Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-322)
1c Blue Green (300). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $650.00), only one has graded higher and ten others share this grade
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., brilliant color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $425.00), only eight have graded higher
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H., detailed impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.F. and 2005 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $825.00)
4c Brown (303). Mint N.H., fresh rich color, near perfect centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Killien and Merlin, with 2001 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,150.00), only three have graded higher
5c Blue (304). Mint N.H., deep dark color and bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp with great eye appeal, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $975.00 as 95, $2,900.00 as 98), only four have graded higher (the highest is a 98J) and only two others share this grade
6c Claret (305). Mint N.H., rich color, detailed impression, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem, ex Whitman, with 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00)
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., deep shade and detailed impression, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $775.00)
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., pretty shade, gorgeous centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1902 ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,500.00). Only four have graded higher (the highest grade is a 98) and only two others share this grade.
50c Orange (310). Lightly hinged, vibrant color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F. -- A REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
The 1902-03 Regular Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforating method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Collecting practices of hinging stamps into albums and time have left very few superb Mint N.H. examples for today's collectors. This is particularly true for the high $2.00 and $5.00 values of this series, which were printed in much smaller quantities than the lower values. This stamp should be considered a true condition rarity.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Rich color, unobtrusive cancel, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, this is a surprisingly difficult issue to obtain with decent centering in used condition, with 1991 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Horizontal pair, barely hinged, large margins, rich color, Extremely Fine
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II (319Fj; formerly 319j). Mint N.H., vivid color, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 2002 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $120.00)
4c Brown, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins with full Schermack perforations on both sides, deep rich color, neat strike of duplex datestamp and oval grid cancel, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE, SCOTT 314A. ONLY 31 USED SINGLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufactures for supplies of imperforate stamps, which could then be privately perforated to conform to each firm's machine. In May 1908, a supply of 25 sheets (400 stamps per sheet) of the 4c 1902 Issue, without perforations, was delivered to the Schermack Mailing Machine Co. in Detroit. The entire supply was cut into coils with Schermack Type III perforations, designed for the firm's patented affixing machine and delivered to the Winfield Printing Co. for use on mass mailings of advertising material. Approximately 6,000 were used on a mailing for Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturer, and almost all of the 4,000 balance were used on a mailing for Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
Our recently-completed census of Scott 314A incorporates the records of the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records (which represents over 40 years of auction sales) and our own computerized sales history, and is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/314A/314A.pdf . The census reveals a startling fact -- there are only 31 used singles (two on piece), a used strip of three and three covers (one of which bears a strip of three), for a total of 39 used stamps. Our previous assumption was that this number was much higher.
An analysis of our census found nine copies in sound condition with Schermack perforations on both sides. Five of these have poor centering, leaving a population of only four to vie for the title of finest in existence (Census Nos. 01, 11, 12 and 23).
Census No. 314A-CAN-01. Ex Twigg-Smith and Natalee Grace. With 1970 and 2001 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Coil (317). Pair, lightly hinged, deep rich colorFRESH AND VERY FINE PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1908 VERTICAL COIL.
The 5c 1908 Coil stamps, which were stripped by hand, are almost always strongly centered to one side.
Ex Vineyard. With 1970 and 2001 P.F. certificates
1c Blue Green, Coil (318). Pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $9,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded.
2c Carmine, Coil (322). Pair, lightly hinged, brilliant color, wide marginsFRESH AND VERY FINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.
Issued on July 31, 1908, and intended only to be used by private vending machine companies, Scott 322 is only known with the Die II widened line at lower left.
Ex Zoellner and Floyd. With 1985 P.F. certificate.