Sale 1231 — The James P. Myerson Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 February, 2021
Category — 1917-19 Issues (Scott 481-524)
1c Green, Coil (486). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ 200.00), only one grades higher (we have never offered it) and five others share this desirable grade
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (487). Mint N.H. pair, mathematically perfect centering, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,400.00), the highest grade awarded and shared with only two others
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (488). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in the finest attainable condition, ex Depew, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $400.00), this is the sole example of Scott 488 in any format or gum condition to achieve the perfect grade of Gem 100 from P.S.E., with no others equal, with 2019 P.F. certificate (Superb 98), P.F. grade is conservative
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (489). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $375.00), only one grades higher
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (489). Mint N.H., deep rich color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $375.00), only two grade higher and five others share this grade
1c Green, Coil (490). Mint N.H. pair, detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $250.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by 14 others, despite relatively high numbers we have offered only one other
1c Green, Coil (490). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $300.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only six others
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Mint N.H., deep rich color, detailed impression, beautiful centering for this difficult issue with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A VERY RARE CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II COIL, SCOTT 491.
Unlike many other issues, this horizontal coil is much scarcer than its the vertical coil counterpart (Scott 487). The Type II horizontal coil, Scott 491, was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492. Only about a month separates the EDU's for the two coils (Dec. 19, 1916 for No. 491 and Jan. 13, 1917 for No. 492).
Ex Depew. With 1985 and 2016 P.F. certificates. With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $21,500.00). This is the highest graded Mint N.H. single of Scott 491 and no others share this grade. SMQ value is slightly low -- this realized $23,000 hammer the last two times it was offered, in our sales 1150 and 1202.
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (492). Mint N.H. pair, radiant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $450.00), only one grades higher and five others share this grade
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (493). Mint N.H. pair, radiant color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00), only one grades higher
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (493). Mint N.H., bright shade, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $325.00), only one grades higher (at 98J)
3c Violet, Ty. II, Coil (494). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, ex Depew, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $650.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only three others
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H. joint line pair, remarkably well-centered, brilliant fresh color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,350.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a Scott 495 line pair and is equaled by only five others
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H., brilliant color, near perfect centering with huge margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Scarsdale", 2000 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $325.00), only one single grades higher (at 100)
5c Blue, Coil (496). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin and Henson, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $400.00), the highest grade awarded and one of only five Scott 496 singles at this perfect grade
10c Orange Yellow, Coil (497). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning pair, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,350.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only five others
10c Orange Yellow, Coil (497). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, fiery color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $800.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only four others
1c Green (498). Mint N.H., rich color, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, post-office fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ as 100J, SMQ $550.00 as 100), only one other share this highest of grades
2c Rose, Ty. I (499). Mint N.H., radiant color, mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Henson, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $600.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only one other
2c Rose, Ty. I, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (499b). Block of four, brilliant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate, Scott value as two pairs
2c Rose, Ty. I, Double Impression (499g). Mint N.H., brilliant color, showing clear doubling throughout the entire design, Very Fine and choice, scarce, ex Whitman, with 1963 and 2005 P.F. certificates
2c Rose, Ty. I, Double Impression (499g). Mint N.H. horizontal strip of three, accompanying certificate notes left stamp is only 15mm wide, second impression clearly shifted to the right, also misperfed, Very Fine and very unusual, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as singles
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Mint N.H., with tab at right, deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive pane
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Tab at left, lightly hinged, rich color, Very Fine and choice
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Few stamps small h.r., brilliant color, better centering than often seenVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed. A Power Search review shows many surviving examples have faults.
With 1997 P.F. certificate. Small Ward backstamp on bottom left stamp.
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., characteristic Ty. Ia vivid color, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, long and full perforations on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT DEEP ROSE TYPE Ia, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND IT IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE IT.
The Type Ia Scott 500 was created during an experiment of the Bureau in creating a new type of transfer roll. A die was made from the old Type I transfer roll, having ten impressions on it. A new transfer roll was then made, using the new ten-impression master die. This new transfer roll was then used to create two new plates. There are noticeable differences between the plates created using this method and the old method of using one die impression to create the transfer roll.
Ex "Hanover". With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $9,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded and no others share it.
3c Light Violet, Ty. I (501). Mint N.H., bright shade and paper, near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $500.00), only one grades higher (at 98J)
4c Brown (503). Mint N.H., wonderful color and impression, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Henson, with 1981 P.F. and 2018 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $1,150.00), only one grades higher and one other shares this grade
5c Blue (504). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, exceptional centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $475.00), only three grade higher (two at 98J and one at 100J)
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in block of nine, error and stamps on either side Mint N.H., top center stamp h.r., bottom left 2c small thin spot at bottom, Extremely Fine centering, Scott value as Mint N.H. single
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. double error in block of twelve, brilliant color, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF TWELVE CONTAINING TWO OF THE PERF 11 5-CENT ROSE ERROR.
This is difficult to obtain in such superb condition.
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, unusually choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 11 5-CENT ROSE ERROR, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
During the production of the normal 2c plate No. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was sent back to the siderographer, who burnished out the three positions and mistakenly re-entered them using a transfer roll for the 5c stamp. The error passed unnoticed and the sheets were issued to the public as Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 (Scott 467, 485 and 505).
Ex "Hanover". With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,250.00). Only two grade higher (at 100)
6c Red Orange (506). Mint N.H., near perfect centering, bright color with just a bit of oxidation along framelines, still an Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $600.00)
7c Black (507). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression on bright white paper, near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,300.00), only four grade higher (highest is 100)
8c Olive Bister (508). Mint N.H., lovely shade, near perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex "Scarsdale", with 1996 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $750.00), only two grade higher (one at 100, one at 100J) and only two others shares this desirable grade
9c Salmon Red (509). Mint N.H., vibrant color, precise centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $600.00), only four grade higher (three at 98J and one at 100)
10c Orange Yellow (510). Mint N.H., vivid color, wide and beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 A.P.S. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $850.00), only four grade higher (at 98J)
11c Light Green (511). Mint N.H., intense color and detailed impression, near perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $625.00), only five grade higher
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Mint N.H. wide top margin and half-arrow block of four, bottom right stamp transitional Perf 10 at bottom, other three stamps Perf 11, bright color, the error with particularly choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 11-CENT FRANKLIN ISSUE PERF 10 AT BOTTOM IN A TOP MARGIN BLOCK OF FOUR.
Ex "Sirron". With 1980 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Scott value as single Mint N.H. error
12c Claret Brown (512). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $425.00), only four grade higher
12c Brown Carmine (512a). Mint N.H., vivid color which is distinctly different from the main Scott No. 512 listing, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, with 2001 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $650.00), only two grade higher (at 100 and 100J) and one other shares this lofty grade
13c Apple Green (513). Mint N.H., bright shade, essentially perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00), only one has graded higher (at 100)
15c Gray (514). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, radiant color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT FRANKLIN, SCOTT 514, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $3,700.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, mathematically perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 515 WITH THE PERFECT P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100.
Ex Whitman and "Golden Oak." With 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates showing selvage at top (Gem 100; SMQ $3,500.00). This is one of only two examples at this grade -- there is also one 100J in the P.S.E. Population Report.
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright paper, mathematically perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 516, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $1,900.00). Only two grade higher and none share this grade.
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., deep shade on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 50-CENT PERF 11 ISSUE, SCOTT 517, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $3,250.00). Only one grades higher and only three others share this grade, a statistic that has not changed since 2010.
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS ASTONISHING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1917 ISSUE, SCOTT 518, HAS RECEIVED THE ULTIMATE GRADE OF GEM 100 JUMBO FROM P.S.E. THE ESSENCE OF PERFECTION.
Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518). None of the other $1.00 Franklin issues has been graded above 98J in Mint N.H. condition.
Ex Henson. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade in SMQ; SMQ $4,500.00 as 100). This is the highest grade possible and one of only two to achieve this grade.
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter A block of six, deep rich color, choice centering, top left stamp tiny perf disc impression, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., perfect centering with well-proportioned margins, rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 519, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
This stamp was created in 1917 when a small excess supply of the imperforate, double-line watermarked Scott 344 was returned by the New York City post office to the Bureau for credit. Rather than issue the credit, the Bureau perforated the sheets with the current perf 11 wheels and returned them to the New York City post office for public sale.
Ex "Hanover". With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $7,500.00). The highest trade awarded and shared by only three others.
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H., vibrant colors, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK 1918 FRANKLIN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $7,250.00). Only three grade higher (one each at the higher grades) and only four others share this desirable grade.
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., deep rich colors on bright paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate (Superb 98)
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H. center line block of four, rich colors, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, Scott value as singles
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H. center line block of four, nicely centered, fresh and Very Fine, Scott value as singles without regard to the centerline
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Top plate nos. 8179/8178 and arrow block of eight, lightly hinged, deep rich colors, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an attractive plate block, scarce with such choice centering