Sale 1078 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 16-17 September, 2014
Category — 1912-23 Washington-Franklin Issues
1c Green, 2c Carmine (405-406). Three Mint N.H. plate no. blocks of six of each, five tops and one bottom showing all three imprint types (imprint, imprint with "A" and plate no. only), bright fresh colors, one 2c block lightly hinged in selvage only and counted as a hinged plate block, Fine-Very Fine, one P.F. certificate accompanies
7c Black (407). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 6904 block of six, intense shade, couple tiny natural gum skips, top center stamp tiny spot on gum, Fine example of this scarce Mint N.H. plate block
1c Green, Imperforate (408). Mint N.H. right imprint, plate no. 5733 and letter "A" block of six, ample even margins all around, Very Fine, an extremely rare Mint N.H. right imprint and "A" plate block which owes its existence to remainders from early coil production, the vast majority of panes of this issue had the right margins trimmed away, as such this block is valued in Scott at 10 or 20 times the value for a top, bottom or left plate block, Power Search contains only one other example and it was without gum
8c-15c 1912-14 Issue (414-415, 417-418). First two Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. and letter "A" blocks of six, 8c with faint toning in top row and Scott no. pencil notation on gum, appears Fine, 9c fresh and Fine, 12c top plate no. block of six, stamps Mint N.H., hinged in ungummed part of selvage where some perf separations reinforced, tiny tear in margin at lower right, appears Very Fine, 15c bottom imprint, plate no. and letter "A" block of six, gum slightly disturbed on a couple, some internal perf separations, Fine
10c Orange Yellow (416). Mint N.H. wide bottom imprint, plate no. 5745 and letter "A" block of six, gorgeous color on post office fresh paper, Fine-Very Fine
20c Ultramarine (419). Mint N.H. top plate no. 6920 block of six, wonderful depth of color, top stamps short gum at top, small natural inclusion in plate no. selvageFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 20-CENT 1914 ISSUE.
Incredibly, this is the only top plate block to appear in Power Search in any gum condition
30c Orange Red (420). Mint N.H. right plate no. 6914 block of six, fiery color, Fine-Very Fine
50c Violet (421). Single hinge mark, pretty shade on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
50c Violet (421). Left plate no. 7049 block of six, middle stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, bottom stamps just a trace of what may be hinging, rich colorFINE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT PERF 12 WITH SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK.
As a measure of rarity, the Wampler collection had a hinged top plate block, and the Fogelson collection did not have a Scott 421 plate block (both Shreves sales). Our sale of the MLG collection also did not contain one. The only examples contained in Power Search since this block was offered in our 1973 Rarities sale are from the left position (7940, offered in 2006) and from the top position (7057, offered in our 2014 Rarities sale)
50c Violet (422). Top imprint, plate no. 5749 and "A" block of six, bottom right stamp Mint N.H., rich colorFINE AND SCARCE TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE.
We have offered only three other top position plate blocks of Scott 422 since keeping computerized records, each of which was hinged. We have also offered two from the bottom position, with narrow selvage.
1c-12c 1913-15 Issue (424-426, 428, 431, 434). Plate no. blocks of six incl. two 2c, mix of tops. bottoms and sides, the 1c, one 2c and 12c Mint N.H., 5c barely hinged, Fine-Very Fine
1c-2c 1915-Issue (424-425). Four plate no. and "COIL STAMPS" blocks of ten, lower left and upper right positions for both denominations, fresh colors and choice centering, Very Fine set
1c Green, Booklet Pane of Six, Imperforate (424e). Unused (no gum) as are all of the reported booklet panes, nice centering with ample margins all around, Very Fine and choice, with 1990 P.F. certificate, see article in United States Specialist Volume 40, March 1969 pp. 101-105 by George W. Brett for interesting background information concerning this error of which 60 are reported known
4c Brown (427). Bottom plate no. 7263 block of six, barest trace of hinging on one if at all, deep rich color, wide margins and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, ex Wampler
5c Blue (428). Lightly hinged, intense shade, perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $275.00 as 98)
6c Red Orange (429). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5425 and star block of six, Fine-Very Fine
7c Black (430). Left plate no. 6936 block of six, two bit heavy h.r., Fine-Very Fine, an elusive plate block, Power Search contains only three others in any gum condition
9c Salmon Red (432). Bottom plate no. 6907 block of six with extra wide selvage, lightly hinged, bright color, Fine-Very Fine
10c Orange Yellow (433). Left plate no. 7215 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., one slightly disturbed gum, brilliant color, small slit in selvage at bottom, Very Fine
15c Gray (437). Right plate no. 6833 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., pretty pastel color, Fine-Very Fine
15c Gray (437). Brilliant color, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, neat registry oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $160.00 as 95), this is the highest grade awarded and none share it, the next-highest grade is a 95
20c Ultramarine (438). Left plate no. 6908 block of six, very small hinge mark in selvage, all stamps Mint N.H., bright color on fresh paper, well-centered, Very Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. $5,000.00, as hinged
30c Orange Red (439). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright paper, unusually choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine
30c Orange Red (439). Left plate no. 6914 block of six, vibrant color, attractive margins and centeringFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT 1914 ISSUE.
In addition to the block offered here, Power Search contains only six other plate blocks of Scott 439, including one in Mint N.H. condition.
50c Violet (440). Single hinge mark, attractive color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine
1c Green Coil (443). Guide line pair, rich color, violet machine cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1996 and 2014 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
3c Violet, Coil (445). Barely hinged, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 445, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 1994 P.F. (as pair) and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,400.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it
3c Violet, Coil (445). Intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, bold oval cancels, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $500.00)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, Very Fine, each with blue backstamp, with 1981 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Pair, radiant color, neat 1915 duplex cancel, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, especially desirable with the contemporary year-dated cancel, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $850.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it
4c Brown, Coil (457). Gorgeous centering with wide margins, bright shade, neat wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $225.00 as 95), this is the highest grade awarded and none share it
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate Coil (459). Mint N.H. pair, large margins, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $800.00)
$1.00 Violet Black (460). Bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, bottom corner stamps Mint N.H. with slight gum bends, other four with single hinge mark each, intense shade and impressionFINE-VERY FINE. A LOVELY AND RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1915 $1.00 PERF 10 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK 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).
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Top plate no. 7259 block of six, h.r. on bottom center stamp and in ungummed portion of selvage, otherwise Mint N.H., bright color, Fine-Very Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
1c-12c 1916-17 Issue (462-463, 465-466, 470, 473-474). Plate no. blocks of six, 1c Mint N.H. bottom, Fine-Very Fine, 2c top with small h.r., Extremely Fine, 4c bottom with slightly disturbed gum, Very Fine, 5c left, Fine, 8c and 11c right , both Very Fine, 12c narrow top, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive group
1c Green Booklet Pane of Six, Cracked Plate (462a). Two panes of six showing crack at right and left, former Mint N.H. with complete crack, latter lightly hinged, scarce and desirable variety, it has been determined from checking the proof sheets that these come from plate no. 7449, panes nine and ten
6c Red Orange (468). Right plate no. 7138 block of six, lightly hinged, bright color, Fine-Very Fine
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 6915 block of six, fresh color, Fine-Very Fine
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H. top plate no. 7213 block of six, vivid color, wonderfully balanced wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 10-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED 1916-17 ISSUE.
Power Search contains only one other Mint N.H. example -- a wide top plate block that realized $8,000 in our 2005 Rarities sale. We have sold only three other Scott 472 plate blocks in any gum condition since 2000, and they were each hinged side positions.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Left plate no. 6909 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., bright color, Fine, a scarce plate block, we have not offered a Mint N.H. example since keeping computerized records
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, top right stamp and bottom left pair Mint N.H., choice wide margins throughout, the top stamps exceptionally well-centered, deep rich color, bottom left stamp inconsequential slight perf disc indentationVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE.
Lewis Kaufman records only nine top and four bottom plate blocks of Scott 478. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518).
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H. top plate no. 8015 block of six, intense shade and impressionFINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 MADISON PERF 10.
This is the first Mint N.H. plate block we have offered since 2009
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H. top plate no. 8016 block of six, rich color on bright paperVERY FINE AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE $5.00 MARSHALL 1917 PERF 10 ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate