Sale 913 — 2006 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 13 May, 2006
Category — 1912-23 Issues (Scott 501c thru 545)
3c Light Violet, Ty. I, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (501c). Fresh and extraordinarily well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE. A EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT SCOTT 501 VERTICAL PAIR, IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.
With 1964 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 at Top (516a). Mint N.H., deep rich color, nearly perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE PERFORATION VARIETY.
Our records of Scott 516a contain three unused and two used stamps, making this one of the rarest denominations with the Perf 10 at top or bottom variety. One of the three unused stamps (ex Zoellner) recently sold at a Harmer N.Y. auction for $35,000 hammer.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Mint N.H., deep rich color in the true Deep Brown shade, choice centering for this most difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1917 ISSUE IN THE DEEP BROWN SHADE. VERY RARE IN THIS SUPERIOR GRADE.
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 normal shade. Centered Mint Never-Hinged examples such as the stamp offered here are true condition rarities -- this is only the third Mint N.H. example we have offered since keeping computerized records.
With 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
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
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Mint N.H., large even margins all around, brilliant color, detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET STAMP.
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 reached the public.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Barest trace of hinging, attractive balanced margins, bright color on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE ISSUE, SCOTT 534B.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
3c Deep Violet (537a). Mint N.H., deep rich color, fresh and Very Fine example of this color variety, with 1978 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Lightly hinged, bright fresh color, beautifully centeredEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1919 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 539.
The rotary waste sheets were rarely perforated in a uniform manner. Centered examples such as this are extremely rare.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary (545). Mint N.H., radiant color and detailed impression, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT ROTARY PRESS ISSUE, SCOTT 545. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
Due to the nature of the rotary press printing process, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to find these issues with perfect centering. The stamp offered here is the exception to the rule.
With 1997 P.F. certificate.