Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — 1908-10 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 331-356)
1c-$1.00 1908-12 Issue (331-340, 342). Mint N.H. except $1.00 with adherences and single short perf, bright colors, 5c with wide top selvage, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, also includes No. 332a Mint N.H., 15c with 1992 P.F. certificate
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2c Carmine, Complete 25c Booklet (BK20). Comprising two panes of six of No. 332a, fresh and Very Fine
8c Olive Green (337). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, pretty shade, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $300.00), the highest grade awarded in this gum category (one Mint N.H. grades higher)
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., fiery color, choice centering with wide margins, small natural inclusion is visible only on back when stamp is on an album page and not mentioned on any certificate, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate as Scott 381 (single-line watermark), with 2014 P.S.E. certificate as Scott 338 (XF 90; SMQ $375.00), as the conflicting certificates demonstrate, the watermarks on these yellow stamps can be very difficult to discern, offered and priced as the slightly cheaper Scott 338
50c Violet (341). Mint N.H., pretty pastel color, well-centered with wide margins, small natural inclusion is visible only on back when stamp is on an album page, Extremely Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate for a block (bottom right stamp)
50c Violet (341). Mint N.H., fresh color, attractive centering and wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1983 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Mint N.H., intense shade, well-centered, Very Fine and choice
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. guide line pair, incredibly well-centered with the widest margins possible for a genuine coil, beautiful rich color on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 348, IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE QUALITY.
Ex Dr. Killien. With 2000 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,800.00). This is the highest grade the P.S.E. has awarded to a line pair of No. 348, with only two others equal.
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $225.00), this seems undergraded to us
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, rich color and detailed impression, balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1990 P.F. certificate for strip of four, this is the bottom pair
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. guide line pair, outstanding centering with the widest possible margins, fresh color and detailed impression, bottom stamp trivial natural inclusion not mentioned on any certificateEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 349.
Ex "Piedmont". With 1984, 1999 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,500.00). Only one line pair grades higher (at 95) and two others share this grade.
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. pair, bright color, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 349.
Ex "Golden Oak". With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,750.00) Only one pair grades higher (at 98).
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H. guide line pair, rich color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 350.
Ex Depew. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,350.00). Only four Mint N.H. line pairs of this issue grade higher and three others share this grade.
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Guide line pair, original gum, very handsome wide imperforate margins, almost perfectly centered, gorgeous colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 350.
Ex "Golden Oak". With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only two hinged line pairs grade higher.
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, ex Whitman, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. guide line pair, intense shade and detailed impression, outstanding centering and marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED VERTICAL COIL, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Interestingly, this is the only 5c Washington-Franklin perforated vertical coil stamp ever produced. Demand proved to be so low that no others were made.
Ex "Golden Oak". With 1982 and 1997 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,000.00). Only one Mint N.H. line pair grades higher (at 98).
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., rich color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine and attractive, with 2021 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. guide line pair, rich color and detailed impression, extra wide margins and exceptionally well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352.
This is easily one of the finest line pairs of Scott 352 we have encountered. With 1984 and 2016 P.F. certificates
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, original gum, lightly hinged, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Curtis, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,650.00), only three hinged line pairs grade higher
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. pair with 2mm spacing, vibrant color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,500.00), only one pair grades higher and only two others share this grade
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H. guide line pair, choice centering with wide margins on all sides, brilliant color and remarkably detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK HORIZONTAL COIL.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, p. 108), "When the stamps were current, coils were still in small favor with philatelists and as this sidewise type was more popular with users of affixing machines fewer were saved than the endwise coil." A search of our computerized records has found only one or two comparable examples.
Ex "Golden Oak" and from our 2005 Rarities sale. With 2005 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H. guide line pair, gorgeous centering with wide margins, deep rich color on bright paper, sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT 1909 HORIZONTAL COIL. SURPRISINGLY SCARCE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
A review of our computerized records reveals that we have only offered 8-10 unduplicated Mint N.H. guide line pairs of Scott 354 in 30 years of auctions. Of these, perhaps one or two others compare favorably to the example offered here.
Ex "Scarsdale" and "Hanover". With 1978 and 2004 P.F. certificates
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Guide line pair, original gum, brilliant color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 354, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Curtis and from our 2007 Rarities sale. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $4,750.00). This is the only guide line pair in any gum condition to receive a Superb 98 grade. The P.S.E. Population Report lists the next highest grades as XF 90 for both hinged and Mint N.H. (though we have sold a 90J hinged).
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H., bright color, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color and proof-like impression, almost perfect centering with wide balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355.
Ex Whitman. With 1993 P.F. certificate.
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, ex Depew, with 1997 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,600.00), only two pairs grade higher
5c Blue, Coil (355). Pair, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and incredibly well-centered for this difficult coil issue, Extremely Fine, a beautiful pair, for comparison purposes only three hinged pairs and two Mint N.H. pairs grade higher than VF-XF 85 in the P.S.E. Population Report, with 2000 and 2020 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, full and beautifully balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1909 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed.
Ex Laehder. With 1988 P.F. (for pair) and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $6,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a single in any gum condition and it is shared by only two others.