Sale 1116 — United States Stamps and Possessions
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 16-17 December, 2015
Category — 1916-20 Issues (Scott 462-547)
5c Carmine, Rose, Errors (467, 505). Single of No. 467, unused (no gum), tiny perf thin, appears Fine, single error of No. 505 in a block of nine, lightly hinged, Fine, Scott retail as original gum
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H., exceptional centering within particularly wide margins, pretty shade and sharp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, ex Dr. Killien, with 1998 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00 as 95, $2,500.00 as 98)
11c Dark Green (473). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and near perfect centering, intense color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $575.00 as 95, $2,000.00 as 98)
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., wonderfully well-centered, bright pastel shade, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 and 2009 P.F. certificates (both VF-XF 85)
50c Light Violet (477). Lightly hinged, lovely centering within Jumbo margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate (as Mint N.H.) and 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00 as 90, $1,500.00 as 95)
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., particularly wide and well-balanced margins, intense color on pristine paper, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,500.00)
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Intense shade and impression on bright paper, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $2,250.00), this is the highest grade awarded in any category
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H., choice centering, deep color and sharp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,600.00)
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, fresh color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (489). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and perfect centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $175.00 as 98)
1c Green, Coil (490). Mint N.H. joint line pair, perfect centering, bright fresh color on pristine paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $350.00), this is the highest grade awarded with only three others equal
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line strip of three, the joint line between the left pair, rich color, bold strikes of "New York H.T." oval cancels, right stamp with faults (could be removed leaving a sound joint line pair)FINE. A RARE SOUND USED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II, SCOTT 491, CONTAINED IN A STRIP OF THREE. WE RECORD ONLY NINE USED JOINT LINE MULTIPLES.
Unlike many other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.
Our census of used joint line multiples of Scott 491, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/491/491.pdf , records seven joint line pairs, this strip of three, a strip of four and a strip of five.
Census No. 491-CAN-LP-07. With 1980 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Choice centering, pretty shade, neat wavy-lines machine cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp
1c Green, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (498b). Two center pairs in bottom plate no. 10662 block of 20, disturbed original gum, Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as two pairs with no premium for the plate number
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Mint N.H., rich color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Single h.r. at right, four stamps lightly hinged, all other stamps Mint N.H., remarkably well-centered throughout, deep intense color, without any gum skips or perf separations that affect so many, Extremely Fine, one of the finest centered 1c A.E.F. booklet panes we have seen, with 1995 P.F. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. I-Ia (499-500). Bottom left margin block of 20 containing Mint N.H. plate no. 10208 block of six, which is the very rare Type I-Ia combination, this plate block comprises Positions 84-86/94-96 with Position 95 and 96 Type I stamps, all others in the piece are Type Ia and are also Mint N.H. except for the second stamp in the top row lightly hinged (not in the combination plate block), first stamp in top row natural gum creaseVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE TYPE I-Ia, SCOTT 499-500 COMBINATION. ONE OF THE GREAT 20TH CENTURY PLATE BLOCK RARITIES. ALSO VERY SELDOM OFFERED IN A LARGER MULTIPLE.
Type Ia was created in 1919, when the Bureau of Engraving & Printing created an experimental 10-subject transfer roll, and used it to enter two new plates (Nos. 10208 and 10209). It was hoped that this technique would speed production, but the experiment was quickly abandoned and no further plates were made. The process resulted in design differences from the Type I that was contemporary at the time (Scott 499) and the stamps from these plates were designated as Type Ia (Scott 500). The two Type I positions from the bottom row of plate 10208 were the result of re-entries using the normal Type I transfer roll (the 10-subject roll would have been too large to accomplish single position re-entries). The Type I-Ia combination plate block offered here is the only Mint N.H. plate block we located using Power Search.
With 2015 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as Mint N.H. plate block plus singles
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. single in a strip of three with normal 2c on sides, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, a very choice example of this error, with 2015 P.F. certificate
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. double error in a block of twelve, fresh color, Fine
5c Rose, Error (505). Double error in block of twelve, both error stamps and most 2c stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged on one 2c stamp, Fine
6c Red Orange (506). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, brilliant color on fresh bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $600.00 as 98, unpriced above the grade of 98), this is one of only two examples to achieve the coveted Gem 100 grade (the other 100J)
7c Black (507). Mint N.H., almost perfect centering, beautiful impression on crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $375.00)
9c Salmon Red, Perf 10 at Top or Bottom (509a). Three perfs at top right Perf 11, others Perf 10, bright color, "Parkersburg W. Va." precancel, light diagonal crease ending in small tear at top, few other small faultsVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 9-CENT FRANKLIN PERF 10 AT TOP. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE TRANSITIONAL PERFORATIONS.
At a certain point in the sheet, the defective perforating wheel changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10 in one row. The stamp offered here shows where the change occurred.
Our census of Scott 509a, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/509a/509a.pdf , contains a total of 27 used and one unused example of this rarity. Of the 27 used copies, fully 22 are precancelled.
Census No. 509a-CAN-09. With 2015 P.F. certificate
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H., wide margins, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $475.00)
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., well-centered, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $550.00)
50c Red Violet (517). Left plate no. 7049 block of six, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top four stamps lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., uncharacteristically wide margins, deep color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $525.00 as 95, $1,600.00 as 98)
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., excellent centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $525.00)
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H. bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, edge of selvage gummed below plate number and imprint, outstanding centering throughout, deep shade on bright white paper, Extremely Fine, a beautiful plate block
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, unobtrusive strikes of registry oval cancels, Jumbo margins, Very Fine and choice, scarce in sound used condition, according to Johl, a small number of stamps were printed in this distinctive shade early in the issue of the 1917 $1.00 stamp, during the course of the six years that the stamp was issued, all other printings were made in the Violet Brown shade, with 2000 P.F. certificate
1918-22 Issues, Dollar-Value Position Blocks (523, 571-573). No. 523 wide top arrow block of four, disturbed original gum, bottom pair slight thinning from hinge removal, some perf separations and natural gum creases, otherwise Fine, Nos. 571-573 Mint N.H. top or bottom blocks of four with plate no., some small natural gum skips, Very Fine, Scott Retail counting the 1922 blocks as singles and without regard to the plate numbers
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H. with left selvage, brilliant colors, wide margins, Very Fine, with copy of 1982 P.F. certificate for block
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Barest trace of a hinge, choice centering, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. (VF-XF 85) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $575.00)
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., exceedingly well-centered within particularly wide margins, deep rich colors on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, ex Mann, with 2004 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $550.00)
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H. centerline block of four, choice balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a lovely position block, Scott Retail as singles without regard to the centerline
2c Carmine, Ty. IV (526). Mint N.H., outstanding centering, bright color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $500.00)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $800.00)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., wide margins and very well-centered, strong colors, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.F. certificate (XF 90)