Sale 1235 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 19-20 May, 2021
Category — 1908-10 Washington-Franklin Issues including Bluish Paper (Scott 331-366)
5c Blue (335). Mint N.H., crisp shade, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
8c Olive Green (337). Mint N.H., bright color and sharp impression, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem
13c Blue Green (339). Mint N.H., with wide right plate no. 4948 selvage, detailed impression, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 339, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,300.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only five others
50c Violet (341). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Mint N.H. with full top plate no. 4957 selvage, natural short gum at top not noted on certificate, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H., brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and detailed impression, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, right stamp faint vertical natural gum crease as often see on this issue and not mentioned on certificateEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352.
A difficult issue to obtain in higher grades. With 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. guide line pair, almost perfectly centered with balanced margins, brilliant color on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT 1909 HORIZONTAL COIL, FEATURING SUPERB CENTERING AND INTENSE COLOR.
Ex "Vineyard". With 1995 P.S.E. and 2003 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Pair, original gum, right stamp small h.r., vibrant color, light natural vertical gum creases as often found on this issue and couple minor perf separations at topVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE RARE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356.
With 1992 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green, Bluish (357). Mint N.H., intense shade on deeply blued paper, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Mint N.H., radiant color on nicely blued paper, phenomenal centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 P.F. certificate for block
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage, deep rich color on nicely blued paper, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
Blue backstamp. With 2002 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Original gum, rich color on nicely blued paper, exceptionally choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
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). This is likely one of the twelve traded to Colman, as it bears his purple backstamp.
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.
H. F. Colman purple backstamp. With 2005 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade on deeply blued paper, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ON BLUISH, WITH FAR SUPERIOR CENTERING THAN NORMALLY SEEN.
The 5c is one of the most difficult denominations to obtain with such choice centering. With 2001 P.F. certificate
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Mint N.H., vibrant color on strongly blued paper, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 1991 P.S.E. certificate
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade on nicely blued paper, better centering than normally seenEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER. A RARE STAMP, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH WONDERFUL CONDITION. THIS IS GRADED VF-XF 85 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,000 (ten sheets) of the 8c 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).
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate. P.F. certificate no. 435383, graded VF-XF 85, no longer accompanies
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Original gum, almost imperceptible trace of previous hinge, incredibly bright color, wide margins, long full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
With 1986 and 1998 P.F. certificates
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color and detailed impression on strongly blued paper, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
Faint pencil notation on gum. With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Original gum, barely hinged, radiant color on nicely blued paper, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate