Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1904-07 Commemoratives, 1908-10 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 326-356)
5c Louisiana Purchase (326). Mint N.H. with bottom imprint selvage, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine
5c Jamestown (330). Mint N.H., deep rich color which is nicely contrasted by bright paper, intense impression, beautifully centered with unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex Scarsdale, with 2001 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,000.00), only five have graded higher
1c Green (331). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with enormous margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect, ex Odeneal, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $165.00 as 95, $600.00 as 98)
2c Carmine (332). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $540.00)
3c Deep Violet (333). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 5121 and star selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, outstanding centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $550.00), only two have graded higher and only five others share this grade
4c Orange Brown (334). Mint N.H., small natural gum skip, rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $700.00)
5c Blue (335). Mint N.H., deep rich color on fresh paper, essentially perfect centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,000.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. Scott 335 and it is shared by only four others, there is not even a hinged example that has received a higher grade
6c Red Orange (336). Mint N.H., vivid color, beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00)
8c Olive Green (337). Mint N.H., radiant color, detailed impression, beautiful centering with wide even margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Whitman, with 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $775.00)
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., blazing color on post-office fresh paper, essentially perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1909 ISSUE, SCOTT 338, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,900.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
13c Blue Green (339). Mint N.H., wide and balanced margins, fresh color and paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1990 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $675.00)
15c Pale Ultramarine (340). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright white paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00)
50c Violet (341). Mint N.H., lovely shade on bright paper, outstanding centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 50-CENT PERF 12 ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
With 2000 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Barest trace of hinging at upper right, appears Mint N.H. and may well be, rich color, Very Fine
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. guide line pair, rich color, nice centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H., choice balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate for pair, this the top stamp
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. guide line pair, near perfect centering with wide and well-balanced margins, bright color and detailed impression on radiant paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST GUIDE LINE PAIRS OF THIS PERF 12 COIL IN TERMS OF CENTERING, COLOR, GUM AND PAPER.
With 2002 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. pair, bright color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,100.00)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Guide line pair, very handsome wide imperforate margins, almost perfectly centered, gorgeous colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 350.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,150.00).
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Pair, top stamp h.r., bottom stamp Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, bottom Very Fine, top Extremely Fine, with 1980 and 1983 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as singles
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H., almost perfectly centered, rich color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H., choice wide margins and precise centering, rich color, Extremely Fine, ex Laehder, 1983 P.F. certificate for pair no longer accompanies, with 2013 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ)
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, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF 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.
With 1982, 1997 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,750.00)
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. pair, choice centering, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., deep rich color on post-office fresh paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. guide line pair, choice centering, beautiful rich color on crisp bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352.
With 1977 S.P.A. and 2002 P.F. certificates.
1c Green, Coil (352). Pair with 2mm spacing, lightly hinged, rich color, Very Fine, with 1991 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H., well-centered with extra wide margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, with 2009 (for pair) and 2011 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
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 comparable example.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H. strip of three with 3mm spacing, vibrant color, wide margins and well-centered throughout, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as pair and single
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H., perfect centering with Jumbo margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate (98J)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Pair with 2mm spacing, rich color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1987 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H., fresh color, attractive centering, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color and detailed impression, remarkably choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355.
With 1976, 1999 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $5,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others -- a statistic that has not changed since we sold this guide line pair in our 2007 Scarsdale sale. A review of our computerized records shows that we have on average offered one Mint N.H. guide line pair a year for the past 15 years. Very few of those compare favorably to the example offered here.
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. pair, rich color, beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2013 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
10c Yellow, Coil, (356). Mint N.H. guide line pair, radiant color on post-office freshVERY FINE. THE 10-CENT PERF 12 COIL IS EXCEEDINGLY RARE AS A GUIDE LINE PAIR IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE AND MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
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.
Our computerized records encompass more than 18 years of auctions. In that time we have offered in Mint N.H. condition only a handful of singles, four guide line pairs and three pairs (including the pair offered in the following lot).
Ex Silver Lake. 1997 P.F. certificate for guide line strip and 2004 P.F. certificate as this pair no longer accompany. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75; SMQ $30,000.00). Grading is somewhat irrelevant for a rarity of this caliber but a check of the P.S.E. Population Report statistics reveals that this is the only graded Scott 356 line pair
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Mint N.H. pair, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, intense colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 10-CENT PERF 12 COIL, SCOTT 356, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS COIL.
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.
Our computerized records encompass more than 18 years of auctions. In that time we have offered in Mint N.H. condition only a handful of singles, four guide line pairs (including the line pair offered in the previous lot) and three pairs.
Ex Whitman. With 1996 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $25,000.00). This is the only Mint N.H. example of Scott 356 in any format to achieve the grade of XF-Superb 95. The next closest Mint N.H. pair is graded 80
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Vivid color, extra wide top and bottom margins, bright and freshVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1909 10-CENT PERF 12 COIL, SCOTT 356.
With 1980 P.F. certificate