Sale 1217 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 3 March, 2020
Category — 1917-19 Issues (Scott 498-517)
1c Green (498). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, choice centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $325.00), only four grade higher
1c Green, 2c Rose, Ty. I, Complete $3.00 and $6.00 A.E.F. Booklet Covers (BK64, BK65). Front and back covers, the 2c intact staples at left and eleven pieces of interleaving without any stamps, 1c covers only, green cover reads reads "300 1 Cent Postage Stamps $3", pink cover reads "300 2 Cent Postage Stamps $6", few small cover faults, Very Fine, it is unfortunate that no stamps accompany but these are phenomenal collateral items, there are no known part or complete A.E.F. booklets of the 2c and there are believed to be only five or six covers of empty 2c booklets
1c Green, 2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f, 499f). Two covers, first with block of six and block of four from 1c pane tied by handstamp on registered cover to Detroit Mich. with purple "Army Post Service No. 5, Registered, Jun. 6, 1918" double-circle datestamp and censor's marking, second with L-shaped block of five from the 2c pane containing one full column, tied by handstamps on large part of wrapper to Prof. Andrew Keogh at Yale University Library, with purple censor's handstamp, Very Fine, the 1c cover was sent with postage free of charge and the 10c pays the registry fee, the 2c was oversize and was sent to the archivist of the American Commission to Negotiate Peace, very few covers exist with 2c A.E.F. stamps, especially showing the full height of the booklet
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1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering throughout, one stamp in center row small natural inclusion, Extremely Fine, a superb pane
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Right three vertical rows some gum loss, others Mint N.H., bright color, mostly well-centered, overall Very Fine
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Very lightly hinged, radiant color on bright paperFINE-VERY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH LIGHTLY-HINGED 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed.
With 1980 P.F. certificate
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. single error in a vertical pair with normal 2c (which is hinged), brilliant color, Very Fine
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. single error in a block of six with five normal 2c which are hinged, brilliant color, Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. single
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. double error in a block of twelve, bottom error stamp is uncharacteristically well-centered, radiant color, Very Fine and handsome, with 1997 P.F. certificate
5c Rose, Error (505). Double error in a block of twelve, both errors and six 2c stamps Mint N.H., top row 2c stamps h.r., brilliant color, top error small natural inclusion, overall Fine-Very Fine with both errors attractive centering, Scott Retail as two Mint N.H. errors without premium for the block format
8c Olive Bister, Perf 10 at Bottom (508c). Intense shade, neat "Anderson, Ind." precancel, two short perfs at bottomFINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT 1917 ISSUE PERF 10 AT BOTTOM.
Our census, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/508c , includes 23 used examples (none are known unused).
Census No. 508c-CAN-23. With 2019 P.F. certificate
9c Salmon Red (509). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 12571 block of six, beautiful centering and margins, bright color, overall Extremely Fine with the bottom stamps Extremely Fine Gems, wonderful quality
12c Claret Brown, Perf 10 at Top (512b). Showing transitional perfs at top with top right clearly Perf 10, straight edge at right helps identify which column of the sheet this comes from, "Bellingham Wash." precancel, faint thin near bottom of vignette ovalVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 12-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CENTERED EXAMPLES.
Our census of Scott 512b, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/512b , contains only 17 used, one on cover and four unused examples of this rarity. Only five used examples are confirmed as sound; nine have faults and three need to be reexamined for condition.
Census No. 512b-CAN-17. With 2019 P.F. certificate
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and precise centering, deep rich color, post-office fresh in every respect, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,750.00), only five grade higher