Sale 1199 — Gem-Quality United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 1-2 May, 2019
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320)
8c Violet Black (306). Mint N.H. with right plate no. 1499 selvage, deep rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1989 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $800.00) -- this is a very conservative grade, and we believe it would be raised (justifiably) if regraded, to either 95J or 98
13c Purple Black (308). Perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $675.00), only one has graded higher (at 100) and three others share this desirable grade, the certificate notes this is on laid paper but we have never heard of such a thing on this issue
50c Orange (310). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 602 selvage, vibrant color and crisp impression, gorgeous centering, couple weak perfs at top but still intactEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE. ESPECIALLY SCARCE WITH THE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.
Ex "Vineyard". With 2003 P.F. and 1993 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $4,500.00).
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 1629 selvage, intense shade and impression, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 2002 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 1630 selvage, rich color on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE WIDE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.
Only five plate blocks of this issue are recorded, with only one from the top position. We have offered two imprint and plate number strips of three, both bottom positions, with perfs into the design on both. This is the only plate number single we have offered since keeping computerized records. It should be considered a phenomenal rarity, by virtue of its pristine Mint N.H. gum, centering and the presence of wide top selvage.
With 2001 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Mint N.H. with extra wide bottom plate no. 1620 selvage, intense shade and impression on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE WITH EXTRA WIDE BOTTOM PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
The 1902-03 Second Bureau Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforation method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Furthermore, stamps issued in choice condition seldom stayed that way, because the boom in stamp collecting that began with the Roosevelt administration caused hordes of hinge-bearing philatelists to mount stamps over and over again. For this reason, today's collectors have grown accustomed to paying many multiples of Scott value for Extremely Fine stamps in Mint Never-Hinged state. This is especially true when it comes to the $5.00 denomination. This fact is made abundantly clear when one realizes that the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a $5.00 value in Never-Hinged condition is 90, given to only three stamps. The stamp offered here has not been numerically graded, but its quality is self-evident.
Only two $5.00 plate blocks are available to collectors. We have offered two other Mint N.H. plate number singles, but neither compares favorably to the one offered here in terms of selvage size or centering.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (310). Vivid color, wide and beautifully balanced margins, face-free circular datestamp cancel leaves the Jefferson vignette unobscured, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $325.00), only two grade higher (at 95J) and four others share this grade, none of the other stamps graded 95 or better offered in our auctions have a face-free cancel
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Wide margins and well-centered, intense dark color, neat oval registry cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Wide margins and well-centered, rich color, light strike of oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1994 and 2000 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with vertical guide line between stamps, large margins, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Large even margins, neat wavy-line machine cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a scarce genuinely used stamp, with 1995 P.S.E. and 1999 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Mint N.H., vibrant color on fresh paper, exceptional centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,150.00), only three grade higher (highest is 100J) and two others share this grade
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I (319b). Mint N.H., wide margins and beautifully centered, intense shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $375.00), incredibly only one stamp grades higher than the 95 offered here -- a single example at 95J
2c Scarlet, Ty. I (319c). Mint N.H., choice centering and margins, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $425.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a Scott 319c and it is shared by only one other
2c Lake, Ty. II (319F; formerly 319f). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, beautifully centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,100.00), the P.S.E. Population Report lists this as the highest grade awarded (two equal) but we have sold a 98J in the past
2c Carmine, Ty. II (319Fi, formerly 319i). Mint N.H., exceptional centering and margins, vivid color on bright white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1908 2-CENT TYPE II IN THE CARMINE SHADE. THIS CHOICE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,000.00). This is the highest grade listed in the P.S.E. Population Report for Scott 319Fi, with none equal
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II (319Fj; formerly 319j). Mint N.H., vivid color, outstanding centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00), this is the highest grade awarded with none equal
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate (320). Huge Jumbo margins with portions of all eight surrounding stamps, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $350.00 as 100, unpriced in 100J grade)
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320A; formerly 320a). Mint N.H., massive margins all around and showing significant parts of all eight adjoining stamps, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $875.00 as 100)
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320A; formerly 320a). Mint N.H. horizontal pair from the top left corner of the sheet with huge sheet margins, "JO" initials in left margin, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb position piece, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate
2c Scarlet, Ty. I, Imperforate (320b). Mint N.H., massive margins all around showing significant portions of all eight adjoining stamps, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $750.00 as 100)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I, Imperforate (320c). Mint N.H. with plate no. 3453 at top, massive margins including parts of all five adjoining stamps, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $550.00 as 100)
1902 Issue, Superb Used Graded Balance (300/319b). Eight used stamps, including Nos. 300, 302, 303, 304, 306, 307, 309 and 319b, exceptional margins and centering throughout, rich colors, neat machine or oval cancels, Extremely Fine Gem set, Nos. 307 and 319b graded XF-Superb 95 Jumbo by P.S.E., each of the others with P.S.E. certificates graded XF-Superb 95 (Nos. 300 and 306 with graded P.F. certificates), total SMQ counting all as P.S.E. grades $1,590.00