Sale 930 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 February, 2007
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320)
1c Blue Green (300). Mint N.H. block of four with bottom right corner selvage, deep rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, the bottom stamps are Gems, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
1c-13c 1902 Issue (300-301, 303-308, 319). 20 blocks of four and imprint and plate no. strip of three of No. 308, some duplication incl. two of Nos. 300 and 308 and three of Nos. 301 and 306 (latter in two distinct shades), original gum, few h.r., many stamps Mint N.H., rich colors, Fine-Very Fine, worthwhile group of blocks, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Blue Green, 13c Purple Black (300, 308). Blocks of four, 1c Mint N.H., 13c small h.r., each exceptionally well-centered, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 1575 block of six, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (301c). Mint N.H., choice centering, radiant color, fresh and Very Fine
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H., fabulous wide and almost perfectly balanced margins, rich color, crisp impression, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $245.00)
4c Brown (303). Mint N.H., precise centering, fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate for block of eight
6c Claret (305). Original gum, barely hinged and described on accompanying certificate as Mint N.H., intense color and impression, choice centering with extra wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, ex Piedmont, with 1997 P.F. certificate
10c Pale Red Brown (307). Mint N.H. block of four, bright color, few minor perf separations not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., bright shade and detailed impression on radiant paper, post-office fresh, Very Fine and choice, a stunning stamp, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., deep rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (310). Lightly hinged, deep radiant color, Very Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
50c Orange (310). Almost perfectly centered, beautiful glowing color, faint corner crease at top left, otherwise Extremely Fine
$1.00 Black (311). Lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and almost perfectly centered, intense color on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS DOLLAR-VALUE 1902 STAMP WOULD SERVE WELL AS THE BENCHMARK FOR ASSEMBLING A STELLAR SET OF THE 1902-03 REGULAR ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb Jumbo; SMQ $1,600.00 as 95, $2,800.00 as 98)
$1.00 Black (311). Small h.r., exceptionally well-centered, intense shade on bright paper, Extremely Fine
$1.00 Black (311). Lightly hinged, wide margins, attractively centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black (311). Huge margins and exceptionally well-centered, oval cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $215.00)
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Lightly hinged, large margins and well-centered, intense color, Very Fine
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Somewhat disturbed original gum and small h.r., incredibly well-centered, couple tiny flaws, Extremely Fine appearance
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Lightly hinged, tiny trivial perf crease at top, Fine appearance, with 2006 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Redistributed original gum, small thin spot, Fine appearance
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Disturbed original gum from hinge removal, tiny thin spot, Fine appearance
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Unused (no gum), fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Marvelous intense color, Fine, with photocopy of 1990 P.F. certificate for block of four (bottom right stamp)
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Well-centered, registry oval cancel, thin, Very Fine appearance
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. with bottom left sheet corner margin, large to huge other sides, fresh, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $430.00)
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, huge margins, Extremely Fine Gem pair
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with vertical guide line between stamps, huge margins, Extremely Fine Gem pair
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. pair, large even margins, bright shade, detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps h.r., large margins, deep rich color, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail as two pairs
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Vertical pair with genuine postal cancel during proper period of use, large to huge margins all around, cancelled by "Indianapolis Ind. Dec. 20 11:30AM 1908" duplex datestamp and oval grid, top stamp has tiny nearly unnoticeable break in the paper from "I" of "Indianapolis" in datestampEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS RARE USED PAIR OF THE 1908 5-CENT IMPERFORATE WAS REMOVED FROM THE FAMOUS COVER ADDRESSED TO ARTHUR M. TRAVERS AT THE THIRD ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE COVER WAS ALSO STAMPED WITH THE 1908 2-CENT SHIELD VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 321.
The complete intact cover from which this pair was removed is illustrated in Martin A. Armstrong's United Stated Coil Issues 1906-38 (page 26). The cover was mailed by Special Delivery on December 20, 1908, from an Indianapolis attorney named William Pirtle Herod to Arthur M. Travers in Washington D.C., who was promoted around this time to Acting Third Assistant Postmaster General after serving as Chief Clerk to A. L. Lawshe. In 1911 Travers earned philatelic notoriety when he was arrested in connection with the Steinmetz-Travers Bluish Paper scandal. His interest in stamps is reflected in a note on the cover from which this 5c 1908 Imperforate pair was removed, which reads: "Note the 2 imperforate 5c stamps. Only 13000 of such were issued and less than 10000 were used for postage purposes. A.M.T. Dec 21, 1908."
5c Blue, Vertical Coil (317). Pair, lightly hinged, deep rich color, well-centered for this challenging issueVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1908 VERTICAL COIL.
Armstrong notes that, by 1980, only 79 pairs had been certified by the Philatelic Foundation.
With 1951, 1990 and 2004 P.F. certificates
1c Blue Green, Horizontal Coil (318). Pair, lightly hinged, dark colorFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.
Armstrong notes that by 1980 approximately 80 pairs had been certified by the Philatelic Foundation.
With 1972, 1992 and 2004 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, huge and balanced margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1992 and 2001 P.F. certificates as Mint N.H., with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo - SMQ $65.00 as 98)
2c Carmine, Ty. II (319i). Mint N.H. block of four, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice Mint N.H. block of the scarcer Type II, Scott Retail as singles
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Booklet Pane of Six (319g). Mint N.H., Position F, brilliant color, unusually choice centering for a booklet pane of this issue, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. certificate