Sale 1028 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used U.S. Stamps, Part Three: 1902 and Later Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 20 September, 2012
Category — 1908-09 Perf 12 Double-Line Watermark Issue (Scott 331-356)
1c Green (331). Lightly cancelled, mathematically perfect centering with Jumbo margins all around, radiant color and crisp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, this is without question one of the finest in existence, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $150.00 as 98), this is the highest grade possible and only three others share this grade
1c Green, Booklet Pane of Six (331a). Position A, complete with tab, deep rich color and proof-like impression, light strike of 1920 duplex cancel, Extremely Fine, a scarce complete used booklet pane with tab
2c-15c 1908-09 Issue (332-333, 335-339). Selection of Gem-quality used stamps, 2c with part imprint selvage at bottom, all have far superior centering to what is normally seen, wonderful color, 15c with boxed purple Idaho cancel, all are sound and Extremely Fine Gems, an excellent opportunity to acquire these low-value issues in superb condition
2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (332a). Position A with intact tab at top, radiant color, neat strikes of Niles Mich. oval registry cancels, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful and scarce intact used pane, very few are known as intact panes
4c Orange Brown (334). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, neat strike of Providence R.I. oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $105.00)
50c Violet (341). Gorgeous rich color on bright paper, neat strike of Fort Worth Tex. oval registry cancel, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $255.00), only two have graded higher to date (the highest is a 98) and only one other shares this grade
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Beautiful centering with well-proportioned margins, intense color and proof-like impression, unobtrusive strikes of oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, this is the most difficult denomination of the series to obtain in such choice condition -- it was the last to be issued, it was issued in limited quantities, and the margins tend to be narrow, with 2005 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $700.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and only two others share this grade
1c-5c 1908-09 Issue, Imperforate (343-347). Horizontal pairs, large to huge margins, 3c with vertical guideline, few different cancels incl. duplex, registry oval, Extremely Fine, a beautiful and desirable set of used pairs
1c Green, Coil (348). Guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, unobtrusive strikes of circular datestamp at rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE 1908 ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 348, IS RARE AS A USED GUIDE LINE PAIR.
The vertical coils were much less popular than the horizontal coils and so few were used. Used guide line pairs are rare.
With 1995 P.S.E. and 1999 P.F. certificates
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Guide line pair, bright color and detailed impression, unusually wide and balanced margins, neat strike of "Benton Harbor Mich." oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 1910 4-CENT VERTICAL COIL IN EXISTENCE. ONLY EIGHT GENUINE USED GUIDE LINE MULTIPLES ARE RECORDED. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
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. Our census of used guide line pairs records only seven, plus one contained in a strip of four. Five of the eight were used in Benton Harbor Mich., the home town of Alvin Filstrup.
Unpublished Census No. 350-CAN-LP-07. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (351). Guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, remarkably well-centered with wide margins, neat strike of "Benton Harbor Mich. Oct. 31, 1913" duplex cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED VERTICAL COIL.
Scott 351 is the only 5c Washington-Franklin perforated vertical coil stamp ever produced. Demand proved to be so low that no others were made.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1989 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, bright color, detailed impression, neat wavy-line machine cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, bold strikes of Salem Mass. oval registry cancels, separated and expertly rejoined, small surface scrape at lower right, otherwise Fine, apart from the 10c (Scott 356), this is the rarest of the Perf 12 coils to obtain as a guide line pair, with 2003 P.F. certificate on a 1911 cover (cover accompanies which also has an 8c stamp on it)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Guide line pair, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, rich color and proof-like impression, neat strikes of duplex cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 354, IN EXISTENCE. THIS MAGNIFICENT GUIDE LINE PAIR HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Johl notes that the 4c coil was used primarily for mailing advertising matter and so was not widely distributed. This also meant that not many were saved, and that very few multiples were used. The rarity of a guide line pair in this condition cannot be overstated -- the guide line only occurs after every 20 stamps, making it nine times as rare as a normal pair. For a guide line pair to receive this coveted grade both stamps must have wide and even margins, which is also orders of magnitude more difficult to find than just a single or even a regular pair.
With 1986 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $12,500.00 as 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade.
5c Blue, Coil (355). Guide line pair, rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, unusually choice centering, neat strike of duplex cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355.
As an indication of rarity, this is the first we have offered since this exact guide line pair was last offered in our Twigg-Smith sale in 2001 and this is the only example contained in Power Search. Perhaps a half dozen are known in any condition.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1989 P.F. certificate.
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Strip of three, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, two neat strikes of Philadelphia oval registry cancel and also with registry number at bottom, right stamp small thin spotVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SIXTEEN RECORDED GENUINE USED MULTIPLES OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356. ESPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE AS A STRIP OF THREE. IN OUR OPINION THERE ARE NO GENUINELY USED GUIDE LINE PAIRS OF THIS ISSUE.
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.
Our census of Scott No. 356 in used multiples, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/356/356.pdf , contains thirteen pairs, one strip of four and two strips of three. The other strip of three is rejoined. Five of the pairs originated on the same cover, which was prepared by Henry Hammelman and mailed in August 1911. It also contained other denominations. A guide line pair has been certified as genuine, but the cancel needs to be reexamined to see if it is one of the fakes produced during the last 20 years.
With 1976 and 1996 P.F. certificates. Last offered in our 1997 Rarities sale. Scott Retail as pair and single.