Sale 1134 — The Alan Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 14 September, 2016
Category — 1917-19 Issues (Scott 481-524)
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (482A). Deep rich color on bright white paper, Schermack perforations completely intact at left showing significant portion of adjoining stamp at left, cancel leaves design clearly visible, shallow thin spot at top, tiny tear to the left of Schermack perf at upper left outside the boundary of the stamp itself (neither of these observations mentioned on accompanying certificate)FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY 40 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY.
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 our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/482A/482A.pdf , records three covers, one unused single, a used pair and 40 used singles for a total of 46 stamps. Most examples are either cut well into the design or have the Schermack perfs trimmed away on one side.
Census No. 482A-CAN-37. Ex "Lake Shore" and Hoffman. With 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Single error in block of nine, huge margins all around including parts of eleven adjoining stamps and guideline at top, error and few 2c stamps very lightly hinged, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF NINE.
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 2006 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (487). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00), only two pairs have graded higher (no line pairs have been graded above 95)
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Pair, lightly hinged with single hinge mark at top, brilliant color, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE PAIR OF THE RARE 2-CENT CARMINE TYPE II ROTARY PRESS UNWATERMARKED COIL.
Unlike many other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.
Ex Golin. With 1972 A.P.S. and 2001 P.S.E. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Barely hinged, rich color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE II PERF 10 HORIZONTAL COIL ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
Ex "North Fork". With 1994 P.F. certificate
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (493). Mint N.H., bright shade on crisp paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $325.00), only one has graded higher
10c Orange Yellow, Coil (497). Mint N.H. pair, vibrant color, gorgeous centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.F. certificate (Superb 98)
1c-11c 1917-19 Issue, Mint N.H. Superb Graded Balance (498-499, 501-502, 504, 506-508, 510-511). Mint N.H., each with P.S.E.-graded certificate and graded between 95 and 98J, deep rich colors, Extremely Fine Gems, SMQ value $2,455.00
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2c-$5.00 1917-20 Issues, Superb Graded Balance (499/517, 524, 547). Eleven items, including Nos. 499, 506, 508, 513-517, 524 and 547, including two 50c in distinctly different shades, one is graded 98J and is barely hinged, each graded XF-Superb 95 and above, some OGh, some OGph, bright colors, Extremely Fine and desirable group, each with graded P.S.E. certificate, SMQ value $1,840.00
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2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Mint N.H., brilliant color, choice centering with wide margins, small natural perf disc indent at left edge, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $725.00), we are sure this would have graded higher were it not for the perf disc
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in block of nine, error and seven 2c stamps Mint N.H., top center stamp lightly hinged, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. single error without 2c stamps
9c Salmon Red (509). Mint N.H., beautiful bright color on white paper, almost perfectly centered with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex "North Fork", with 2005 P.F. certificate (Superb 98)
12c Claret Brown (512). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, beautiful centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $425.00)
13c Apple Green (513). Mint N.H., beautifully balanced margins, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00)
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00)
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H., vibrant color, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $475.00)
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $525.00)
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2004 and 2010 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
2c Carmine (519). Choice centering with Jumbo margins, brilliant color, detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00)
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Stunning Jumbo margins and nearly perfectly centered, bright frame color, Extremely Fine Gem, scarce in this quality, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00)