Sale 1347 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 6-7 March, 2025
Category — 1913-23 and Later Issues
50c Violet (440). Mint N.H., radiant color, essentially perfect centering on post-office fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 440. THIS STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only one grades higher (at 100, realized $18,000 hammer in our 2016 "Hanover" sale) and only six others share this desirable grade.
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Coil (442). Virtually intact coil roll (center separated into separate roll), containing approximately 189 pairs and 21 line pairs, Mint N.H., centering varies, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value approximately
4c Brown, Coil (446). Guide line pair, original gum, left stamp Mint N.H., right stamp lightly hinged, excellent centering and strong color, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Red, Ty. II, Coil (454). Mint N.H. pair and joint line pair, bright colors, pair is Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate, joint line pair with significant misalignment of the plates resulting in a Very Fine stamp at left and Fine stamp at right, unusual, with 1990 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually wide and perfectly balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 $2.00 MADISON PERF 10, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2025 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only nine others.
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line pair, slightly disturbed original gum, bright color
FINE ORIGINAL-GUM JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS UNWATERMARKED HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 491.
Unlike most 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.
With 1972 P.F. certificate.
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Position W10, brilliant color, pos. 1 with some gum loss that accompanying certificate identifies as "thinning" (if there is a thin in this position it is tiny)
FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed.
Ex Fekete. With 1979 P.F. certificate.
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in strip of three, the error Mint N.H., brilliant color, Very Fine
10c Orange Yellow (510). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only five grade higher
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Top (511a). Lightly hinged, exceptionally choice centering, certificate notes light toning along left and right perfs which we have difficulty seeing, Extremely Fine appearance, this is one of the best-centered examples of the 11c Perf 10 at Top or Bottom variety we have ever encountered, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Top (511a). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, Very Fine and choice
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Top (511a). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright and fresh, beautifully centered, signed lightly in pencil on gum, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Single hinge mark, rich color on bright paper, showing transitional perfs at bottom, last three perfs at bottom right are perf 11, Very Fine, desirable with the transitional perfs, with 2003 P.F. certificate
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Rich color, bold "Minneapolis Minn." precancel, tiny thin speck, Fine appearance
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Bright color, neat "Minneapolis, Minn." precancel, small corner crease at top left and pulled perf at top right, otherwise Fine example of this perforation variety
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Natural straight edge at right, rich color and detailed impression, light strike of Mass. roller cancel, faint natural pre-printing wrinkle at top left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith, with 1985 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, original gum, barely hinged, bright colors, top center stamps natural gum crease
VERY FINE. A RARE MINT LIGHTLY HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE UNITED STATES 20TH CENTURY PLATE BLOCKS.
The $2.00 and $5.00 1918 Issue are the first bicolored dollar-denominated postage stamps issued by the United States. Both were released just three months after the famous 1918 24c Inverted Jenny, but the early printings were issued in small quantities, since stocks of the earlier $2.00 and $5.00 issues were still on hand. According to Johl, the $2.00 Orange Red & Black was a color error on the part of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The official description and order for the bicolor stamps specified "Red and Black" for the $2.00. When subsequent printings appeared in 1920 and philatelists brought the matter to the attention of the Bureau, they were told "this stamp has always been this color" (Johl, p. 306). From studies of Bureau and Post Office records, it is clear that the originally intended color was not issued until November 1920 (Scott 547), and that the earlier Orange Red stamps were mistakes. The quantity issued has been variously estimated at between 47,000 and 68,000.
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), SCV $340
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Two blocks of four, first Mint N.H. normal block, couple natural gum wrinkles, second centerline block, two bottom stamps Mint N.H., fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine blocks
1c Gray Green, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (525c). Neat strike of duplex cancel, centered to bottom left, inexplicably reperfed at right, Fine appearing and rare, we found only one other example in Power Search (a block of four we sold 24 years ago), ex "Georgetown", with 1975 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Original gum, possibly a bare trace of hinging and we called this lightly hinged in our sale 1277, but new P.S.A.G. certificate states Mint N.H., large to huge margins all around including plate no. 12252 wide top sheet margin, brilliant color on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL TOP 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.
With 1976 P.F. certificate. 1999 P.F. certificate stating previously hinged no longer accompanies. With 2023 P.S.A.G. certificates as Mint N.H. (XF-Superb 95). Scott value as hinged.
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Original gum, ample margins including guide line at right, radiant color, tiny natural inclusions, Very Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top arrow, marker, and double plate nos. F 14326/F 14327 block of eight, brilliant color, wide top margin, choice centering
VERY FINE AND FRESH MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE $5.00 1922 ISSUE.
A plate block with great eye appeal.
1c Green, Rotary (578). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14589 and star block of four, intense shade and impression, Very Fine for this exceedingly difficult plate block
2c Carmine, Joint Line Pair, Ty. I, II (599-599A). Mint N.H. joint line strip of four, left stamps Ty. II, right stamps Ty. I, Fine, with 2000 A.P.S. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Mint N.H., unusually choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Mint N.H., bright color, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Two, Mint N.H., fresh and Very Fine
1½c Yellow Brown, Rotary Press Imperforate, Without Gum Breaker Ridges (631 var). Mint N.H. center line block of sixteen with crossed gutters and dashes, showing part of all adjoining stamps, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H. bottom right plate no. 19645 block of four, rich color, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1967 P.F. certificate
1c-10c Kans., Nebr. Overprints (658-679). Mint N.H., vibrant colors, 7c Kans. light pencil on gum, fresh and Very Fine set
1c-10c Kans., Nebr. Overprints (658-679). Complete set of plate no. blocks of four, the majority are Mint N.H. including the key 8c Kansas and 10c Nebraska values, the hinged blocks include Nos. 660, 661, 662, 663, 669, 674 (gum skips remove much of the gum so counted as hinged), 678, centering ranges to touched, No. 672 small tear, No. 679 natural inclusion and bit heavy gum bends, others with typical gum bends, overall Fine with a few Very Fine
2c Dark Lake & Black (703b). Rich color, unobtrusive cancel at bottom, small scuff at left and thins, otherwise Fine, rare in used condition, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate, unpriced in Scott as used
1c-10c National Parks (740 var-749 var). Mint N.H., imperforate and with large margins, Very Fine, this particular set is very rare and comes from the collection of Harold Ickes (Secretary of the Interior), the BEP gummed his sheets at his request, accompanied by copy of letter from Ickes explaining how he had them gummed and that he believes they were only ones gummed, each with 2015 P.S.E. certificate, these are unlisted in Scott
$1.00 Presidential, USIR Wmk. (832b). Top plate nos. F 22097/22085 block of four, slightly disturbed original gum, Very Fine, scarce plate block, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Presidential (834). Two Mint N.H. multiples: first is top margin, markers and double plate nos. F 234817/22168 block of 20, representing the top two rows of the plate, second is block of 20 with arrow selvage at left and right, rich colors, Very Fine and impressive multiples