Sale 941 — The John F. Odeneal Collection of Superb Mint U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2007
Category — 1912-23 Issues (Scott 523 to 662)
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Unused (regummed), wide margins, rich color, trivial natural inclusion at top left, Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate (as original gum)
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Barest trace of what may be hinging, intense shades, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Mint N.H., large margins all around, brilliant color, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H., large and balanced margins, unusually intense color, trivial natural gum bend not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate for pair
2c Carmine, Ty. Va, Imperforate (534). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (538). Mint N.H., rich color and unusually detailed impression for a Rotary Waste issue, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Mint N.H., rich color and sharp impression, wide balanced margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE ROTARY-PRESS COIL WASTE ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CONDITION. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.
At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919, the Bureau devised a plan to salvage this waste by converting the stamps from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and putting the panes through the flat-plate perforator in use at the time, giving the stamps perforations on all sides.
Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines of differing gauges at different times, most of the stamps are off-center. The stamp offered here is a true condition rarity by virtue of its centering, margins and Mint N.H. state. The only example we have encountered in a better grade realized $22,000 hammer in the Scarsdale sale.
With 2000 and 2007 P.F. certificates
1c Green, Rotary (545). Mint N.H., pretty shade, wide margins, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Mint N.H., radiant color, unusually choice centering for this difficult Rotary Waste issue, fresh and Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., deep rich colors, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Deep Blue (572). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide margins, light natural perf disc indent, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $360.00)
1c Green, Rotary (578). Mint N.H., bright color, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $470.00)
2c Carmine, Rotary (579). Mint N.H., brilliant color, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, tiny natural inclusion at bottom not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, scarce with such choice centering, with 2002 P.F. certificate
1c-10c 1923-26 Issue, Perf 10 (581-591). Mint N.H., deep rich colors, each stamp selected for unusually choice centering, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1985 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $840.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice
4c Kans. Ovpt. (662). Mint N.H., deep rich color which is stunning, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, post-office fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,450.00), only one has graded higher to date, and only five others share this high grade