Sale 1034 — The Merlin Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 28-29 November, 2012
Category — 1909 Commemoratives and 1909-12 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 367-396)
1909 Commemoratives (367/373). Five Mint N.H. stamps, including Nos. 367-368, 370-371 and 373, rich colors and choice margins throughout, Extremely Fine Gems, No. 367 with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $135.00), No. 370 with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $425.00)
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H., rich color on deeply blued paper, exceptionally well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT LINCOLN ON BLUISH.
With 1986 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $5,200.00). Only one Mint N.H. example has graded higher and only six others share this desirable grade
2c Hudson-Fulton (372). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00), only four have graded higher
1c Green (374). Mint N.H., deep shade, Jumbo margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $135.00 as 95, $620.00 as 98)
2c Carmine (375). Mint N.H., vivid color on post-office fresh paper, Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $450.00 as 98), this is one of only five to achieve this grade, which is the highest awarded
3c Deep Violet (376). Mint N.H., pretty pastel color, Jumbo margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1985 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $325.00 as 95, $1,700.00 as 98)
4c Brown, 5c Blue (377-378). 4c hinged in one corner, brilliant color, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $250.00), 5c barely hinged, Jumbo margins and near mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1992 and 2001 P.F. certificates as Mint N.H., with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $205.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade
6c Red Orange (379). Mint N.H., electrifying color which is as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with enormous marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 6-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1992, 2000 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,400.00 as 98). Only three others share this lofty grade.
8c Olive Green (380). Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $245.00 as 95, $590.00 as 98)
10c Yellow (381). Perfectly centered with huge Jumbo margins, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, Superb 98; SMQ $475.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a hinged stamp and the only example to achieve it
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Lightly hinged, brilliant color on fresh paper, precise centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $1,050.00), this is the highest grade awarded in any category (, including one Mint N.H.)
1c Green, Coil (385). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, fresh color and paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $450.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only four other singles have equaled it
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS LOFTY GRADE.
This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.
Of the Scott 388 stamps in the P.S.E. Population Report, only three Mint N.H. singles and one pair have graded above 70. There is one 95, one 98 and this highest-ranking 98J.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $32,500.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded, and this is the only example to achieve this grade.
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Pair with 2mm spacing, barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1911 PERF 12 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.
With 1980 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (OG, VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,250.00)
1c Green, Coil (390). Mint N.H. guide line pair, perfectly centered, deep rich color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $620.00), only two have graded higher
1c Green, Coil (390). Mint N.H., enormous Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $175.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade)
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, perfectly centered with wide margins, beautiful depth of color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991, 2005 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $920.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a guide line pair in any condition and it is shared by only three others (highest Mint N.H. is a 95)
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H., radiant color, wonderfully well-centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $450.00), only one has graded higher (at 98) and only four others share this grade
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H., bright color, almost perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Whitman, with 2000 P.F. (for a pair) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $600.00 as 95, $1,150.00 as 98)
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H. guide line pair, bright shade and crisp impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate
4c Brown, Coil (395). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, balanced margins on bright white paper, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $390.00)
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, brilliant color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS GORGEOUS COIL HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Coils are especially difficult to find graded 100, because with perfs on two sides and no perfs on the other two, the measurements are almost never perfect.
With 2000 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,100.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only Mint N.H. example to achieve it
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 A.P.S. and 2004 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H., deep rich color on post-office fresh paper, balanced margins of near Jumbo proportions, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Dr. Morris and Whitman, with 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,000.00)