Sale 968B — The Alan B. Whitman Collection, Part Three: 1902-34 Issues, B-O-B
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 22-25 September, 2009
Category — 1919-20 Issues (Scott 537-550)
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (538). Mint N.H., nearly perfect centering, deep rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $220.00)
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 x 10, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (538a). Mint N.H. block containing two pairs, bright color, exceptionally well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Mint N.H., incredible deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE ROTARY-PRESS COIL WASTE ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CONDITION. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919, the Bureau devised a plan to salvage this waste by converting the stamps from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and putting the panes through the flat-plate perforator in use at the time, giving the stamps perforations on all sides.
Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines of differing gauges at different times, most of the stamps are off-center. The stamp offered here is a true condition rarity by virtue of its centering, margins and Mint N.H. state. An example with comparable centering sold in the Odeneal and Hoffman collections offered by our firm, most recently for $12,000 hammer in 2008. The only example we have encountered in a better grade realized $22,000 hammer in the Scarsdale sale.
With 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $9,200.00). This is the highest graded example to date in the P.S.E. Population Report, which further speaks to the rarity of this issue in well-centered Mint N.H. condition
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (540). Mint N.H. plate no. 13778 and hollow star block of four with imperforate top margin, intense color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as normal star plate block of four
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary Perf 11 x 10, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (540a). Mint N.H., rich color, choice centering, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary Perf 11 x 10, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (540a). Mint N.H. block containing two pairs, rich color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Violet, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11x10 (541). Mint N.H., nearly perfect centering, wide margins for this surprisingly difficult coil waste issue, lovely pastel color, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $780.00)
1c Green, Perf 10 (543). Mint N.H., deep rich color, Jumbo margins, almost perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $44.00 as 95, $190.00 as 98)
1c Green, Perf 10, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (543a). Block of six with two pairs at left showing the error and two stamps at right normal, selvage at top and right, bright colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MULTIPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PERF 10 ROTARY ISSUE IMPERFORATE-BETWEEN VARIETY.
This is one of the rarest of the imperforate-between errors -- only one other appeared in Power Search, which was offered in 2000 and then subsequently in the Floyd sale (it has an internal crease).
With 1988 and 2004 P.F. certificates
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Mint N.H., fresh and bright color, choice centering for this notoriously challenging issueFINE AND RARE. ONE OF THE FEW EXTANT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN 20 OF THE 1923 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544, EXIST IN ANY UNUSED STATE -- FEWER THAN TEN ARE MINT NEVER-HINGED.
A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.
Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged -- the result of poor production standards and mis-handling.
With 1981 and 1992 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Mint N.H., bright vibrant color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $345.00)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., deep rich shade and proof-like impression, near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $840.00)
$2.00 Lake & Black (547a). Mint N.H., deep rich colors and proof-like impressions on bright paper, choice centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1985, 2000 and 2001 P.F. certificates, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,500.00), only two stamps have graded higher to date