Sale 1199 — Gem-Quality United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 1-2 May, 2019
Category — 1917-20 Issues (Scott 519-547)
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H., well-centered with wide margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1982, 1999 and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
2c Carmine (519). Rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of "Times Square N.Y." oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PERF 11 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED ISSUE, SCOTT 519, IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS WONDERFUL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E., WHICH IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
The Johl book quotes Joseph B. Leavy, the Government Philatelist, who described how this issue came about: "In September 1910 the Postmaster of St. Louis transferred to the Postmaster of New York City the following imperforate postage stamps in sheets of 400 -- 120 sheets of the 1c -- 1,500 sheets of the 2c. They had been specially made with uniform margins [sic imperforate] for use by the United States Automatic Vending Machine Company, which company had moved to New York at that time. It seems that this firm had gone out of business for in 1917 the Postmaster in New York reported having on hand 1,467 sheets of the 2c imperforate, Series of 1908, and could find no record of the U.S. Automatic Vending Company, and asked that he be allowed to return them for credit. This being a period of conservation, the Bureau notified him to return them for perforation. They were perforated in September 1917, (four months after the last wheels of the perforating machines had been changed to gauge 11). In perforating them 34 sheets had been spoiled and were returned to the Bureau for redemption and destruction, leaving a total of 1,433 sheets of 400 or 573,200 stamps perforated 11, which were placed on sale in New York City." Johl further notes these were sold in the regular course of business and by the end of October had been distributed to post offices around New York. The majority was used for postage and destroyed before philatelists knew of the issue's existence. The example offered here, with a clear New York cancel and in superb condition, is a phenomenal rarity.
Ex "Natalee Grace". With 1996 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,250.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other. As another indication of rarity, only eight used copies have been graded in total, and the next-highest grade is a single example at VF 80.
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H. with part arrow right selvage, detailed impressions on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK 1918 FRANKLIN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Ex Whitman. With 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $9,000.00). This is the only example in the P.S.E. Population Report graded 98J. Only two stamps grade higher (one each at 100 and 100J).
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Brilliant colors and detailed impressions, outstanding centering with Jumbo margins, light 1925 circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00), only two grade higher and two others share this grade
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, deep rich frame color, post-office fresh paper and gumEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1918 $5.00 FRANKLIN ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PERFECT GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Merlin. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $6,5000.00). Only one other stamp has equaled this perfect Gem 100 grade.
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., intense colors and proof-like impressions, near perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1918 $5.00 BI-COLOR ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,650.00). Only three grade higher (highest is the 100 offered in the previous lot).
2c Carmine, Ty. Va (528). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 11516 selvage, brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, outstanding centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $875.00 without premium for the plate no.), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only seven others
2c Carmine, Ty. Va (528). Jumbo margins and near perfect centering, bright color, bold strike of oval grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $375.00), only two grade higher
3c Purple, Ty. IV (530). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 9561 selvage, fresh color on bright paper, near perfect centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.F. (Superb 98 Jumbo) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $450.00), only one grades higher (at 100J) and three others share this grade
3c Purple, Ty. IV (530). Wide margins and precise centering, bright color, oval grid cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $250.00), only two grade higher and two others share this grade
1c Green (531). Right plate no. 9509 block of six, large margins, clear strikes of "Beloit Wis. Mar. 17 4PM 1919" duplex cancels, small thin spot at left center not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine appearance, this is the earliest documented use of Scott 531, with 2003 A.P.S. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. IV, Imperforate 2c Carmine, Ty. Va, Imperforate (532, 534). Mint N.H. centerline blocks of four, No. 532 with large margins all around, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate, No. 534 with Jumbo margins showing portions of adjoining stamps, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Mint N.H. horizontal pair with vertical guide line, vivid color, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as normal pair
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Huge margins all around including wide left plate no. 11260 sheet margin, neat strike of Benton Harbor circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in this grade, SMQ $1,000.00 as 100), this is the highest grade possible and it is shared by only six others
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Huge margins showing guide line at bottom, vivid color, neat Benton Harbor Mich. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H. with wide top plate no. 12280 sheet margin, large balanced margins other sides, brilliant color on crisp white paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Most Type VII stamps were used by private vending and affixing-machine companies. However, unlike Scott 314A and 482A, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps did reach the public.
With 1976 P.F. and 2002 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $5,750.00). Only one grades higher (at 100) and only two others share this desirable grade.
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, large margins all around, vivid color, light natural gum wrinkle at top right not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE.
Most Type VII stamps were used by private vending and affixing-machine companies. However, unlike Scott 314A and 482A, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps did reach the public. Mint N.H. pairs do not come to market very often -- we have offered only a handful of others in the past ten years
With 1988 (for block) and 1998 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Huge margins all around including sheet margin at top, cancelled by neat "Oak Park Ill. Mar. 26, 1922 7 PM" wavy-line machine cancel, the sheet margin nicely showing the circular portion of the cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB AND RARE USED SHEET-MARGIN COPY OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1977, 1991 and 2014 P.F. certificates
3c Violet (537). Mint N.H., huge Jumbo margins and perfect centering, vivid color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, the ultimate 3c World War I "Victory" stamp, ex "Westchester", with 1990 P.F., 1991 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $850.00 as 100, unpriced in the 100 Jumbo grade), only three other stamps share this highest of grades
3c Deep Violet (537a). Vivid color in this scarce shade, circular datestamp cancel, small thin spot at upper right, appears Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Wonderful depth of color, attractive margins and centering, neat slogan cancel, Very Fine and choice, despite the modest catalogue value used copies of this issue are scarce and centering is normally poor, with 1994 and 2015 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., rich colors and proof-like impressions, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 CARMINE & BLACK, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $2,350.00). Only one Scott 547 grades higher (at 100)
1908-21 Washington-Franklin Issues, Superb Graded Balance. 42 used stamps, each with outstanding centering, margins, color and overall condition, neat handstamp or machine cancels, all are graded with the vast majority by P.S.E., a few by the P.F. and many with additional P.F. certificates, grades are mostly in the 95 range with some Jumbos, just a few lower at 85 or 90, also one at 98, overall Extremely Fine Gems, an exceptional balance with a hefty investment in certificates alone, attached PDF file shows all the stamps and certificates, total SMQ value as all P.S.E. graded $4,965.00
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