Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — 1908-12 Issues (Scott 369-396)
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H. with selvage at left, rich color on nicely blued paper, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 A.P.S. certificate
3c Deep Violet (376). Mint N.H., sharp proof-like impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine, with copy of 2003 P.F. certificate for block of four
4c Brown (377). Mint N.H., deep rich color, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (378). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. certificate for block of four
6c Red Orange (379). Mint N.H., radiant color, almost perfectly centered with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1911 6-CENT SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK WASHINGTON ISSUE, SCOTT 379, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,500.00). Only two have graded higher to date and only two others share this lofty grade.
8c Olive Green (380). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, detailed impression, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, ex Floyd, with 1979 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $850.00 as 90, $2,500.00 as 95)
10c Yellow (381). Mint N.H., vivid color, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp with much better color than usual, with 1996 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, an attractive stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,050.00)
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Coils (385, 386). Mint N.H., rich colors, both have unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2001 P.F. certificates respectively
1c Green, Coil (385). Mint N.H. pair, intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine, with 1990 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $345.00)
1c Green, Coil (385). Mint N.H. guide line pair, fresh color, detailed impression, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (386). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty pair, with 1991 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (386). Mint N.H. guide line pair, wide margins, beautiful bright color and sharp impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 386.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, p. 111), the Bureau switched to Perf 8-1/2 for their coils after a very short period of time. The Perf 12 coils proved to be too susceptible to falling apart in the machines used to affix (and make) the coils. Scott 386 was one of the first to be discontinued. Only one Mint N.H. guide line pair has been certified to date by P.S.E. (graded 70), and we have offered only perhaps a dozen since keeping computerized records.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (387). Mint N.H., brilliant color, crisp impression, Jumbo marginsFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A HUGE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL SCOTT 387.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1999 P.F. and 1999 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,400.00 as 90, $3,050.00 as 95). Only three have graded higher to date and only one other shares this grade.
1c Green, Coil (387). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, few trivial perf separations at top, Fine-Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Mint N.H., bright color on fresh paper, three extra wide marginsVERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1910 PERF 12 COIL.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only five other singles, one guide line pair and three pairs (one a paste-up) in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records.
Ex Odeneal. With 2007 P.F. certificate. In our opinion this is underpriced in Scott in Mint N.H. condition, an opinion shared by SMQ, which prices this at $3,300.00 in the grade of 80.
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Pair with 2mm spacing, barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1911 PERF 12 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.
This is considerably more difficult to find with such choice centering with 2mm spacing than with 3mm.
With 1986 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Guide line pair, brilliant color, detailed impression, left stamp trivial natural inclusion on back only not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.
This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Pair, full original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, centered to left but completely soundFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL, SCOTT 389. ONLY TWO UNUSED SINGLES AND SIX UNUSED PAIRS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production account for their rarity.
A census of the Orangeburg coil, published in The Philatelic Foundation's Opinions VII book, records two singles and seven unused pairs, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. We recall seeing only one other pair at auction in the past 15 years.
With 1960 and 1998 P.F. certificates
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Intense shade and impression, usual wavy-lines machine cancel, top margin slightly trimmed (probably to remove a tiny corner crease as usually occurs on this issue, small sealed tear at topFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (390). Mint N.H. pair, intense color, Jumbo and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem
1c Green, Coil (390). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $170.00)
2c Carmine, Coil (391). Mint N.H. pair, radiant color, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $370.00)
2c Carmine, Coil (391). Mint N.H. guide line pair, almost perfect centering with Jumbo margins, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1910 VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 391.
Ex Silver Lake and Scarsdale. With 2004 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (latter graded XF 90; SMQ $1,250.00). Only three have graded higher to date.
1c Green, Coil (392). Mint N.H., bright shade, crisp impression, post-office fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate for guide line pair
1c Green, Coil (392). Mint N.H. strip of three, brilliant color, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate for strip of four, Scott Retail as pair and single
1c Green, Coil (392). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 1911 ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 392.
With 1977 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,850.00). Only one has graded higher to date and only four others share this grade
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H., brilliant color, gorgeous centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1996 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $630.00), only one has graded higher to date and only two others share this grade
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H. pair, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H. guide line pair, perfectly centered with wide and well-proportioned margins, rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful Mint N.H. guide line pair of extraordinary freshness, with 2004 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $690.00), this grade is unduly conservative in our opinion
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.F. and 1999 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $720.00), only two have graded higher to date
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color, crisp impression, wide and balanced margins, trivial natural inclusion at bottom right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H., radiant color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.F. certificate
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, radiant color, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1980 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $720.00), only three have graded higher (at 95) and only one other shares this grade
4c Brown, Coil (395). Guide line pair, barest trace of hinging, bright shade, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate stating that it is 'never hinged"
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,500.00), only one has graded higher to date and only five others share this grade
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H. pair, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 195 P.F. certificate for strip of four
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H. guide line strip of four, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, scarce guide line strip of four as most have been broken to furnish guide line pairs and singles to collectors, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate