Sale 1037 — United States and Foreign Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 10-14 December, 2012
Category — 1908-12 Issues (Scott 338-396)
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., magnificent centering with stunning vivid bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $425.00)
50c Violet, $1.00 Violet Brown (341-342). Well centered, 50c exceptionally choice margins and with slight gum disturbance from hinge removal, Extremely Fine
50c Violet (341). Block of four, top left stamp slightly disturbed original gum, narrow h.r. reinforcing perf separations between top pair, fresh bright color, attractive margins and centering, Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Choice margins and attractively centered, intense color, Very Fine, this stamp was removed from a 1901-08 Scott International album and presumably has now come to the auction market for the first time in over 100 years
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $600.00)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, wide margins and magnificent centering, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $275.00)
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Guide line pair, bottom stamp Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered with deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2012 Weiss certificate graded "85"
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,450.00)
5c Blue, Coil (355). Guide line pair, bright shade, neat strike of oval registry cancel, Fine, this is an exceedingly rare used guide line pair, we have offered only one other since 2001, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Impressive margins and well-centered, fresh, wonderful bright "golden" color, h.r.VERY FINE AND CHOICE SINGLE OF THE SCARCE 1909 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356.
This stamp possesses all of the key characteristics of the 10c 1909 coil -- height, color and coil trim detail under magnification -- yet it is centered much better than the typical example.
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Faintly hinged, marvelous glowing color, a strong Fine grade, very attractive example of this rare coil issue, with 1976 and 2001 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Blotchy New York oval cancel, couple thin specks not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine appearing and rare used example of this elusive coil, with 1978 P.F. certificate as used on piece with Nos. 331 and 335, the 5c in the cert photo tied to the piece and to this coil by another strike of the same cancel (trace of that cancel in right margin)
1c Green, Bluish (357). Top imprint and plate no. 4894 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., bottom right pair h.r., intense shade and impression, fresh and Fine
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Bottom imprint, star and plate no. 5015 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., left pair lightly hinged, rich color on nicely blued paper, Fine
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Mint N.H., intense shade on deeply blued paper, wide margins, few tiny natural gum skips not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Lightly hinged, with plate no. 4925 selvage at right, rich color on nicely blued paper, Fine, scarce plate number single
4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Block of four, rich color on nicely blued paper, top left stamp tiny natural inclusion by ear, few gum soaks affect perfs towards center, few perf separations at top not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. OFFERED TO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL 20TH CENTURY MULTIPLES.
During the early stages of production of the 1908-09 Washington-Franklin stamps, the Bureau tried to solve the problem of paper shrinkage that caused off-center perforations and resulted in a large number of unusable sheets. Armstrong notes that up to twenty percent of sheets had to be discarded. The first such experiments resulted in the Bluish Paper stamps (Scott 357-366). Rag cloth was added to the wood pulp mixture, but this did not have the desired effect and the experiment was discontinued.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. Given the failed experimental nature of the paper mixture, it is no surprise that virtually all copies are off-center to some extent.
Our Levi records contain a half-dozen blocks of four (none larger), but several of these may have been broken up -- the Levi records on three are from the 1950's and 1960's.
Ex Colonel Green and Grunin. With copy of 1972 P.F. certificate.
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Lightly hinged, brilliant color, with plate no. 4938 selvage at left, light corner crease at bottom right, Fine appearance, scarce with the plate number
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Bottom imprint and plate no. block of six with narrow selvage (number partly visible, possibly 4938), top stamps Mint N.H., bottom stamps lightly hinged, vibrant color on deeply blued paper, top center stamp small natural inclusion, few perf separations at bottomFINE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
Especially desirable with three Mint N.H. stamps. Scott Retail as hinged plate block.
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Exceptionally well-centered, strong color on deeply blued paper, small h.r., Extremely Fine, far above average and desirable example of the 10c Bluish Paper Issue
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). H.r., vibrant color, with plate no. 4940 selvage at bottom, small natural inclusion at left, Fine, scarce with the plate number
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Deep shade, well-centered for this difficult stamp with wide margins, expertly reperfed at right mentioned only on most recent certificate, Very Fine appearance, with 1998 P.S.E. and 2011 P.F. certificates
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Lightly hinged, with plate no. 4951 selvage at bottom, brilliant color, Very Fine and choice
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and essentially perfectly centered, fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.A.G. certificate (95J)
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H., choice centering, rich color on clearly blued paper, Extremely Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate for block and 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $575.00)
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Block of four, rich color, Very Fine and choice, top right stamp Extremely Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 4979 and small solid star block of six with wide selvage, rich color on nicely blued paper, few trivial perf separations at top of selvage of little consequence, Fine, scarce in Mint N.H. condition
2c Hudson-Fulton (372). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $550.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded and only three others share this grade
2c Hudson-Fulton (372). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and precisely centered, bright and crisp, beautiful color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $250.00 as 95, $550.00 as 98)
5c Blue (378). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $205.00 as 98), this is the only example to achieve this grade and only one has graded higher
8c Olive Green (380). Barely hinged, radiant color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $590.00)
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Mint N.H., brilliant color, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with copy of 2012 P.S.E. certificate for block
1c Green, Coil (385). Mint N.H. guide line pair, fresh, rich color, Fine-Very Fine
1c Green, Coil (387). Guide line pair, barely hinged, proof-like impression, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT COIL, SCOTT 387.
With 1990 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,900.00). This is the highest grade awarded.
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Guide line pair, slightly disturbed original gum, incredibly deep rich color, ample to wide marginsFINE. A RARE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.
This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.
With 1991 and 2012 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Barely hinged, rich color, Fine, with photocopy of 1992 P.F. certificate for pair
1c Green, Coil (392). Mint N.H. guide line pair, intense shade and impression on bright paper, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $600.00)
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), only four have graded higher
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H. guide line pair with horizontal guide line at top, beautifully centered, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H., with plate no. 5577 at right, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, especially desirable with the plate number which is normally covered by a paste-up, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,100.00), only one has graded higher
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H., bright shade on crisp paper, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,100.00), only one has graded higher and only three others share this grade
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color, wide margins, Fine-Very Fine, with 2007 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates