Sale 1231 — The James P. Myerson Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 February, 2021
Category — 1916-17 Issues (Scott 462-480)
1c Green (462). Mint N.H., brilliant color, essentially perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00), only one grades higher and two others share this grade
2c Carmine, Ty. I (463). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00), only one grades higher (at 100, we have never offered it) and three others share this grade, this is the first in this grade we have offered since 2008
4c Orange Brown (465). Mint N.H., bright shade, essentially perfect centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, ex "Hanover", with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,900.00), only three grade higher
5c Blue (466). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on post-office fresh paper, unusually wide margins which are perfectly balancedEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE, SCOTT 466, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,950.00). The highest grade awarded and only four others share it.
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT ROSE PERF 10 ERROR, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate -- Plate 7942 -- three subjects were noted to be weakly transferred: Positions 74 and 84 in the upper left quadrant, and Position 18 in the lower right. The plate was sent back to the siderographer, who burnished out the three entries and re-entered them. Instead of the 2c transfer roll, he mistakenly used the 5c transfer roll for the 2c plate. The sheets were printed in the normal 2 Red color, but three stamps in each sheet of 400 were 5c stamps, which were normally printed in blue--that is how the 5c Red errors came to be.
The misentered plate and the sheets produced from it passed unnoticed, and the 5c error stamps were issued to the public. The largest number of sheets to reach collectors were perforated 11 (Scott 505). A smaller number were perforated 10 (Scott 467). The rarest of the errors are the imperforate stamps (Scott 485). On May 2, 1917, the Third Assistant Postmaster General sent out a printed notice informing postmasters of the error and recalling the "mis-printed" sheets, but by then the red cats were out of the bag.
With 2013 P.S.A.G. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $27,500.00). The highest grade awarded and shared by no others.
5c Carmine, Error (467). Block of twelve with two errors, the errors Mint N.H., radiant color, better centering than normally seen in examples of the Perf 10 transfer error, Very Fine and choice
6c Red Orange (468). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only five others share it
7c Black (469). Mint N.H., incredibly well-centered with beautiful balanced margins, clean impression on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Curtis. With 2009 P.S.E. Certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,250.00). This is one of only four to have been awarded this premium grade with only one higher (98J)
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H., pretty pastel shade which is as fresh as the day it was printed, perfect centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 8-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMAKED ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex "Golden Oak". With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,500.00). Only two grade higher (both 98J)
9c Salmon Red (471). Mint N.H., pastel shade, choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. and 2002 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,350.00), only two grade higher
10c Orange Yellow (472). Mint N.H., vivid color and bright fresh paper, perfect centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 10-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS A CHALLENGING ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SUCH PHENOMENAL QUALITY.
The 1916-17 Perf 10 Unwatermarked Issue (Scott 462-480) is difficult to obtain in the higher grades. The difference between this 98 Jumbo and the one 100-point example of Scott 472 is a microscopic difference in margin balance; however, this stamp has noticeably wider margins.
Ex Curtis. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo, SMQ $5,000.00). Only one grades higher (at 100, realized $11,000 in one of our 2017 auctions) and one other shares this desirable grade.
11c Dark Green (473). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 11-CENT FRANKLIN, SCOTT 473, WHICH IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex "Hanover". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,000.00). Only two grade higher.
15c Gray (475). Mint N.H., radiant color on crisp paper, perfectly centered with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A REMARKABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 15-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
According to Johl (p. 289), the only difference between this issue and the one before it is the absence of a watermark. It is difficult to see a watermark on the 15c stamp, so it was generally assumed that no change had taken place with this denomination, and was therefore overlooked by collectors. It was current for only six months.
Ex "Hanover". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $7,000.00). The highest grade awarded and only five others share it.
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, gorgeous centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT UNWATERMARKED PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 476.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $8,000.00). Only one grades higher (at 98J) and six others share this desirable grade.
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, vivid color on fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, light Scott number pencil notation in selvage onlyEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Merlin and "Hanover". With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $17,500.00). The highest grade awarded and only four others share it.
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., brilliant shade on bright paper, outstanding centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 1988 P.F. certificate for block of four. With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $16,000.00). The highest grade awarded and shared by only one other
50c Light Violet (477). Block of four, lightly hinged at center, rich color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine block
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Block of four, intense shade, Fine-Very Fine and attractive block of this high value
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Full top imprint, plate no. 5782 and "A" block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., only the bottom center stamp hinged, nearly perfect centering, rich color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING FULL TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 478. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN.
Plate 5782 was the only plate used to print the $1.00 Franklin (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518). Lewis Kaufman records 13 available top plate number blocks of Scott 478 (plus four bottom plate blocks), but not all of these are full tops as several have reduced selvage (there is a top position in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library).
Ex Weill Brothers, Cheney and Gross. With 1989 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Mint N.H., deep rich color and detailed impression, unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 $2.00 MADISON PERF 10, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,800.00). Only one grades higher (at 100, we have never offered it) and only eight others share it, a statistic that has not changed in three years
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps single hinge mark at center, deep rich color, wide margins, Extremely Fine and desirable, Scott value as singles
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., pretty shade, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 480, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,750.00). The highest grade awarded.
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H. block of four with wide top selvage and plate no. 8016, rich color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as singles
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H. block of four, brilliant color, light natural gum bend thru top pair which have Fine centering, bottom pair with wide margins and Very Fine, Scott value as singles