Sale 962 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 24-26 September, 2008
Category — 1902-08 thru Jamestown Issues (Scott 300-330)
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $670.00 as 95, $2,800.00 as 98), only two have graded higher to date and only five others share this grade
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $670.00)
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H. with part bottom imprint selvage, large Jumbo margins, vibrant color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate for block of six (bottom left stamp) and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $160.00 as 90, $670.00 as 95)
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H., beautifully centered and crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
8c Violet Black (306). Mint N.H., uncharacteristically wide margins and near perfect centering, intense shade, clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00)
8c Violet Black (306). Block of four, bottom pair Mint N.H., h.r. at top only, beautifully centered, crisp shade and impression, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
13c Purple Black (308). Barely hinged, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem quality, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $170.00 as 95, $335.00 as 98)
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., remarkably deep shade and proof-like impression, with part imprint in right sheet selvage, fresh and crisp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
15c Olive Green (309). Wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, lightly hinged, vivid color, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $420.00)
50c Orange (310). Wide margins and almost precise centering, choice vivid color on bright paper, lightly hinged, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,700.00)
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression in post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE WE HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO OFFER IN OUR AUCTIONS. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE -- AND IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER GRADE.
As an indication of the rarity of this dollar-value issue in higher grades, the SMQ does does not even price this in Mint N.H. condition above the grade of 95. In fact, with the exception of one 15c (Superb 98) and this $1.00, there are no other Mint N.H. Superb 98's or 100's among the 1902 Issue high-value stamps in the P.S.E. Population Report.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $12,700.00 as 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and this stamp is the only example to achieve this grade.
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,850.00). Only nine have graded higher to date.
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,75.00 as 90, $2,500.00 as 95)
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Attractive margins and rich color, clear impression, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Rich color, light corner crease at bottom right, few tiny thins, Fine appearance
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Tiny h.r., intense shade and impression, fresh and Very Fine
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., huge margins incl. wide left sheet margin, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $820.00)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. with sheet margin at bottom, huge margins other sides, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate for pair
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Large margins to full, deep rich color, neat cancel, Very Fine and choice, an extremely scarce stamp in used condition, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Die I, Booklet Pane of six, Horizontal Watermark (319g var.). With plate no. 3307, faintly hinged, one stamp natural wrinkleFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE 2-CENT 1903 BOOKLET PANE VARIETY.
We do not recall ever offering this variety with plate number in our past auction sales
2c Carmine, Lake, Die II, Booklet Panes of Six (319h, 319q). Fine-Very Fine, the Carmine Die II is very scarce
2c Carmine, Coil (322). Fresh and bright, wide imperf margins, light crease, Very Good appearance
1c Louisiana Purchase (323). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $880.00)
3c Louisiana Purchase (325). Mint N.H., guide line at bottom, unusually wide margins for this issue and excellent centering, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $580.00)
5c Louisiana Purchase (326). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 2097, magnificent centering and strong colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 5-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN THIS SUPERB QUALITY.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,650.00)
2c Jamestown (329). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT JAMESTOWN, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY TWO HAVE GRADED HIGHER TO DATE AND ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES THIS LOFTY GRADE.
The Jamestown Issue is notorious for its tight spacing and narrow margins, which causes most copies to be off-center to some degree. For example, only five examples of the 1c have graded higher than a 95 to date, and one example of the 5c has graded higher than a 95. The only Jamestown stamp to grade 100 realized $18,500 hammer in our 2008 Rarities sale
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,550.00)
2c Jamestown (329). Bottom imprint and plate no. 3520 block of six, deep rich color, bottom center stamp small thin spot, appears Fine-Very Fine
5c Jamestown (330). Mint N.H. with top part imprint selvage, incredibly wide margins and beautifully centered, natural small line of "short gumming" at top, Extremely Fine, 5c Jamestown stamps with wide margins and choice centering are extremely difficult to find