Sale 910 — The Scarsdale Collection, Part 1: Columbian and Later Issues
Sale Date — Friday, 21 April, 2006
Category — 1902-08 Issues
1c Blue Green (300). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. certificate, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $305.00)
2c Carmine (301). Mint N.H., radiant color, unusually wide margins, virtually perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate, with 2001 and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $445.00 as 95, $1,150.00 as 98), only one stamp has received a higher grade from P.S.E., this is one of only two certified as 95J
3c Bright Violet (302). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, unusually deep rich color and detailed impression on crisp paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent stamp in every respect, with 1983 and 1999 P.F. certificates, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,000.00)
4c Brown (303). Mint N.H., brilliant color which has tremendous eye appeal, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a stunning stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate, with 1998 and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00), this is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to any Mint N.H. 4c 1902
5c Blue (304). Mint N.H., radiant color and detailed impression, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,100.00)
6c Claret (305). Mint N.H., intense color, framed by Jumbo margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 305 TO RECEIVE THE GRADE OF 95 JUMBO FROM PROFESSIONAL STAMP EXPERTS -- THE ULTIMATE GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,250.00 as 95, $3,050.00 as 98 even though none have been graded 98 thus far).
8c Violet Black (306). Mint N.H., sharp proof-like impression in a deep shade on bright paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1997 and 2000 P.F. certificates (the former as a pair), with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $310.00)
10c Pale Red Brown (307). Mint N.H., brilliant color with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a gorgeous stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00), this is the highest grade awarded to any 10c 1902 stamp by P.S.E.
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $335.00)
15c Olive Green (309). Mint N.H., deep rich color, unusually wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1902 ISSUE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY 15-CENT 1902 BY P.S.E., AND THIS STAMP IS THE ONLY 95 JUMBO.
An example graded 90 Jumbo realized $2,600 hammer in our sale of the North Fork collection (Sale 903).
Ex Morris. With 1992 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,000.00 as 95, $6,600.00 as 98 even though none have been graded 98 thus far)
50c Orange (310). Mint N.H., vibrant color, unusually wide margins and perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE. THIS STAMP HAS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY SCOTT 310 BY PROFESSIONAL STAMP EXPERTS.
The 1902-03 Regular Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforating method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Furthermore, stamps issued in choice condition seldom stayed that way, because the boom in stamp collecting that began with the Roosevelt administration caused hordes of hinge-bearing philatelists to mount stamps over and over again. For this reason, today's collectors have grown accustomed to paying many multiples of Scott value for Extremely Fine stamps in Mint Never-Hinged state. Anyone who has pursued this set can testify that the 50c is rarely encountered in such condition. The 50c 1902 offered here probably ranks among the five highest-quality examples in existence.
With 1998 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $9,250.00)
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE.
Ex Lyons. With 1992 and 1999 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $4,750.00)
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. A TRULY REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT -- CENTERING, COLOR, CLARITY OF IMPRESSION, PAPER FRESHNESS AND GUM.
With 1997 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,800.00). This is the highest grade awarded, and the stamp is one of only two $2.00 1902's to achieve XF-Superb 95 status.
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Mint N.H., rich color and sharp impression, wide marginsVERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
We commented on how difficult it is to find spectacular never-hinged examples of this issue in our discussion of the 50c value. This is especially true when it comes to the $5.00 denomination. This fact is made abundantly clear when you realize that the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a $5.00 value in never-hinged condition is a 90, given to only one stamp.
With 2000 P.F. certificate. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $7,100.00)
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Original gum, barely hinged, intense color and proof-like impression which is really quite striking, essentially perfect centering with wide and balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE WITH EXTRAORDINARY DEPTH OF COLOR AND WIDTH OF MARGINS.
When this stamp was presented to the Scarsdale collector, the seller was well aware that the collector already owned a Mint N.H. example of Scott 313 (offered in the previous lot). However, the seller had never seen another example with such rich color and wide margins, and he felt that it was so unusual, the collector would make an exception to his never-hinged standard. His instincts were correct, and the stamp has become part of the Scarsdale collection by virtue of its spectacular color and margins.
With two 1998 P.F. certificates, the first as part of a block of four.
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. pair, huge margins all around with full imprint at top, crisp impression, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1980 and 1999 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. I (319). Mint N.H., brilliant color, huge and balanced margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1992 and 2001 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. I (319b). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Scarlet, Ty. I (319c). Mint N.H., intense color in the unmistakable true Scarlet shade, choice centering with wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1992 and 2004 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II (319i). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright and fresh paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II (319j). Mint N.H., rich color, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. I, Imperforate (320). Mint N.H., massive margins all around which include significant portions of all eight adjoining stamps, brilliant color, Extremely Fine Gem, without question this massive stamp, which sacrificed eight of its neighbors to acquire its margins, is an eye-catching showpiece, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320a). Mint N.H. pair, huge margins all around, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous pair, with 2000 P.F. certificate