Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — 1917-19 Issues (Scott 481-518)
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Single error in a Mint N.H. block of nine, huge margins all around with portions of adjoining stamps on all sides, brilliant color, bottom center 2c stamp with trivial natural inclusion only faintly visible from frontEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 5-CENT CARMINE IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF NINE.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate number 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 in Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 formats (Scott 467, 485 and 505). The imperforate is by far the rarest of the three.
With 1995 P.F. certificate.
1c-5c 1916-19 Issue (490, 492, 494-496). Mint N.H. joint line pairs, radiant colors, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine group, a rare opportunity to acquire these less expensive coil line pairs in superior condition
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1c-5c 1916-19 Issue (490, 492-496). Mint N.H. pairs, radiant colors, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gems, a rare opportunity to acquire these lesser-priced pairs in superb condition
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2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil, (491). Joint line pair, original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color, very well-centered with nicely balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE CENTERED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II COIL.
Unlike many other issues, this horizontal coil is much scarcer than its 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 EDUs for the two coils (Dec. 19, 1916 for No. 491 and Jan. 13, 1917 for No. 492).
With 1977, 1999 and 2014 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Mint N.H. pair, rich color, detailed impression, beautiful centering for this difficult coil issueEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIRS OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II IN EXISTENCE.
Unlike many other issues, this horizontal coil is much scarcer than its 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 EDUs for the two coils (Dec. 19, 1916 for No. 491 and Jan. 13, 1917 for No. 492).
Ex "Scarsdale", Hoffman and from our 2011 Rarities sale. With 1999 and 2007 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (492). Mint N.H. joint line pair, intense shade and impression, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H. joint line pair, bright color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
1c-$1.00 1917-19 Issue (498-504, 506-518). Mint N.H., $1.00 with bottom part imprint selvage, includes No. 512a, brilliant colors, beautiful centering throughout, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a gorgeous group, No. 500 with 1973 P.F. certificate
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1c Green, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (498a). Original gum, huge margins all around, fresh color, Extremely Fine Gem, a premium example of this error, with Scott no. pencil notation on gum
1c Green, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (498b). Mint N.H., brilliant color and crisp impression, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1917 ONE-CENT PERF 11 ISSUE IMPERFORATE BETWEEN.
In our experience, most of these pairs are either hinged, off-center or both. This is a condition rarity. Ex Blumenkopf, Floyd and Whitman. With 1995 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates.
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Mint N.H., rich color on fresh paper, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a choice 1c A.E.F. pane, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, with original interleavingFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION. THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD MINT NEVER-HINGED PANE WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
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. The only other Mint N.H. panes we have sold in the past 30 years were offered in the 1998 Zoellner and 2009 Whitman sales.
With 2012 P.F. certificate
2c Lake, Ty. I, Booklet Pane Single (499i). Intense color which is distinctly different from the normally issued Rose color and its sub-shades, excellent centering with straight edge at left, unobtrusive strike of duplex cancel, Very Fine, this is the discovery example which served as the initial listing in the 2017 Scott U.S. Specialized (unpriced), this is still the only example we have encountered -- every bit as rare, if not rarer, than Scott 406c in Lake shade which catalogues $6,000.00 used, with 2016 P.F. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. I-Ia (499-500). Mint N.H. pair from Positions 94-95 with bottom plate no. 10208 selvage, left stamp Ty. Ia, choice centering, right stamp small gum skipEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED SCOTT 499-500 COMBINATION PAIR.
Type Ia was created in 1919, when the Bureau of Engraving & Printing created an experimental 10-subject transfer roll, and used it to enter two new plates (Nos. 10208 and 10209). The two Type I positions from the bottom row of plate 10208 were the result of re-entries using the normal Type I transfer roll (the 10-subject roll would have been too large to accomplish single position re-entries). This is one of the choicest examples of this combination we have encountered.
Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H.. Scott value as hinged is $1,500.00 but this fails to convey the rarity of this choice Mint N.H. pair.
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., brilliant color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine
3c Dark Violet, Ty. II, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (502c). Mint N.H., rich color, outstanding centering almost unheard of for this variety with beautifully balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1918 3-CENT TYPE II IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.
We have offered only about ten unused examples of this variety since keeping computerized records, in pairs, strips or blocks. All but three of those pieces are hinged. Of the two pairs and single strip of three we have offered in Mint N.H. condition, this pair has by far the best centering.
5c Rose, Error (505). Double error in Mint N.H. block of twelve, brilliant color, top error natural perf disc inclusion, Extremely Fine
5c Rose, Error (505). Double error in block of twelve, errors and most 2c Mint N.H., bottom center 2c lightly hinged, radiant color, Very Fine and choice, Scott value as two Mint N.H. singles
11c Light Green, Perf 10 at Bottom (511a). Mint N.H., bright shade, wide margins and beautiful centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 11-CENT 1917 ISSUE PERF 10 AT BOTTOM.
Ex Joyce and "Sirron". With 1977, 1999 and 2019 P.F. certificates
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., with bottom plate no. 7057 selvage, radiant color, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $675.00)
$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 PHENOMENAL 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.
With 2022 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 three to achieve this grade. This was purchased by Mr. Field from a dealer in 1982.