Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1916-17 Issues (Scott 462-491)
1c-15c 1916-17 Issue (462-466, 468-475). Blocks of four, 15c Mint N.H., two stamps Mint N.H. on 6c, 7c, 9c, 11c and 12c, few h.r., rich colors, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, a scarce group of blocks of four
1c-12c 1916-17 Issue (462-463, 465-466, 469-474). Plate no. blocks of six, Nos. 463 and 472 Mint N.H., few h.r., some stamps Mint N.H., 5c two stamps toned, Fine-Very Fine, a scarce and desirable group of plate blocks
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H., wide margins and precise centering, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. certificate
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 7258 block of six, deep rich color and detailed impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (466). Mint N.H., rich color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1985 (for block) and with 2001 P.F. certificates
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H. single error in a strip of three, large portions of adjoining stamps at bottom, bright color, the error with wide margins and Fine
5c Carmine, Error (467). Double error in block of twelve, natural s.e. at bottom, top error Mint N.H., bottom error and small part of three 2c stamps glazed spot, Fine
5c Carmine, Error (467). Brilliant color, light strike of duplex cancel, small perf flaw at lower left, Fine appearance, scarce in used condition
5c Carmine, Error (467). Single error in strip of three with two normal, radiant color, unobtrusive cancels, Fine and scarce in used condition
6c Red Orange (468). Mint N.H. top plate no. 7139 block of six, vibrant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine Mint N.H. plate block
15c Gray (475). Bottom plate no. 6819 block of six, barely hinged at top center, intense shade and impression, Fine-Very Fine, a rare plate block, we have offered perhaps a half-dozen since keeping computerized records
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and choice centering, fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,000.00 as 90, $2,850.00 as 95)
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top left stamp h.r., intense shade on bright paper, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Left plate no. 6908 block of six, radiant color on crisp paper, fresh and Fine, a surprisingly scarce plate block, we have offered perhaps a half-dozen since keeping computerized records
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 (476A). Position 28 from Plate 6911, Mint N.H., vivid colorFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 30-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
With 1984 P.F. certificate
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 (476A). Mint N.H. right plate no. 6911 block of six, radiant color on bright paper, typical centering for this difficult issue, some rejoined perf separations in ungummed selvage and couple small creases in left edge of selvage at lower rightFINE. THE UNIQUE RIGHT POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
The 30c Perf 10 Unwatermarked, Scott 476A, has no trace of the single-line watermark. Although one or two stamps from the discovery sheets have been found with "ghost" watermarks, the Scott Catalogue and The Philatelic Foundation continue to recognize Scott 476A.
In an article in Opinions V, published by The Philatelic Foundation, William T. Crowe, former head of the Expert Committee, discussed the discovery of this rare stamp and how it might have been issued. The production of Scott 476A occurred during the period of transition from gauge-10 perfs to gauge 11. Bureau records do not list a 30c printing on unwatermarked paper that was perforated 10, but the existence of two certified panes -- one bottom-right pane from Plate 6917 and one top-right pane from Plate 6911 -- is evidence that the combination of new unwatermarked paper and old 10-gauge perfs occurred, even if inadvertently. Stamps from these two panes (200 total), two left sheet-margin blocks of four and a bottom plate no. 6914 single, none of which have any trace of watermark, are the only accepted examples of Scott 476A.
With 1984 P.F. certificate (does not mention trivial selvage flaws)
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H., attractive margins and centering, fresh and brightEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1916 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
50c Light Violet (477). Block of four, lightly hinged, radiant color, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce block, with 1991 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., intense shade, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Block of four with right arrow selvage, crisp impression, left stamps light natural paper wrinkle, Fine
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Bottom imprint, plate no. 5782 and letter "A" block of six, lightly hinged with one or two Mint N.H., deep rich color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, SCOTT 478.
Lewis Kaufman records only nine top and four bottom plate blocks of Scott 478. Plate 5782 was the only plate prepared for each of the $1.00 Franklin issues (Scott 423, 460, 478 and 518). The top center stamp in this plate block is a real Gem.
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Wide selvage top plate no. 8015 block of six, four side stamps Mint N.H., center stamps lightly hinged, deep rich colorFRESH AND FINE. A RARE WIDE TOP PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 MADISON PERF 10.
This is especially scarce as a wide top plate block.
$5.00 Light Green (480). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, pretty shade, fresh and Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 8016 block of six, radiant colorFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $5.00 MARSHALL 1917 PERF 10 ISSUE.
Especially rare as a wide top plate block
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Mint N.H. single error in block of nine, huge margins showing significant portions of eleven adjoining stamps, brilliant color, light natural gum wrinklesEXTREMELY FINE. A STUNNING MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF NINE.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate No. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was returned to the siderographer, who burnished out the three positions and mistakenly re-entered them using a transfer roll for the 5c stamp. The error passed unnoticed and the sheets were issued.
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (487). Mint N.H. pair, perfect centering, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.F. (for strip of four) and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $550.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Mint N.H. pair, rich color, detailed impressionVERY FINE AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II.
Unlike most other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.
This coil is surprisingly rare in Mint N.H. condition. A review of our computerized records, which spans 20 years of our auctions, revealed only four other Mint N.H. pairs.
With copy of 1970 P.F. certificate for a strip of four
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Bright color, attractive margins and centering, Very Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Pair, radiant color, neat wavy-line machine cancel showing part of the datestamp at left, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive and scarce used pair, with 1997 P.F. certificate