Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — 1917-23 Issues (Scott 482A-544)
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (482A). Schermack perforations complete at right with portion of adjoining stamp, mostly trimmed at left but upper perf is still clearly visible, large bottom margin, wavy-line machine cancel, slightly tonedFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST ISSUES OF THE 20TH CENTURY.
Scott 482A, like its slightly more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines. The Schermack "Sealer and Stamper" machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the hyphen-hole perfs on one side would be cut off. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, has a very small survival rate.
Our census of Scott 482A, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/482A , records one used pair (ex Zoellner), three covers, one unused single (perfs trimmed on both sides) and 41 used singles for a total of 47 stamps.
Schermack Type III stamps are often cut into the design by the oblong perforations or miscut with one side of the perforated margin missing. This problem for collectors, which meant very little to contemporary users of the stamps, resulted from two consecutive events. First, the sheets were perforated with the Schermack holes, creating an opportunity for misalignment between the stamps. Second, when the strip of stamps was fed through the Schermack affixing machine, the cutting blade did not always align with the space between stamps.
Census no. 482A-CAN-42. With 2008 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Double error in a block of twelve, bottom error Mint N.H., top error lightly hinged, large margins all around including parts of all adjoining stamps, brilliant color, tiny picked-out inclusion in one 2c (position 9) and small translucency in right margin next to another 2c (position 6), both error stamps completely soundEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT IMPERFORATE DOUBLE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF TWELVE.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate no. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was returned 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 Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 (Scott 467, 485 and 505). The imperforate is by far the rarest of the three.
With 1952 and 2019 P.F. certificates. Scott value as hinged double error block without premium for the Mint N.H. error
1c-10c 1916-18 Coils (486-490, 492-497). Mint N.H. group of P.S.E. graded coils (one P.F.), including nine singles, eight pairs and two joint line pairs, every denomination represented by at least one item and all are graded except the 10c joint line pair is ungraded, most are XF-Superb 95 or Superb 98 with a few XF 90, Extremely Fine Gem group, total SMQ $2,525.00, see our website PDF for complete scans of the stamps and certificates
View PDF of contents of this lot
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line pair, original gum, lightly hinged, intense colorFRESH AND FINE JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II COIL, SCOTT 491.
With 1982 and 2017 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Original gum, single hinge mark at top and light pencil notations, vivid color, choice balanced margins, small natural inclusion in Washington's cheek, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $2,500.00), this was downgraded due to the natural inclusion
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H. joint line pair, lovely bright color, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Merlin, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $725.00)
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., vivid color, Very Fine, with copy of 1991 P.F. certificate for a block of four (bottom left stamp)
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H., choice centering, pristine colors and gum, vignette shifted to right into frame, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,750.00)
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., intense colors, proof-like impressions, Very Fine and choice, ex Hoffman, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Original gum, lightly hinged, large margins to full, Very Fine, with copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for a pair
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Mint N.H., brilliant color on fresh paperFINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 539.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, attractive centering and marginsFRESH AND FINE. AN INCREDIBLY ELUSIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 20 OF THE 1923 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544, EXIST IN ANY UNUSED STATE--ONLY APPROXIMATELY TEN ARE MINT NEVER-HINGED.
A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.
Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged--the result of irregular production and mishandling. Our review of the records of The Philatelic Foundation and Power Search found only ten Mint N.H. examples. The P.F. has graded two, at 75 (ex Whitman) and 85 (ex "Scarsdale"). P.S.E. has graded three, with two at 70 (including the example offered here) and one 75. One is graded 70 by P.S.A.G. (Sale 1235, lot 1374). Of the four ungraded we record, one has a tiny perf hole tear and two are centered to two sides. Only one other, ex Zoellner and Wingate and centered to right, has the potential to grade well. A Mint N.H. block of four was offered in our 1985 Rarities sale, but we are not including this in our count.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (F 70; SMQ $42,500.00). Only one grades higher (at 75, ex "Laila" and Petersen)