Sale 941 — The John F. Odeneal Collection of Superb Mint U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2007
Category — 1912-23 Issues (Scott 462 to 480)
4c Orange Brown (465). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp
5c Blue (466). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impression on post office-fresh paper, gorgeous centering with well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a difficult stamp to find in such choice condition
6c Red Orange (468). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
7c Black (469). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H., radiant color, wide and balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H. with selvage at top, intense color on crisp paper, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate
11c Dark Green (473). Mint N.H., deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on bright paper, almost perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED 11-CENT FRANKLIN, SCOTT 473. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 1991 P.F. certificate as pair and 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,850.00). Only two others share this lofty grade, and only one has graded higher (100J)
12c Claret Brown (474). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, almost perfectly centered with well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1993 P.F. certificate
15c Gray (475). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 15-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE, WHICH HAS ACHIEVED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,750.00). Only three have graded higher to date.
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 2002 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 (476A). Position 62 from Plate No. 6911, Mint N.H., vivid color on post-office fresh paperFRESH AND VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE VERY RARE 30-CENT PERF 10 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
Despite the recent P.S.E. claim that a watermark has been "discovered" on one stamp from one of the 476A panes, the vestige of a watermark on the dandy roll used to make unwatermarked paper has been known to philatelists since 1918. The unwatermarked paper supplied to the Bureau for printings of sheets that were perforated gauge 10 and 11 is known to have had "ghost" watermarks where the brass pieces were removed. We currently side with the group of philatelists who believe that the 30c Perf 10 Unwatermarked, Scott 476A, was legitimately issued.
With 1984 P.F. certificate
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
This 50c issue was only available in post-office stocks for a very short period of time, because it was released only three weeks prior to the beginning of the new Perf 11 series.
With 1996 and 2001 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $15,100.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date to a Mint N.H. Scott 477 (five in total). One of the others realized $15,500 hammer in our 2007 Rarities sale.
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide and well-balanced margins, intense color and impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPER -- ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE IN THE P.S.E. POPULATION REPORT.
This stamp was used for less than six months before the Perf 11 stamps were produced. Due to its short production run and the only difference between this and the previous $1.00 issue (Scott 460) being the watermark, many collectors and dealers of the day overlooked this issue. It is especially scarce with such perfect centering.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $11,400.00). Only one has graded higher to date, and only seven others share this desirable grade.
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,100.00)
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate