Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — 1908-10 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 331-356)
1c Green (331). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with wide margins, intense shade and impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,050.00), only two have graded higher to date and only one other shares this desirable grade
1c Green (331). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with enormous margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect, ex Odeneal, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $290.00 as 95, $1,050.00 as 98), only four have graded higher to date and only seven others share this grade
2c Carmine (332). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, wonderful rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
3c Deep Violet (333). Mint N.H., perfectly balanced margins, wonderful deep color and clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, truly exceptional, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $990.00)
3c Deep Violet (333). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $270.00 as 90, $990.00 as 95)
4c Orange Brown (334). Mint N.H., wide margins with strong color, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (335). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $230.00)
5c Blue (335). Wide top imprint and plate no. 4928 block of six, bottom right stamp faintly hinged, others Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine, an extremely scarce plate especially in the top position
6c Red Orange (336). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,750.00), only four have graded higher to date
6c Red Orange (336). Mint N.H., near perfect centering, vivid color on crisp white paper, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
8c Olive Green (337). Mint N.H., vibrant color, detailed impression, gorgeous centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK, SCOTT 337, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 1997 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,300.00 as 95, $4,400.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade.
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., vivid color as fresh as the day it was printed, post-office fresh, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE PRESS YESTERDAY, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1983 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $5,750.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only one other shares this grade.
10c Yellow (338). Mint N.H., choice margins and centering, beautiful glowing color, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine (340). Mint N.H., essentially perfectly centered, attractive soft pastel color, Extremely Fine, truly exceptional, with 2004 P.F. certificate
50c Violet (341). Mint N.H., radiant color, detailed impression on post-office fresh paper, almost perfectly centered with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1909 PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1986, 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates
50c Violet (341). Lightly hinged, pretty shade, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $455.00)
50c Violet (341). Almost perfectly centered, bright fresh color, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $455.00)
50c Violet (341). Well-centered with excellent color, lightly hinged, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide margins for this issue, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Scarsdale, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Mint N.H., nice margins and attractively centered, strong color, crisp impression, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Unusually wide margins of near Jumbo proportions, exceptionally well-centered also, guide line at bottom, intense color and lightly hinged, Extremely Fine, eye-catching, with 1998 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, mathematically perfect centering, bright shade, detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF SCOTT 348 HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1998 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $1,200.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others have achieved this grade.
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. pair, exceptionally well-centered, striking strong dark color, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates, the former as a pair, ex Scarsdale
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Pair, top stamp lightly hinged, bottom stamp Mint N.H., Fine-Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged and Mint N.H. singles
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H. guide line pair, bright shade, beautiful centering with extra wide margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED COIL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 153), this coil was issued approximately eighteen months after the horizontal coil Scott 354 and was only in use for a short period of time.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1992 and 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,900.00). Only one other has achieved this grade and only one has graded higher to date. These statistics have barely changed since March 2007 (the one graded equally to this has been added to the P.S.E. Population Report since then).
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 5-CENT PERF 12 VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 351, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Interestingly, this is the only 5c Washington-Franklin perforated vertical coil stamp ever produced. Demand proved to be so low that no others were made.
With 1977 and 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,400.00). Only one pair has graded higher to date and none share this grade.
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright and crisp paper, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS COIL ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,800.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this desirable grade.
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, deep rich color, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, scarce with such choice centering, ex Scarsdale, with 1996 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,400.00)
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H., almost perfectly balanced margins, especially wide horizontally, incredibly fresh with pleasing bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, almost never seen in this outstanding condition, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,350.00)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, deep rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1987 and 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,850.00)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). 3mm spacing pair, lightly hinged, rich color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Well-centered, light numeral duplex cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $500.00)
5c Blue, Coil (355). Guide line pair, fresh color, lightly hinged, Fine-Very Fine, scarce line pair, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Mint N.H. pair, vibrant color on crisp paper, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 10-CENT PERF 12 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A MAJOR CONDITION RARITY.
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.
A review using Power Search revealed an astonishing fact: since 1992 we have offered only two Mint N.H. pairs since keeping computerized records. We have offered in Mint N.H. condition the following examples of Scott No. 356: two guide line pairs, one guide line strip of four, two pairs and three singles.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1975, 2000 and 2007 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Separated and rejoined pair, partly readable New York town circular datestamp, perfs barely in at rightAN ATTRACTIVE AND VERY SCARCE GENUINELY USED 10-CENT 1909 COIL MULTIPLE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail as two used singles