Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1917-19 Issues (Scott 498-524)
1c-$1.00 1917-19 Issue (498-499, 501-504, 506-518). Blocks of four, several with selvage incl. ten with plate nos. and $1.00 with left selvage, several Mint N.H., fresh and Fine-Very Fine set of blocks of four, Scott Retail as hinged blocks of four
1c-$1.00 1917-19 Issue (498-499, 501-504, 506-518). Plate blocks of six, 5c and 13c Mint N.H., rich colorsFRESH AND FINE-VERY FINE. A DESIRABLE SET OF PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 1917-19 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ISSUE.
An excellent opportunity to acquire this set, which is lacking only the rare Scott 500 to be complete.
1c Green, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (498a). Mint N.H. strip of three, rich color, outstanding centering, Extremely Fine, bottom stamp signed in pencil by Eugene Klein, Scott Retail as a Mint N.H. pair without regard to the bottom stamp
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Position W1 or W7, lightly hinged, nice centering throughout, left selvage separated and reattached, certificate states "small piece of selvage added at bottom left"VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Lightly hinged, classic intense shade of the Ty. Ia, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia (500). Right plate no. 10208 block of six, five stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp h.r., intense shade and impression, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in block of six, natural s.e. at bottom, error and four 2c stamps Mint N.H., radiant color, Fine-Very Fine
5c Rose, Error (505). Double error in block of twelve, natural s.e. at bottom, bright color, Fine-Very Fine
5c Rose, Error (505). Rich color, bold wavy-line machine cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Deep Brown (518b). Deep rich color in the true Deep Brown shade, bold registry oval cancels, Very Fine, scarce in sound used condition, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine (519). Mint N.H. block of four, rich color and detailed impression, well-balanced marginsVERY FINE AND SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1917 2-CENT DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK PERF 11, SCOTT 519.
With 1980 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles
2c Carmine (519). Bottom imprint and plate no. 4848 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., few perf separations expertly reinforced at bottom between pos. 5 and 6 so those two counted as hinged, brilliant colorFINE-VERY FINE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1917 2-CENT DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK PERF 11, SCOTT 519.
Scott Retail $4,200.00 as singles, value as a hinged plate block
2c Carmine (519). Bright color, unobtrusive cancels, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Mint N.H., wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1984 and 1997 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Block of four with top black plate no. and part arrow selvage, three stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp single hinge mark, Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, lightly hinged, radiant colors and detailed impressionsFRESH AND FINE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1918 $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK.
The $2.00 and $5.00 1918 Issue are the first bi-colored dollar-denominated postage stamps issued by the United States. Both were released just three months after the famous 1918 24c Inverted Jenny, but the early printings were issued in small quantities, since stocks of the earlier $2.00 and $5.00 issues were still on hand.
According to Johl, the $2.00 Orange Red & Black was a color error on the part of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The official description and order for the bi-color stamps specified "Red and Black" for the $2.00. When subsequent printings appeared in 1920 and philatelists brought the matter to the attention of the Bureau, they were told "this stamp has always been this color" (Johl, p. 306). From studies of Bureau and Post Office records, it is clear that the originally-intended color was not issued until November 1920 (Scott 547), and that the earlier Orange Red stamps were mistakes. The quantity issued has been variously estimated at between 47,000 and 68,000.
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H. top arrow block of four, intense colors and impressions, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Top plate nos. 8179/8178 and arrow block of eight, rich colors and detailed impressions, some perf separations expertly reinforced, Fine-Very Fine appearance, an attractive plate block