Sale 1090 — United States, Possessions and Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 17-19 December, 2014
Category — 1922 and Later Issues (Scott 565-2002d)
14c Blue (565). Mint N.H., flawless centering, intense color and impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $225.00 as 98), one of eight to grade Gem 100
$5.00 Carmine Lake & Dark Blue (573a). Mint N.H., marvelously well-centered, deep vibrant colors, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,300.00), this is the highest grade the P.S.E. has assigned to any No. 573a
4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 (585). Mint N.H. with selvage at bottom, deep rich color, post-office fresh paper and gum, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- IT IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS UNIMPROVABLE GRADE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $775.00 as 98). This is the highest grade that can be awarded, and this stamp is the only example to achieve 100J from the P.S.E. graders.
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., choice centering, lovely rich color, Extremely Fine, an impressive stamp, with 1996 P.S.E. certificate for a block of four
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Mint N.H. pair, strong color, Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
2c Harding, Rotary, Perf 11 (613). Three wide margins, perfs in at right, sharp impression, neat machine cancelFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT HARDING ROTARY PERF 11, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL 20TH CENTURY ISSUES.
Our census of the 2c Harding Rotary Perf 11(www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/613/613.pdf ) records 43 used singles (one faintly cancelled, if at all), one used pair and a strip of three. Of the singles, approximately 30 are sound.
The 2c Harding Rotary Perf 11 stamp was discovered in 1938 by Leslie Lewis of the New York firm, Stanley Gibbons Inc. Gary Griffith presents his hypothesis in United States Stamps 1922-26 that rotary-printed sheets of 400 were first reduced to panes of 100 and then fed through the 11-gauge perforating machine normally used for flat plate sheets. This method distinguishes sheet-waste stamps -- Scott 544, 596 and 613 -- from the coil-waste stamps and explains the existence of a straight-edge on Scott 613.
Census No. 613-CAN-38. Ex Hoffman. With 1978 and 2008 P.F. certificates
2c White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Mint N.H., fresh color, crisp and intact, Very Fine
2c White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Mint N.H., with freak perforations at bottom left from foldover, well-centered, Very Fine, printing varieties of the White Plains sheet are rarely encountered
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H., vibrant color, wonderfully well-centered, Extremely Fine, a select quality example of this difficult stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate for a block of four
1c-10c Kans., Nebr. Overprints (658-679). Mint N.H., well-centered and bright colors throughout, incl. 8c Kans. with top selvage, ex Dr. Morris, Very Fine-Extremely Fine set, five with P.F. certificates from the 1990s
6c Baseball, Black Omitted (1381a). Mint N.H. with left selvage, a Very Fine example of this popular error
13c Bicentennial, Imperforate Vertical Pair (1631c). Mint N.H., bright and fresh, Very Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
20c State Birds and Flowers, Se-Tenant Sheet of 50, Completely Imperforate (2002d). Top right plate no. 11111 pane of fifty, bright colors and incredibly fresh, Mint N.H. with small and trivial moisture spot on the gum of one stamp, not visible from the faceEXTREMELY FINE. BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF TWO COMPLETELY IMPERFORATE PANES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MODERN ERRORS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
This rarity is one of the pinnacle items for the modern error (or topical bird) collector. It features each of the 50 State Birds of the United States. There were originally only four recorded panes -- one has blind perforations and another was inexplicably cut up by an investment firm -- leaving two completely imperforate panes. This particular pane has not been offered since our 1983 Rarities of the World Sale. The other pane was recently offered in our sale of the Daniel H. and Marcel V. Collection of Birds of the World (Siegel Sale 1076, realized $18,500.00). It is highly unlikely any others will surface at this late date.
Accompanied by original Post Office souvenir folder