Sale 976 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 29 September-2 October, 2009
Category — 1908-10 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 331-356)
4c Orange Brown (334). Mint N.H. with part top imprint selvage, wide margins and excellent centering, fresh and bright, Extremely Fine, with photocopy of 2000 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $215.00)
6c Red Orange (336). Mint N.H., vibrant color, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 336, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 1999 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $4,200.00). Only three have graded higher to date and no others share this grade.
6c Red Orange (336). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 4937 block of six with wide selvage, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 6-CENT WASHINGTON ISSUE, SCOTT 336.
With 2000 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates
8c Olive Green (337). Mint N.H., almost perfectly centered, pretty shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., vivid color as fresh as the day it was printed, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
50c Violet (341). Mint N.H., lovely margins and centering, fresh bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,000.00)
50c Violet (341). Block of four with imprint at bottom, bottom left stamp Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, pretty pastel shade, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the imprint
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Block of four, lightly hinged, sharp proof-like impression, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, top right stamp Extremely Fine, a pretty block
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Block of four with part bottom imprint and plate no. 4957 selvage, top pair lightly hinged, bottom pair Mint N.H., intense color and attractively centered, Very Fine
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. guide line pair, rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color and crisp impression, almost mathematically perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $860.00)
1c Green, Coil (348). Pair, huge Jumbo margins, uncharacteristic for this coil issue, rich color, each with single line cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $580.00 as 95, unpriced as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to a used No. 348 pair, the lone runner-up grades at only 90
5c Blue, Coil (351). Guide line strip of four, top stamp lightly hinged, other three (incl. guide line pair) Mint N.H., nicely centered, Very Fine
5c Blue, Coil (351). Pair, nicely centered, duplex circular datestamp and grid cancel, Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, extraordinarily well-centered with wide margins, choice color and faintly hinged, Extremely Fine, remarkably beautiful line pair, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, deep rich color, centered to bottom but clear, Fine
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Exceptionally wide Jumbo margins, rich color, neat Hartford Conn. double oval cancel, Very Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. guide line pair, rich color and proof-like impression, fresh and Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (355). Unusually wide margins, excellent color and impression, faintly hinged, Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate for pair
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Guide line strip of four, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, h.r. where some perf separations reinforced (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE GUIDE LINE STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356.
According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed. Most guide line strips have been broken into pairs and singles.
With 1968 P.F. certificate.