Sale 1037 — United States and Foreign Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 10-14 December, 2012
Category — 1902-08 Issue thru Jamestown Issue (Scott 300-330)
1c Blue Green, Booklet Pane of Six (300b). Plate no. 3469 in tab, two lightly hinged, other four Mint N.H., intense color, well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
4c Brown (303). Mint N.H., remarkably well-centered with choice margins, beautiful color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $400.00), detached bottom plate no. tab accompanies
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide margins, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1986 and 2004 P.F. and 2003 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $2,000.00), only five have graded higher
50c Orange (310). Essentially perfectly centered with choice balanced margins, lightly hinged, vivid color, guideline at top, tiny natural inclusion, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1979 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (310). Intense shade on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF 90)
50c Orange (310). Well-centered, vibrant color, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-XF 85; SMQ $435.00)
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade on fresh paper, couple small natural gum creases, Very Fine, a pretty stamp
$1.00 Black (311). Minor h.r., incredibly well-centered with choice margins, intense shade on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Guideline at top, well-centered, intense color, Very Fine
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Single hinge mark, deep shade, almost perfectly centered with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
4c Brown, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins to well clear at left with Schermack perforations on both sides, deep rich color, usual wavy-line cancel, thinned at right and barely noticeable light vertical creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE WITH SCHERMACK PERFORATIONS, SCOTT 314A. ONLY 31 USED SINGLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our recently updated census of Scott 314A incorporates the records of the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records (which represents over 40 years of auction sales) and our own computerized sales history. The census reveals a startling fact -- there are only 31 used singles (two on piece), a used strip of three and three covers (one of which contains a strip of three), for a total of 39 used stamps. Our previous assumption was that this number was much higher.
From the Belasco collection. With 1962 and 2010 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., huge margins incl. wide top left corner sheet margins with siderographers' initials, bright color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, a wonderful position piece
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., large margins, intense color, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate for horizontal pair
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Large margins, intense color, Extremely Fine, with photocopy of 2005 P.F. certificate for pair, states this stamp is "previously hinged", evidence of which we can not see
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. pair, large margins all around, bright shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ as a pair)
5c Blue, Coil (317). Pair, slightly disturbed original gum and narrow h.r. at top and bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impression, top stamp tiny faint margin thin at lower leftVERY FINE APPEARING PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1908 VERTICAL COIL.
The 5c 1908 Coil stamps, which were stripped by hand, are almost always strongly centered to one side.
With 2012 P.F. certificate. Each stamp with purple Mekeel backstamp
2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Two items, first is block of four with bottom plate no. 3812 selvage and radically misperforated, h.r., second is used single with prominent pre-printing paperfold, Very Fine, unusual items
2c Carmine, Ty. II (319Fi; formerly 319i). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4360 strip of three, brilliant color, center stamp tiny insignificant perf tear, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as singles
2c Louisiana Purchase (324). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 2126 block of six with imperforate half-arrow at right, excellent centering, Very Fine
3c Louisiana Purchase (325). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98; SMQ $4,750.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98J).
3c Louisiana Purchase (325). Mint N.H., choice centering and margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00)
3c Louisiana Purchase (325). Mint N.H. wide right arrow block of four, vivid color, left pair particularly choice centering, tiny natural inclusion bottom left stamp, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a beautiful block, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the position
3c Louisiana Purchase (325). Huge top imprint and plate no. 2101 block of six, top row faintly hinged, bottom row Mint N.H., rather nicely centered for this issue, fresh and Very Fine, with 2009 P.F. certificate
5c Louisiana Purchase (326). Top imprint and plate no. 2098 block of four with narrow selvage, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps small h.r., rich color, Very Fine, Scott Retail as hinged plate block of four
5c Louisiana Purchase (326). Very wide top imprint and plate no. 2100 block of six, Mint N.H., bottom three natural gum wrinkles, tiny flaw in margin between pos. 1 and 2, otherwise Fine
10c Louisiana Purchase (327). Mint N.H., nearly perfectly centered, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. (with plate no.) and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $725.00)
10c Louisiana Purchase (327). Mint N.H. with selvage at left, pretty shade, fresh and Very Fine, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate for block
10c Louisiana Purchase (327). Left arrow block of four, left stamps Mint N.H., right pair not hinged but few tiny gum disturbance specks we feel would knock it out of Mint N.H. category, rich color, beautiful margins and centering, Extremely Fine position block, Scott Retail as two Mint N.H. and two hinged singles with no premium for position
10c Louisiana Purchase (327). Mint N.H. huge top imprint and plate no. 2105 block of six, rich color, fresh and brightFINE-VERY FINE. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS SCARCE TEN-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE PLATE BLOCK OF SIX AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN THIS MINT NEVER-HINGED POST OFFICE CONDITION.
Louisiana Purchase plate blocks with extra wide top sheet selvage are much scarcer and more valuable than plate blocks with typical "half selvage" width.
10c Louisiana Purchase (327). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 2106 block of four, unusually choice centering throughout, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BOCK OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT LOUISIANA PURCHASE ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
2c Jamestown (329). Bottom imprint and plate no. 3657 block of six, top three hinged, bottom three Mint N.H., spectacular centering and rare in that regard, Extremely Fine Gem plate block, 2c Jamestown plate blocks of this quality are seldom encountered due to the narrow spacing between stamps
5c Jamestown (330). Top imprint and plate no. 3554 block of six, fresh, intense color, typical centering for this notoriously difficult issue, Fine