Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — 1908-10 Washington-Franklins and Bluish Paper Issues (Scott 331-363)
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Lightly hinged, brilliant colorVERY FINE AND SCARCE PAIR OF THE 10-CENT PERF 12 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.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Lightly hinged at top, rich color on nicely blued paper, attractive margins and centering, tiny natural inclusionFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
Two small backstamps. With 1973 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Lightly hinged, rich color on blued paper, tiny natural inclusion at right and a second inclusion picked out in "O" of "Postage"FINE APPEARING AND SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,400 (eleven sheets) of the 4c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
With 2013 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Bluish (361). With wide left selvage, attractive centering and margins on deeply blued paperVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
The 5c is third rarest of the set and the rarest of the regularly issued Bluish Paper stamps. The 4c and 8c were released by postal officials and not sold through the post office.
Small blue backstamp. With 2016 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Deep rich color, freshA FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
The 5c is third rarest of the set and the rarest of the regularly issued Bluish Paper stamps. The 4c and 8c were released by postal officials and not sold through the post office.
With 1974 and 2006 P.F. certificates
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Hinged only at top, outstanding centering with unusually balanced margins, intense color on deeply blued paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER. AN EXTREMELY RARE STAMP IN THIS HIGH GRADE.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General’s report states that 4,000 (ten sheets) of the 8c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors’ hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $72,500.00). Only one stamp has a higher grade (at 95, from our Odeneal sale in 2007) and one other is graded 90.
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Single narrow hinged mark at top, fresh color on deeply blued paperFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 8-CENT BLUISH PAPER ISSUE.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,000 (ten sheets) of the 8c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
With 1994 P.F. certificate
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Block of four with wide top selvage, pretty shade on nicely blued paper, top stamps barest trace of hinging (if at all), centered to bottom as are almost all known blocks, perf separations between selvage and block, but the block is completely intactFINE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR -- THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 8-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
The June 1910 Third Assistant Postmaster General's report states that 4,000 (ten sheets) of the 8c were printed on Bluish Paper. It is believed that none of the 4c and 8c Bluish Paper stamps were distributed to post offices, and that all of the examples in collectors' hands reached the market through the Travers-Steinmetz exchange and the 1914 National Museum trades to H. F. Colman (12 copies) and Nassau Stamp Company (65 copies).
Our Levi records contain five blocks of four, of which three have centering similar to the one offered here. We have no record of one after 1956 so we cannot confirm whether it is intact. Our recent auction of the Barry K. Schwartz collection did not contain a block.
Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422, November 29, 1972). With unfolded 1973 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates