Sale 1032 — The Nick Kirke Collection of Gem-Quality Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 October, 2012
Category — 1917-18 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 483-524)
3c Violet, Imperforate (483). Jumbo margins with parts of all eight adjoining stamps, rich color, boxed town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb and striking stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $95.00 as 98), this is the sole used example of this issue to achieve this ultimate grade
1c Green, Coil (486). Pair and single, pair with wide margins, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), one of only three examples at this grade with none higher, single with Jumbo margins, perfect centering, Denver Col. town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo), the highest grade awarded and shared by no others, both also accompanied by 2011 P.F. certificates, total SMQ $305.00 with no premium for the Jumbo appellation on the single
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (488). Perfect centering with wide margins, neat oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $250.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (489). Perfect centering with choice wide margins, pretty pastel color, indistinct cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $150.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
1c Green, Coil (490). Mathematically precise centering with wide margins, neat machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, absolute perfection, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; SMQ $110.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grades), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Superb centering with wide balanced margins, bright color on fresh paper, light wavy-line machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS COIL HAS STOOD FOR NINE YEARS AS THE ONLY SUPERB 98 GRADE IN THE P.S.E. POPULATION REPORT. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 1998 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,500.00). Since it was submitted to P.S.E. in 2003 this stamp has remained the highest graded example, used or unused, of Scott 491
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Coil (492). Wide margins and exceptional centering, light wavy-line machine cancel, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $170.00), only two examples have achieved this desirable grade with none higher
3c Violet, Ty. I, Coil (493). Pair, outstanding margins and centering, lovely pastel color, neat New York Grand Central Station machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $740.00), this is the highest grade awarded and no other examples have achieved this grade, the next highest graded used pair is a 90, a single has not graded over 90 in used condition
3c Violet, Ty. II, Coil (494). Perfect centering with wide margins, beautiful bright color, neat strike of oval numeral grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $500.00), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other example has achieved this grade
5c Blue, Coil (496). Pair, mathematically perfect centering, bright color, neat wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an absolutely superb coil pair, with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $495.00 as 98), this is the only used example of Scott 496 in any format to achieve this perfect grade, with none higher
10c Orange Yellow, Coil (497). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, vivid color, New York 1923 circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $235.00), only two used singles have achieved this grade with none higher
1c Green (498). Mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins, vibrant color which is lighter than usual, light Pasadena Cal. town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge and striking stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98; SMQ $175.00 as 98), this is the highest grade possible and only five others have achieved this grade, of those five we have offered three, all of which have wavy-line machine cancels, this datestamp cancel is more attractive than the others
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Bright color, Jumbo margins with exceptional centering, light wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1988 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $1,050.00 as 95), this is the highest grade awarded and only one other example has achieved this grade
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Radiant color on crisp paper, neat wavy-line machine cancel, wide margins and almost perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00), only two have graded higher (at 95J, one offered in previous lot)
3c Dark Violet, Ty. II (502). Rich color on bright paper, face-free cancel, gorgeous centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $290.00), this is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
4c Brown (503). Jumbo margins and near perfect centering, beautiful bright color, light duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $300.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), only one example has graded higher and only one other has equaled this grade
5c Blue (504). Precise centering with Jumbo balanced margins all around, face-free strike of oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $260.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), only three examples have achieved this desirable grade with none higher
5c Rose, Error (505). Huge beautifully balanced margins, lightly cancelled but P.F. declines opinion as to whether or not the cancel is contemporary, still Extremely Fine Gem appearance, with 2010 P.F. certificate for block of nine, this the center stamp, Scott Retail as unused
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in block of six, neat strike of "Cincinnati Ohio, Stockyards Station, Jun. 8, 1922" duplex cancel, Very Fine, considerably scarcer in genuine used condition than unused, with 2006 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as used single
6c Red Orange (506). Gorgeous color as fresh as the day it was printed, wide margins and essentially perfect centering, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $275.00), only one example has achieved this grade and only one has graded higher (at 98J)
7c Black (507). Jumbo margins and perfect centering, bright shade, oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $340.00 as 98), this stamp has stood for nine years as the highest graded used Scott 507, with none matching it
9c Salmon Red (509). Massive Jumbo margins, mathematically perfect centering, dazzling color with neat boxed town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a perfect stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $365.00 as 98), this is the only example to receive this ultimate grade with none equal, the next highest used example is graded 98
10c Orange Yellow (510). Jumbo margins and precise centering, fiery color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $275.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), only two have graded higher
11c Green (511). Massive Jumbo margins, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $375.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
12c Claret Brown (512). Jumbo margins on bright white paper, precise centering, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $275.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is the sole used Scott 512 to be awarded this grade with none higher
13c Apple Green (513). Brilliant glowing color, perfect centering with wide margins, completely face-free town cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a fresh and superb stamp in all respects, with 2011 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
15c Gray (514). Wide balanced margins, bright shade, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $400.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Jumbo margins and essentially perfect centering, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $300.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others
30c Orange Red (516). Huge Jumbo margins, precise centering, vivid color and light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem a superb stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $365.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is the highest grade awarded and no other examples have achieved this grade, the next highest used example is graded 95J
50c Red Violet (517). Perfect centering with wide margins, fresh color, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $350.00), only one example has achieved this grade with only one higher (at 98J)
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Jumbo margins and exceptionally well-centered, rich color on bright white paper, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $365.00 as 98), only two other examples have achieved this desirable grade with none higher
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Rich color in the true Deep Brown shade, detailed impression, beautiful wide and balanced margins, unusual for this difficult issue, bold strike of Sandusky O. oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 $1.00 IN THE DEEP BROWN SUB-SHADE.
According to Johl, a small number of stamps were printed in this distinctive shade early in the issue of the 1917 $1.00 stamp. During the course of the six years that the stamp was issued, all other printings were made in the Violet Brown shade. Used examples of this shade are difficult to find with centering as nice as the example offered here.
With 2000 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90). With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,700.00 as 85, $2,500.00 as 90). While the P.F. in this case gave a higher grade, the 85 awarded by P.S.E. is still the highest recorded in the Population Report, with none equal
2c Carmine (519). Deep rich color on bright paper, bold strike of New York circular datestamp, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK PERF 11 ISSUE, SCOTT 519.
This combination of the 1909 "Two Cents" on double-line watermarked paper and gauge-11 perforations was created when an unused supply of imperforate sheets was returned to the Bureau for perforating in 1917 on the new 11-gauge machine. It is probably the most widely faked non-coil 20th Century U.S. stamp (fake perfs and fake cancels abound). This is a rare genuinely perforated and genuinely cancelled example in superb condition. There is trace of cancel on the right perfs, which are full and complete.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Exceptional centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich colors, unobtrusive strike of oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK 1918 FRANKLIN ISSUE.
The $2.00 and $5.00 1918 Issue are the first bi-colored dollar-denominated postage stamps issued by the United States. Both were released just three months after the famous 1918 24c Inverted Jenny, but the early printings were issued in small quantities, since stocks of the earlier $2.00 and $5.00 issues (Scott 479 and 480) were still on hand.
According to Johl, the $2.00 Orange Red & Black was a color error on the part of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The official description and order for the bi-color stamps specified "Red and Black" for the $2.00. When subsequent printings appeared in 1920 and philatelists brought the matter to the attention of the Bureau, they were told "this stamp has always been this color" (Johl, p. 306). From studies of Bureau and Post Office records, it is clear that the originally-intended color was not issued until November 1920 (Scott 547), and that the earlier Orange Red stamps were mistakes.
With 2005 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,700.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98J) and this is the only example to achieve this grade
$5.00 Deep Green & Black, $2.00 Carmine & Black, $2.00 Lake & Black (524, 547, 547a). Each with wide margins and choice centering, deep rich colors, Extremely Fine Gems, with 2004, 2008 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates respectively (XF-Superb 95; total SMQ $555.00), this is the highest grade awarded for both 547 and 547a (three equal and two equal respectively)