Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — 1923-29 Issues (Scott 575-606a)
1c Green, Rotary (578). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Rotary (579). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14795 and Star block of four, fresh color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine and attractive Mint N.H. plate block
1c Green, Perf 10 (581). Mint N.H. bottom right corner plate no. 14205 block of four, bright shade, fresh and Extremely Fine
2c Carmine, Perf 10 (583). Mint N.H. top right corner plate no. 18317 block of four, intense color and impression, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine
3c Violet, Perf 10 (584). Mint N.H. top left corner plate no. 18380 block of four, bright shade, attractive centering, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate
3c Violet, Perf 10 (584). Mint N.H. top right plate no. 17162 block of four, rich color, choice centering, Extremely Fine plate block, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; blocks unpriced in SMQ)
4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 (585). Mint N.H. top left corner plate no. 17990 block of four, unusually choice centering throughout, fresh and Extremely Fine, easily one of the finest we have encountered, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
5c Blue, Perf 10 (586). Mint N.H. top left plate no. 16608 block of four, deep shade, exceptional centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, very scarce in this condition, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; blocks unpriced in SMQ)
8c Olive Green, Perf 10 (589). Mint N.H. bottom right plate no. 17817 block of four, pretty shade, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal Mint N.H. plate block, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
10c Orange, Perf 10 (591). Mint N.H. top right plate no. 18533 block of four, flawless centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 10-CENT 1925 PERF 10 ROTARY PRESS ISSUE, SCOTT 591. THE CORNERSTONE FOR A SET OF THIS ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., detailed impression on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14776 and star block of four, brilliant color, gorgeous centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT PERF 11 ROTARY PRESS COIL WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 595. RARELY FOUND WITH THIS PRECISE CENTERING.
Like its more famous and expensive cousin, Scott 594, the 2c Scott 595 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 11-gauge flat plate perforator in use at the time, giving the sheets full perforations on all sides. The mismatch of the printing and perforating process produced stamps that are generally poorly centered. The margin at left is often found with a straight-edge. This plate block with superb centering and perforations all around is a true condition rarity.
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 in the finest condition, ex "Golden Oak", with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,000.00), this is the highest grade awarded and is shared by only one other line pair
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (599b). Mint N.H. pair, deep and distinctive color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate for strip of four
2c Carmine, Joint Line Pair, Ty. I, II (599-599A). Mint N.H. joint line pair, deep rich color and detailed impression, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED 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 1940s, making them especially scarce.
With 1984 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Mint N.H. pair, essentially perfect centering with balanced margins, vivid colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 599A, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a pair and it is shared by only seven others. The highest graded joint line pair is only XF 90
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Dr. Killien, with 1998 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,450.00)
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (606a). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $1,150.00), only six grade higher (all at 95)
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (606a). Mint N.H. joint line pair, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex "Golden Oak", with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $875.00)
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (606a). Mint N.H. radiant color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Depew and Henson, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $400.00), the highest grade awarded and shared by only two others