieve it.
50c Orange (310). Gorgeous bright color, Jumbo margins and precise centering, tiny natural fiber inclusion, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,900.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to any Scott 310 (Mint N.H., hinged or used) and is shared by only two other hinged stamps, no Mint N.H. examples have been graded higher than 98
$1.00 Black (311). Lightly hinged, intense shade and impression on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,100.00 as 98). This is the sole example of this issue to attain this grade in any condition category.
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Lightly hinged, mathematically perfect centering with huge margins on all four sides, dark shade, sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE SIMPLY CANNOT BE FOUND WITH BETTER CENTERING AND MARGINS -- AN ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR STAMP WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
The 1902-03 Regular Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforating method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. This spectacular stamp, which has been graded Gem 100, has no peers in the P.S.E. Population Report. In fact, there are no other dollar value 1902 Issue stamps in any condition category that have achieved a Gem 100 grade. The next highest grade for an unused $2.00 is 98 and no Mint N.H. stamps have been graded higher than 95.
With 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,750.00 as 98).
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Barely hinged, spectacular centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SPECTACULAR LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1902 ISSUE TOP VALUE HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $6,650.00 as 98). This is the only $5.00 1902 Issue to have achieved this grade in any condition category (Mint N.H., hinged or used). The highest grade for a Mint N.H. example is XF 90.
4c Brown, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins to clear with full Schermack perforations at right, deep rich color, neat strike of wavy-line machine cancel, light creases, small tear, tiny thin spotsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE.
With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufacturers for supplies of imperforate stamps, which could then be privately perforated to conform to each firm's machine. In May 1908, a supply of 25 sheets (400 stamps per sheet) of the 4c 1902 Issue, without perforations, was delivered to the Schermack Mailing Machine Co. in Detroit. The entire supply was cut into coils with Schermack Type III perforations, designed for the firm's patented affixing machine and delivered to the Winfield Printing Co. for use on mass mailings of advertising material. Approximately 6,000 were used on a mailing for Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturer, and almost all of the 4,000 balance were used on a mailing for Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
Our recently-completed census of Scott 314A incorporates the records of the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records (which represents over 40 years of auction sales) and our own computerized sales history, and is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/314A/314A.pdf . The census reveals a startling fact -- there are only 31 used singles (two on piece), a used strip of three and three covers (one of which bears a strip of three), for a total of 39 used stamps. Our previous assumption was that this number was much higher.
Unpublished Census No. 314A-CAN-24. Ex Hoffman. With 1985 P.F. certificate
1c Blue Green, Imperforate (314). Mint N.H., colossal margins with parts of all eight adjoining stamps, rich color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $150.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grades)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. with tiny gum adherence, large even margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, ex Vineyard, with 1995 and 2004 P.F. certificates
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320a). Mint N.H., massive margins all around and showing significant parts of all eight adjoining stamps, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent stamp in every respect, ex Whitman, with 2006 and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $310.00 as 98)