Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1908-22 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 331-534B)
1c-$1.00 1908 Issue, "ULTRAMAR" Ovpt. (331-342 var). Complete set affixed to pieces of ledger page, overprints are relatively clear on some and faint on others, some stamps showing slight toning, Fine and rare, the Portuguese Ministry for the Colonies applied the "Ultramar" overprint ("overseas") upon receipt of the stamps from U.P.U. headquarters in Berne, between 1900 and 1910 the stamps were distributed to the various colonies, with a few exceptions this was replaced with "Colonias" in 1911, this is the only set of 1908 Washington-Franklins we have encountered
1c Green, Booklet Pair, Imperforate Between (331a var). Original gum, deep rich color, centered to top as are all the few known genuine examples
FINE. A VERY RARE PERFORATION VARIETY. FEWER THAN TEN HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED.
This error was discussed at length by George Brett in the Philatelic Foundation's Opinions V and updated by Roger Brody in Opinions VII.
With 1958 and 2019 P.F. certificates, the latter stating "Experimental Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between". Footnoted in Scott under the normal booklet pane listing as "a variety resulting from booklet experiments" and valued in the grade of Fine.
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, bright color, Very Fine, with 1991 and 2015 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, ex Depew, with 2001 and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85), only three line pairs grade higher, SCV $1,350
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Wide and well-balanced margins, vibrant color, light machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Depew, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), this is one of only five used singles in this grade with only one higher (at 98)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Huge margins and choice centering, socked-on-the-nose Hartford Conn. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine and striking, with 2008 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo), only five used singles grade higher
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Mint N.H. pair, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, intense color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 10-CENT PERF 12 COIL, SCOTT 356, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS COIL.
According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed.
Our computerized records encompass more than 30 years of auctions. In that time we have offered in Mint N.H. condition only a handful of singles, four guide line pairs (highest grade is 75) and four pairs.
Ex Whitman and "Golden Oak". With 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the only Mint N.H. example of Scott 356 in any format to achieve the grade of XF-Superb 95. The next closest Mint N.H. pair is graded 80.
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade on nicely blued paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue
EXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER, GRADED XF 90 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
Of the many examples of this major 20th Century rarity we have offered, only a small number have centering that can be compared to this stamp.
Ex Myerson and "Great Point". With 1982, 2004, 2005 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90). The highest grade awarded by either P.F. or P.S.E. -- P.S.E. has graded only one at this grade with none higher, while the P.F. shows three with none higher.
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Mint N.H., vibrant bright color on deeply blued paper, proof-like impression, wide even margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THE 10-CENT ON BLUISH IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT VALUES TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
A review of our records using Power Search reveals that we have offered only seven other Mint N.H. examples since 1994. None of the others is centered as well as this stamp, and several have perfs almost touching on at least one side.
Ex Whitman. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the only graded example in Mint N.H. condition in the P.S.E. Population Report.
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Centered to right and with full guideline at left, deep rich color, tied by "Orangeburg N.Y. May 4 5PM 1911" wavy-line machine cancel on light gray clasped envelope with "Bell & Company Incorporated Manufacturing Chemists" corner card to New York City, small tear at top of cover is of no consequence
VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL ON COVER. ONLY 13 ORANGEBURG COIL COVERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail, and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production accounts for their rarity.
This May 4, 1911 date is early for the Orangeburg coil. The presence of the guideline is also a rare and desirable feature, as no guideline pairs are known.
Signed by Bartels and Sloane. Ex Dr. Agris and Dr. Charles E. Test ("Concord" Collection). With 1988 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
1c Green, Coil (390). Guide line pair, deep rich color, neat cancels, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Depew, with 2018 P.F. (XF-Superb 95) and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), this is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a used line pair
4c Brown, Coil (395). Precise centering, rich color, wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only one used single grades higher (at 98) and five share this grade
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 6135 selvage, rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
10c Orange Yellow, Panama-Pacific (400). Mint N.H., vibrant color, fresh and Very Fine
2c Carmine, Coil (413). Guide line pair, brilliant color, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, neat duplex cancels and also manuscript pencil "859" on left stamp (possibly registry number), Extremely Fine, ex "Natalee Grace" and Depew, with 2001 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
10c Orange Yellow (433). Mint N.H., vivid color, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1989 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (443). Guide line pair, precise centering and rich color, wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
2c Carmine, Coil (444). Mathematically perfect centering, rich color, wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other used single shares it
3c Violet, Coil (445). Pair, rich color, unusually wide and balanced margins, neat magenta cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED PAIR OF THE 3-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 445, WITH A COLORED CANCEL.
Ex "Tahoe" and Depew. With 2002 A.P.S., 2004 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only two used pairs grade higher (at 98) and two others share this grade.
4c Brown, Coil (446). Guide line pair, neat strike of duplex cancel, Very Fine and choice, a scarce used guide line pair, ex Bakwin, with 2015 P.S.E. and 2017 P.F. certificates (latter VF-XF 85)
5c Blue, Coil (447). Pair, perfect part strike of Stone Harbor N.J. circular datestamp, beautiful deep blue shade on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Bowman, with 1999 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, only one used pair grades higher (at 100), while two others share this grade
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Mint N.H. joint line pair, vivid color, well-centered with nicely balanced margins side-to-side
extremely fine. a beautiful AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 1915 2-CENT TYPE I VERTICAL COIL.
The 2c Type I rotary plate was used very briefly to make vertical coils issued in late 1915. It was briefly used because the Type I plate was not very deeply engraved and the curvature of the rotary press yielded impressions lacking in some of the details. The Bureau noticed this immediately, and quickly replaced it with the Type III plate (according to Scott, the EDU for No. 449 is Oct. 29, 1915, and the EDU for Type III is Dec. 10, 1915).
Ex Kharasch. With 2001 P.S.E. certificate. With 1973, 2001 and 2018 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85). By way of comparison, the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. is XF 90 (one line pair). There are no 85's in the P.S.E. Population Report.
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Precise centering with wide margins, brilliant color, bold wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only three used singles grade higher
2c Red, Ty. II, Coil (454). Mint N.H. pair, bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 1991 P.F. certificate
2c Red, Ty. II, Coil (454). Mint N.H. pair, vivid color, Very Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
3c Violet, Coil (456). Huge margins and near mathematical perfect centering, pretty pastel color, light strike of oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2022 P.F. certificate (Superb 98)
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Mint N.H., choice centering and margins, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, with 2020 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., bright color, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80), SCV $500
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., rich color and nicely centered, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80), SCV $1,400
3c Violet, Ty. II, Coil (494). Pair, perfect centering, bright color, Avalon N.J. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal used pair, ex Depew, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95), this is the highest grade awarded to a used pair of Scott 494, with none equal
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, left stamp Perf 11 at bottom, right stamp transitional from Perf 11 to 10, bright color, wide bottom margin enhances the visibility of the perf transition
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 11-CENT 1917 ISSUE SHOWING THE TRANSITION FROM PERF 11 TO PERF 10.
Ex "Sirron". With 2004 and 2019 P.F. certificates.
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H., fiery color, outstanding centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., well-centered with wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2015 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., well-centered with balanced margins, slightly nibbed perf at upper right not mentioned nor even apparent on accompanying certificate, appears Very Fine, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85), SCV $950
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., bright colors, attractive centering with wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Pair, huge margins showing parts of all adjoining stamps, brilliant color, Sept. 30, 1920 duplex cancel from Mich., Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous pair, the earliest documented use of Scott 533 is one day before this was used (it is an off-cover block), ex Depew, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100)
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Original gum, large to huge margins including right plate no. 12809, brilliant color
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
Most Type VII stamps were used by private vending and affixing machine companies. However, unlike Scott 314A and 482A, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps did reach the public.