Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1922 and Later Issues (Scott 551-3260)
3c Violet (555). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins and perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $650.00), only three have graded higher
4c Yellow Brown (556). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $325.00)
9c Rose (561). Mint N.H., vibrant color, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $490.00), only two have graded higher (at 98J)
10c Orange (562). Mint N.H., vivid color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $800.00), only three have graded higher
11c Light Bluish Green (563a). Mint N.H., superbly centered with perfectly balanced Jumbo margins, delightful color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ in this shade, SMQ 225.00 as 98 in normal shade, unpriced in higher grade), this is the only stamp in this shade awarded this grade, with none higher
15c Gray (566). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins with mathematical centering, choice pastel shade on crisp paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $675.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), one of only four to achieve this very desirable grade with only three higher, a statistic that has remained unchanged for three years
20c Carmine Rose (567). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $850.00), only two have graded higher and only two others share this grade
2c Carmine, Rotary (579). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Perf 10 (581). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $775.00), only two have graded higher and five others share it
7c Black, Perf 10 (588). Mint N.H., intense shade, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,025.00), only two have graded higher
8c Olive Green, Perf 10 (589). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, pretty shade, attractive centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $380.00)
9c Rose, Perf 10 (590). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $650.00), only three have graded higher
1c Green, Rotary, Perf 11 (594). Fresh color, unobtrusive cancel leaves design clearly visible, choice centering for this difficult issue, a past description (Sale 913) noted a light diagonal crease but it is not apparent and is not noted on any accompanying certificate including 2007 P.F. certificate issued after that descriptionEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 ROTARY PERF 11 ISSUE.
The 1c Green, Scott 594, is waste from a horizontal rotary printing used to make coils. At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was produced that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919 the Bureau devised a plan to salvage this waste by perforating and cutting the sheets into panes. They were put through the flat-plate perforator in use at the time, giving the sheets full perforations on all sides. In 1923 coil waste from the new 1c and 2c rotary production was turned into stamps later classified as Scott 578-579 and 594-595. These were the last of the coil-waste issues. Fewer than 100 survive of Scott 594 today.
Our exhaustive census of Scott 594, available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/594/594.pdf , contains 89 used singles, four used pairs and five covers (including one with a pair) for a total of 103 used stamps. Many have perforations either in on one or more side, or have faults.
Census No. 594-CAN-72. With clear 1954, 1988 and 2007 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., brilliant color, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. certificate (XF 90XQ)
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (599b). Mint N.H. joint line pair, precise centering, gorgeous color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb Mint N.H. joint line pair of this shade variety, which is rarely encountered, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,500.00)
2c Carmine, Joint Line Pair, Ty. I, II (599-599A). Joint line pair, rich color, gorgeous centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY PRESS COIL COMBINING TYPES I AND II.
According to the Armstrong book, the Type I, Scott 599, was produced starting in 1923. In 1929 the Bureau experimented with a new method of making plates. It became necessary to retouch the die, most notably in the hair, creating Type II (Scott 599A and 634A). Combination joint line pairs exist because two plates of 170 subjects were used at one time and for a short period one plate of each type was used.
The existence of the new die wasn't discovered until 1932, almost three years after it was produced. On July 6, 1932, the postage rate for first class mail was changed from 2c to 3c, and demand dropped sharply for 2c stamps. The existence of combination joint line pairs was not discovered until the early 1940's, making them especially scarce.
With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,500.00). The Population report does not list the combination joint line pair so we do not know the population figures; it is unpriced in SMQ as a 95 so it is likely none exist at that higher grade.
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Mint N.H. pair, radiant color, both stamps remarkably well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL COIL, SCOTT 599A, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,800.00), this is the highest grade awarded (six others share it)
3c Violet, Coil (600). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color, perfectly centered, intact perfs at right, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal Mint N.H. pair, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $375.00), only one has graded higher and only eight others share this grade
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (606a). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,000.00), difficult to find with choice centering, the highest grade awarded is a 95
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (606a). Mint N.H. pair, rich color in this distinctive shade, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous Mint N.H. pair, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $850.00), only one has graded higher (at 100) and none share this desirable grade
2c Harding, Rotary, Perf 11 (613). Better centering than often seen for this rotary sheet waste issue, sharp impression, light machine cancelFRESH AND VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT HARDING ROTARY PERF 11.
Warren G. Harding, the 29th President, died in San Francisco on August 2, 1923, during a cross-country "Voyage of Understanding". Several people suggested a Harding memorial stamp, printed in black, and it was rushed into production. The first flat plate printing (Scott 610) was issued on September 1, 1923, in his home town of Marion, Ohio, followed less than two weeks later by the normal Perf 10 rotary press printing (Scott 612) on September 12.
The 2c Harding Rotary Perf 11 stamp was discovered in 1938 by Leslie Lewis of the New York firm, Stanley Gibbons Inc. Gary Griffith presents his hypothesis in United States Stamps 1922-26 that rotary-printed sheets of 400 were first reduced to panes of 100 and then fed through the 11-gauge perforating machine normally used for flat plate sheets. This method explains the existence of a straight-edge on Scott 613. Production quality and quantity was very low, due to the rotary press stamps' natural tendency to curl, and the use of the flat plate perforator for the slightly different-sized rotary printing.
Our updated census of the 2c Harding Rotary Perf 11, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/613/613.pdf , records 43 used singles (one faintly cancelled, if at all), one used pair and the recently-discovered used strip of three. Of the singles, 25 are sound, but of these only six rate a grade of Very Fine or Extremely Fine.
Census No. 613-CAN-04. Ex McKinney. With 2002 P.F. certificate
2c White Plains Souvenir Sheet (630). Mint N.H., nice centering throughout, bright color, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Ty. II (634A). Mint N.H., with bottom selvage, brilliant color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1979 P.F. certificate
1c-10c Kans. and Nebr. Ovpts. (658-661, 677-670, 672-674, 676). Ten different values, Mint N.H. except 3c Kans. lightly hinged, all well-centered and fresh, Extremely Fine, Nos. 672, 673 and 676 with 2006-08 P.S.E. certificates grading XF-Superb 95, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo and XF-Superb respectively
4c Kans. Ovpt. (662). Mint N.H., deep rich color, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $675.00), only three have graded higher (all 98J)
5c Kans. Ovpt. (663). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $700.00), only two have graded higher and only three others share this grade
6c Kans. Ovpt. (664). Mint N.H., vivid color and crisp paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,050.00), only one has graded higher (at 98J)
7c Kans. Ovpt. (665). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,100.00), only two have graded higher
8c Kans. Ovpt. (666). Mint N.H., pretty shade, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,500.00), only four have graded higher
6c Nebr. Ovpt. (675). Mint N.H., vivid color, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,075.00)
9c Nebr. Ovpt. (678). Mint N.H., essentially perfectly centered, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $340.00)
10c Nebr. Ovpt. (679). Mint N.H., vibrant color, perfect centering with unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,050.00), only three have graded higher
12c Brown Violet (693). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $320.00), only three have graded higher
30c Brown (700). Mint N.H., deep rich color, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $360.00), only one has graded higher (at 100)
50c Lilac (701). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impression, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00), only six have graded higher
H Stamp, Uncle Sam's Hat, "Postcard Rate" (3260 var). Mint N.H., bright colors, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE H-STAMP WITH "POSTCARD RATE".
Scott Catalogue notes that these non-denominated stamps have been found in the marketplace, but that there is no evidence they were officially issued. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; unpriced in SMQ). Scott catalogue value
H Stamp, Uncle Sam's Hat, "Postcard Rate" (3260 var). Bright colors, wide and balanced margins, red circular datestamp cancels, left stamp mostly separated from stripEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED STRIP OF FIVE OF THE H-STAMP WITH "POSTCARD RATE". A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
Scott Catalogue notes that these non-denominated stamps have been found in the marketplace, but that there is no evidence they were officially issued. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate. Scott catalogue value as used singles