Sale 992 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 24-25 June, 2010
Category — 1910-13 Washington-Franklin Issue (Scott 374-396)
4c Brown (377). Jumbo margins and mathematically precise centering, neat machine cancel, fresh color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $300.00 as 98), only two have graded higher to date
10c Yellow (381). Enormous Jumbo margins and almost perfectly centered, brilliant color on fresh bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Exceptionally wide margins, deep rich color, handsomely centered, barest trace of hinging, appears Mint N.H., Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate for pair from which this stamp was removed and 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Extremely Fine 90; SMQ $1,850.00)
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Pair with 3mm spacing, deep rich color, bold strike of "Mount Angel (Oregon) Jan. 24 3 PM 1912" circular datestamp, centered to top, few minor perf separations at topVERY GOOD. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1910 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE. ONLY NINE USED PAIRS AND ONE USED GUIDE LINE STRIP OF FOUR ARE KNOWN TO US.
The Philatelic Foundation has certified as genuine only nine used pairs and the used strip of four with guide line (which realized $21,000 hammer in our Twigg-Smith sale). This pair with a town datestamp is particularly unusual.
1996 P.F. certificate 302485 no longer accompanies
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Rich color, wavy-line machine cancel from Orangeburg, faults incl. thin spot and diagonal creasesVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail, and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production accounts for their rarity.
With copies of 1955 A.P.S. and 1985 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (391). Guide line pair, bottom stamp Mint N.H., top appears Mint N.H., Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins, tiny natural inclusion in Washington's neck in right stamp, Extremely Fine, with 1990 and 2002 P.F. certificates
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H. pair, 3mm spacing, beautifully centered, rich color on bright white paper, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $520.00)
4c Brown, Coil (395). Guide line pair, balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $495.00)
5c Blue, Coil (396). Guide line pair, intense color on fresh paper, light double oval cancel, crisp and Very Fine, a scarce used guide line pair, we have offered only ten others since 1994