Sale 953 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 25-28 March, 2008
Category — 1916-17 Issues (Scott 462-480)
1c Green (462). Mint N.H., deep rich color, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1998 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $265.00 as 95, $1,000.00 as 98), only five have graded higher to date and this is the only example to achieve this grade
2c Carmine, Ty. I (463). Mint N.H. with selvage at bottom, vibrant color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $140.00 as 95, $740.00 as 98)
2c Carmine, Ty. I (463). Mint N.H. top plate no. 7942 block of six with wide selvage, brilliant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a magnificent Mint N.H. plate block from the plate which yielded the 5c error
3c Violet (464). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,700.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and only six others have achieved this grade
5c Blue (466). Choice wide margins and superbly centered, beautiful rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (466). Brilliant color, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $140.00 as 95, $390.00 as 98), this is the only 95J to date (only one has graded higher)
5c Carmine, Error (467). Mint N.H., brilliant color on crisp paperEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT PERF 10 ERROR OF COLOR, SCOTT 467.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
7c Black (469). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A FABULOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,700.00). Only three have graded higher to date and only five others share this grade.
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, gorgeous color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,800.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only two others share this grade.
8c Olive Green (470). Mint N.H., exceptionally well-centered, bright vivid color, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $260.00)
11c Dark Green (473). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 7504 selvage, flawlessly centered, magnificent deep rich color on crisp white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,150.00)
15c Gray (475). Lightly hinged, perfect centering and marvelous margins, clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,200.00)
15c Gray (475). Lightly hinged, wide margins and almost perfectly centered, lovely pastel color, Extremely Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT UNWATERMARKED PERF 10 ISSUE, SCOTT 476, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2000 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00). Only two have graded higher to date (one was sold in our Scarsdale sale for $16,000 hammer), and only four others share this grade
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Exceptionally well-centered, magnificent color and lightly hinged, Extremely Fine Gem
20c Light Ultramarine (476). Block of four, bright pastel color, attractively centered, tiny thin spot bottom left stamp, still Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange Red, Perf 10 (476A). Position 61 from plate no. 6911, natural s.e. at left, vibrant color, tiny flaw at top leftFRESH AND FINE-APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE VERY RARE 30-CENT PERF 10 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
With 1984 P.F. certificate
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H. with selvage at bottom, brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
This 50c issue was only available in post-office stocks for a very short period of time, because it was released only three weeks prior to the beginning of the new Perf 11 series.
With 2004 P.F. and 2002 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $15,100.00). Only one has graded higher to date, and only four others share this grade. One of the others realized $15,500 hammer in our 2007 Rarities sale, and another realized $12,500 hammer in our Sale 941.
50c Light Violet (477). Lightly hinged, brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E..
With 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $4,800.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date to a Scott 477 in OG or NH condition (one used copy is graded 98J). Only two OGph and one Mint NH are reported in Superb 98.
50c Light Violet (477). Barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, gorgeous centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,750.00). Only two have graded higher to date, and only four others share this grade.
50c Light Violet (477). Lightly hinged, beautiful wide margins and incredibly well-centered, lovely bright color on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, extraordinarily choice example, with 1985 P.F. certificate
50c Light Violet (477). Very well-centered, fresh, bright color, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
50c Light Violet (477). Three wide margins, lovely pastel shade, Fine, with 1998 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide and well-balanced margins, intense color and impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE P.F.
This stamp was used for less than six months before the Perf 11 stamps were produced. Due to its short production run and the only difference between this and the previous $1.00 issue (Scott 460) being the watermark, many collectors and dealers of the day overlooked this issue. It is especially scarce with such perfect centering.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $11,400.00).
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Lightly hinged, choice margins and almost precise centering, intense color and clean impression, Extremely Fine, ex Engel, with 1959 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Fresh and crisp, intense color, Fine, with 1998 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Violet Black (478). Block of four, faintly hinged (appears never hinged), lovely margins and centering, strong color, Extremely Fine block of the $1.00 Perf 10 Unwatermarked
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Lovely margins and exceptionally well-centered, lightly hinged, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (479). Jumbo margins, deep rich color, lightly cancelled, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 PERF 10 MARSHALL ISSUE.
With 1992 and 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,150.00 as 95, $3,850.00 as 98). Only six have graded higher to date and only four others share this grade.
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate for block
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., lovely margins and very attractively centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.F. certificate for pair
$5.00 Light Green (480). Mint N.H., fresh and crisp, nicely centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2002 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Light Green (480). Barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $410.00 as 95, $700.00 as 98)
$5.00 Light Green (480). Lightly hinged, choice margins and centering, bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $285.00)