Sale 1209 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 22-23 October, 2019
Category — 1912-20 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 405-550)
1c Green, Coil (412). Mint N.H. guide line strip of four, rich color, detailed impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. guide line pair and two singles
1c Green, Perf 12 x 10 (423A). Block of four, rich color, centered to top, bold strikes of oval cancelsVERY GOOD. THE ONLY RECORDED USED BLOCK AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 1914 ONE-CENT PERF 12 x 10 ISSUE.
Our census of Scott 423A, available from our website at: https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/423A , contains 35 used singles, five used pairs, the unique used block of four offered here and three covers (one with a pair). For unused, nine singles, two pairs and one block of four are known. This remarkable used block was handled by Robert L. Markovits in 1974 and is still the only recorded used block of any of the Compound Perf issues.
Census No. 423A-CAN-BL-01. Ex Twigg-Smith, Chesapeake and "Sirron". With 1974 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
3c Deep Violet (426). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, beautifully centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $950.00), only four grade higher (three at 98J and one at 100J)
20c Ultramarine (438). Pretty shade on bright paper, light strike of registry oval cancel, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $475.00), only one grades higher (at 98J) and two others share this desirable grade
30c Orange Red (439). Mint N.H., attractive margins and centering, Very Fine, with 1983 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $500.00)
1c Green, Coil (443). Mint N.H. guide line pair, mathematically perfect centering with beautifully balanced margins, deep shade on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 1914 ONE-CENT PERF 10 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 443, WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100 -- THE ONLY EXAMPLE AT THIS GRADE.
With 2019 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $4,100.00). This is the only Scott 443 guide line pair to achieve this perfect grade from P.S.E. with none higher
5c Blue, Coil (447). Guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, light wavy-line machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 447. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, AND THE ONLY LINE PAIR GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Coil multiples can be extremely difficult to obtain in such superb used condition. They are rarely found well-centered both side-to-side and also top-to-bottom. Guide line pairs add an additional degree of rarity, as they occur only once every 20 stamps. Add in the factor that few guide line pairs were used, and its true rarity in this condition can begin to be appreciated.
Ex "Tahoe". With 1999 and 2019 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,750.00). This is the only used guide line pair to achieve this grade in the P.S.E. Population Report, which is the highest awarded. The next highest graded used line pair drops all the way down to 80
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (450). Joint line pair, bright color, well-centered for this very difficult used line pair, duplex cancels, short perf at top mentioned only on P.F. certificate, still Very Fine for this, with clear 2006 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75), with 2019 P.F. certificate mentioning the short perf, collectors waiting for a superb used line pair of Scott 450 may be in for a long wait, this is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. and is equaled by only one other
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Coil (453). Mint N.H. joint line pair, vivid color, Fine-Very Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (455). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $400.00), only two grade higher (at 95J and 98)
3c Violet, Coil (456). Joint line pair, lightly hinged, fresh color and beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,500.00)
3c Violet, Coil (456). Joint line pair, parts of two adjoining stamps at sides, neat duplex cancel, Fine and scarce, with 1994 P.F. and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (F 70; SMQ $1,100.00), only one grades higher (at 85)
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H. single error in a strip of three with two normal 2c, vivid color, fresh and Fine, Scott Retail as a single
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H., bright color, wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, with copy of 1992 P.F. certificate for a block of four
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., wide and beautifully balanced margins, intense color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1980 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,350.00)
1c Green, Boy Scout Private Coil (481 var). Rich color, bold "New York N.Y." precancel, thinned at bottom, Fine appearing and very rare, these privately perforated coils were produced for use on mailings by the Boy Scouts of America and are only known with the New York precancel, with 2007 P.F. certificate, unlisted in Scott
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (487). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, joint line is visible but faint at left, still Extremely Fine Gem, with clear 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,000.00, the highest grade awarded), with 2019 P.F. certificate stating "joint line only partly visible" (this is the first time we have seen such a comment on a certificate -- it seems gratuitous, since this is the way it was printed)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H. joint line pair, outstanding centering, brilliant color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,500.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only five others
2c Lake, Ty. I (499h). Block of four, left stamps Mint N.H., rich color, top right stamp natural inclusion on the gum side, Fine and scarce, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Brilliant color, neat wavy-line machine cancel, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $375.00)
8c Olive Bister, Perf 10 at Bottom (508c). Bold strike of Chicago registry oval cancel, rich colorFRESH AND FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT 1917 ISSUE PERF 10 AT BOTTOM, WITH A POSTAL CANCEL. ONLY TEN SOUND COPIES ARE RECORDED.
Our census, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/508c , includes 22 used examples (none are known unused). Ten have postal cancels, and of these only six are confirmed as sound.
Census No. 508c-CAN-11. With 2006 P.F. certificate
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Mint N.H., bright shade, wide margins and beautiful centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 11-CENT 1917 ISSUE PERF 10 AT BOTTOM.
Ex Joyce. With 1977 and 1999 P.F. certificates
20c Light Ultramarine, Perf 10 at Top (515d). Transitional perfs at top, four at top left Perf 11, others Perf 10, choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced margins, smeared ink cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 20-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP, WITH A POSTAL CANCEL. ONLY 13 ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH FOUR HAVE POSTAL CANCELS. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 ON ONE SIDE VARIETIES.
Our census of Scott 515d, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/515d , contains only thirteen used examples. Nine have precancels. Of the four copies with postal cancels, only this and one other are sound.
Ex "Sirron". Census No. 515d-CAN-08. With 2009 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates. The Scott Catalogue states in a footnote to this issue, "Valued in the grade of Fine."
50c Red Violet, Perf 10 at Top (517c). Bright color, choice centering for this difficult issue, unobtrusive strike of boxed handstamp cancel, faint natural wrinkle at rightVERY FINE. ONE OF THREE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM VARIETY. NONE ARE KNOWN UNUSED. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 ON ONE SIDE VARIETIES.
Our census of Scott 517c, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/517c , contains only three certified examples of this rarity. One has a precancel and a small fault. This is the first we have offered since our 2012 auction of the "Natalee Grace" Collection.
Census No. 517c-CAN-03. With 1980 and 2019 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., rich color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine for this difficult stamp, with 1989 and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $575.00)
2c Carmine (519). Unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of "Times Square N.Y." oval registry cancel, color is slightly faded from old toning long ago removed from top -- this is noted only on the recent P.F. certificate and not on the two P.S.E. certificates, Extremely Fine appearance, with clear 1996 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), with 2019 P.F. certificate noting the cleaning
2c Carmine (519). Rich color, light cancel, fresh and Fine, scarce genuinely used, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Center line block of four, bottom left stamp Mint N.H., top right stamp light corner crease, bottom right stamp small sealed tear, slight oxidation at right, otherwise Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Center line block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., intense colors and impressions on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail as singles
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. IV, Imperforate (532). Mint N.H., massive margins showing significant portions of all adjoining stamps, radiant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. IV, Imperforate (532). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 10918 block of six, huge margins all around, two ghost plate numbers at bottom, Extremely Fine Gem plate block, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Mint N.H. top plate no. 11260 block of six, absolutely pristine without any gum bends, large margins, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful plate block, with 2012 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Mint N.H. top plate no. 11260 block of six, absolutely pristine without any gum bends, large margins, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful plate block, with 2012 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. Va, Imperforate (534). Huge even margins all around including parts of six adjoining stamps, neat strike of 1920 Benton Harbor Mich. circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Helton, with 2019 P.F. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo), with 2014 P.S.E. certificate misidentifying the stamp as No. 534A (Gem 100; correct SMQ for No. 534 $300.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H. with wide top sheet margin, large margins other sides, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM SHEET-MARGIN MINT NEVER-HINGED 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 1988 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00)
3c Violet, Ty. IV, Imperforate (535). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins all around, deep shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above 100, SMQ $125.00 as 100)