Sale 1048 — 2013 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 25 June, 2013
Category — Washington-Franklin Issues
50c Violet (421). Top plate no. 7057 block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., top center selvage lightly hinged with barest hinging of top center stamp along a few perfs, rich color on bright paper, choice centering throughout, bottom right stamp natural perf disc inclusionEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING PLATE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT PERF 12 WITH SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THIS EXCEEDINGLY RARE PLATE BLOCK.
As a measure of rarity, the Wampler collection had a hinged top plate block, and the Fogelson collection did not have a Scott 421 plate block (both Shreves sales). Our MLG sale also did not contain one. The only example contained in Power Search after our 1973 Rarities sale is from the left position, offered in 2006.
1c Green, Perf 12 x 10 (423A). Deep rich color, bold "Chicago Illinois" precancel (inverted), three wide margins, small corner crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 ONE-CENT 12 x 10 COMPOUND PERFORATION.
Our census of Scott 423A, available from our website at: http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/423A/423A.pdf , contains 35 used singles, five used pairs, the unique used block of four and three covers (one with a pair). Twelve copies are known with the inverted Chicago precancel.
Census No. 423A-CAN-32. With 2008 P.F. certificate.
1c Green, Perf 12 x 10 (423A). Deep rich color, choice centering, tied by neat "Chicago Ill. Dec. 20 1:30 AM 1914" wavy-line machine cancel on Christmas postcard to Pine Village Ind., card creased at left away from stampVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 ONE-CENT 12 X 10 COMPOUND PERFORATION. ONLY THREE COVERS ARE RECORDED.
Our census of No. 423A, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/423A/423A.pdf , contains two postcards and one cover, as follows: 1) cover dated August 7, 1915, with pair, top stamp faulty; 2) postcard dated Dec. 23, 1914, ex Siskin, Zoellner; and 3) postcard dated Dec. 20, 1914, the card offered here.
With 2002 P.S.E. certificate
2c Rose Red, Ty. I, Perf 12 x 10 (423B). Bright color, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, neat wavy-line machine cancel, light diagonal crease ending in tiny margin tear at top right cornerVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1914 2-CENT 12 x 10 COMPOUND PERFORATION. ONLY 30 USED COPIES ARE RECORDED.
Our census of Scott 423B, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/423B/423B.pdf , records 31 used and one unused example of this great rarity. A significant portion of the surviving population has faults or is off-center.
Census No. 423B-CAN-01. With 2007 P.F. certificate.
5c Blue, Perf 12 x 10 (423C). Deep rich color, wide margins, light strike of double-circle cancel, small corner crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 5-CENT 12 x 10 COMPOUND PERFORATION.
Our census of Scott 423C, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/423C/423C.pdf , contains 25 used examples. The example offered here has better centering than most.
Ex Zoellner. With 1976 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Perf 10 x 12 (423D). Rich color and proof-like impression, bold "Dayton Ohio" precancel, some thinning and light creasesVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1914 ONE-CENT 10 x 12 COMPOUND PERFORATION.
Our census of Scott 423D, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/423D/423D.pdf , contains 46 stamps and two on post cards, for a total of 48 stamps. All are used. A significant number (37) are precancelled at Dayton.
Census No. 423D-CAN-45. With 2009 P.F. certificate.
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Mint N.H. double error in block of twelve, large balanced margins all around, gorgeous colorEXTREMELY FINE. A PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF TWELVE.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate No. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was returned to the siderographer, who burnished out the three positions and mistakenly re-entered them using a transfer roll for the 5c stamp. The error passed unnoticed and the sheets were issued.
With 1973 A.P.S. certificate
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Single error in block of nine, barest trace of hinging, huge margins incl. part of all adjoining stamps, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT CARMINE IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF NINE.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate No. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was returned to the siderographer, who burnished out the three positions and mistakenly re-entered them using a transfer roll for the 5c stamp. The error passed unnoticed and the sheets were issued to the public Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 (Scott 467, 485 and 505). The imperforate is by far the rarest of the three.
With 1983 P.F. certificate
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Position W2 or W8, lightly hinged with most stamps Mint N.H., brilliant color, unusually choice centering throughoutVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE WITH OUTSTANDING CENTERING. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed. This is one of the finest extant
3c Light Violet, Ty. I, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (501c). Mint N.H., with bottom sheet margin, bright shade, pencil notation in selvageFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCOTT 501 VERTICAL PAIR, IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.
This is the first in Mint N.H. condition we have offered since keeping computerized records.
6c Red Orange, Perf 10 at Bottom (506a). Fresh color, light circular datestamp at right leaves most of design clearly visible, small corner crease and small crease, three short perfs not noted on certificateVERY FINE CENTERING. ONLY ELEVEN USED COPIES HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. A RECENT DISCOVERY OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel.
Many examples of the Perf 10 on One Side rarities show transitional perfs from 10 to 11 or from 11 to 10. This is because the out-of-gauge perforation pins would frequently cross the span of more than one stamp, depending on where the wheel contacted the sheet.
The Perf 10 on One Side varieties span both the 1917 Washington-Franklin and 1922-23 Issues. It is interesting to note that, apart from the 2c, there is no duplication of denomination between the issues. This would seem to indicate that the improperly repaired wheel was in use for only a short period of time, as there was little overlap in production of the issues. Based on dates of issue of the basic stamps, this probably occurred early in 1923.
Our census of Scott 506a, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/506a/506a.pdf , contains 20 used copies and one unused example. Of the 20 used copies, only seven singles and two in a block have regular cancels -- the others are precancelled. Of these seven, three have straight edges and the others have flaws ranging from creases to "defective".
Census No. 506a-CAN-16. With 2003 P.F. certificate
9c Salmon Red, Perf 10 at Bottom (509a). Bright color, bold "Parkersburg W. Va." precancel, small faults at bottomFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 9-CENT FRANKLIN PERF 10 AT BOTTOM.
Our census of Scott 509a, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/509a/509a.pdf , contains a total of 27 used and one unused example of this rarity. Of the 27 used copies, fully 22 are precancelled.
Census No. 509a-CAN-07. With 1963 P.F. certificate (noting a tear only).
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Block of four, bottom pair Perf 10 at bottom, top stamps perf 11 all around, tiny h.r., bright shadeVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR CONTAINING TWO EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 11-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM VARIETY.
With 1975 P.F. certificate. Unpriced as a multiple in Scott (which does give a price for a used multiple). Scott Retail as two singles
12c Claret Brown, Perf 10 at Bottom (512b). Neat strike of Waterville, Iowa oval registry cancel, rich color on bright paper, tiny thin speck at lower leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 12-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM. ONLY TWELVE USED EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE EXAMPLES WITH A REGULAR CANCEL. A GREAT RARITY.
Our census of Scott 512b, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/512b/512b.pdf , contains only twelve used and four unused examples of this rarity. For some reason none is well-centered. Seven of the twelve used examples have precancels. Only one of the five with regular cancel is confirmed as sound (no. 8), but it is off-center in two directions.
Census No. 512b-CAN-03. PFC 7052 no longer accompanies.
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, lightly hinged in selvage only, rich colors, unusually choice centering, two staple holes in selvage as usual, few natural gum skipsEXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL SOUND PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1918 $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. ONLY A HANDFUL OF PLATE BLOCKS EXIST.
The $2.00 and $5.00 1918 Issue are the first bi-colored dollar-denominated postage stamps issued by the United States. Both were released just three months after the famous 1918 24c Inverted Jenny, but the early printings were issued in small quantities, since stocks of the earlier $2.00 and $5.00 issues were still on hand.
According to Johl, the $2.00 Orange Red & Black was a color error on the part of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The official description and order for the bi-color stamps specified "Red and Black" for the $2.00. When subsequent printings appeared in 1920 and philatelists brought the matter to the attention of the Bureau, they were told "this stamp has always been this color" (Johl, p. 306). From studies of Bureau and Post Office records, it is clear that the originally-intended color was not issued until November 1920 (Scott 547), and that the earlier Orange Red stamps were mistakes. The quantity issued has been variously estimated at between 47,000 and 68,000.
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Horizontal pair, huge margins, right stamp Mint N.H., left stamp barely hinged, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB PAIR OF THE RARE TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET STAMP, SCOTT 534B, WITH THE RIGHT STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
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 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced as a multiple in SMQ). The P.S.E. Population report does not contain another unused example of Scott 534B above the grade of 98, either as a single or a pair
1c Green, Perf 10, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (543a). Lightly hinged, radiant color, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PERF 10 ROTARY ISSUE IMPERFORATE-BETWEEN VARIETY, SCOTT 543a.
This is one of the rarest of the imperforate-between errors. We have offered only four other pairs since keeping computerized records (two are in a block).
Ex Whitman and "Sirron" as part of a block containing another error pair. With 2011 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95 XQ; the XQ is the Philatelic Foundation's indication of Extraordinary Quality).
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Rich color and detailed impression, machine cancel leaves design clearly visibleFRESH AND VERY FINE FOR THIS ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE LIGHTLY-CANCELLED SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11 ISSUE, SCOTT 544.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate