Sale 1107 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 28-29 July, 2015
Category — 1910-13 Washington-Franklins, Panama Pacific Issues (Scott 374-404)
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Mint N.H., pretty pastel color, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (VF 80)
1c Green, Coil (385). Mint N.H. guide line pair, well-centered, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (386). Mint N.H. pair, vivid color, fresh and Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Guide line pair, gorgeous color, faint trivial toning at top perf junctureFINE APPEARING LINE PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT CARMINE COIL, SCOTT 388.
This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Pair with 3mm spacing, intense color, waving flag slogan cancellation, tiny pinhole beneath "T" of "Two" on right stampFINE APPEARING AND RARE USED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE COIL, SCOTT 388.
This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.
Approximately ten used pairs are known. The only used guide line multiple we record is the strip of four from our Natalee Grace sale, which is specifically mentioned as being unique in Scott Catalogue (Sale 1028, lot 357). A review using Power Search shows that most other pairs are significantly off-center.
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Better centered than typically seen, classic Orangeburg Coil shade and wavy-line cancellation, some blue paper remnants from the envelope on back, normally a distraction, but in this case will help certify this stamp, as the blue paper is from the Bell Laboratories envelopes used in mailing samples from Orangeburg, trivial bottom left corner creaseVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE GREAT COIL RARITIES IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail, and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production accounts for their rarity. Many have small faults such as corner creases or small tears.
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, tied by "Orangeburg N.Y. Mar. 8 3PM 1911" machine cancel on cover to Berwyn Pa., usual "Bell & Company Incorporated Manufacturing Chemists" corner card, stamp lifted and hinged to cover, tiny stamp faults noted on most recent certificateFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED USE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL ON COVER. ONLY THIRTEEN ORANGEBURG COIL COVERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production account for their rarity.
When we offered this stamp and the cover in our Sale 798 (lot 454A), it was our opinion that the stamp did not originate on this cover. However, it was subsequently twice expertized by The Philatelic Foundation and certified as a genuine use (earliest documented date) and acquired by Alan Berkun for his exhibit collection.
Ex Ward, Southgate and Berkun. With 1998 and 2015 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (391). Guide line pair, rich color, neat boxed cancel, Fine, scarce used guide line pair, with 2014 PSAG certificate
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, Fine-Very Fine, the left stamp particularly well-centered
4c Brown, Coil (395). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, wide margins, bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 1977 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (396). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, rich color, Very Fine, with 1977 P.F. certificate
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-404). Complete set, Nos. 397, 399 and 401 Mint N.H., extra No. 401 with plate no. selvage, Nos. 403-404 barely hinged, Fine-Very Fine
1c-10c Panama-Pacific (397-400A). Mint N.H., also incl. Mint N.H. No. 401 top plate no. 6944 single, Very Fine lot, nos. 399-401 with certificates
5c Panama-Pacific (399). Mint N.H., with wide bottom selvage, unusually choice centering, pretty color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $650.00)
5c Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (403). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top pair h.r., wide margins, rich color, Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles