Sale 1040 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 26-28 March, 2013
Category — 1922-25 Issues (Scott 551-573)
-1/2c-$1.00 1922-25 Issue (551-557, 559, 561-571, 575-577, 622-623). Plate blocks of six, few Mint N.H. including Nos. 556, 562 and 571 (last with natural pre-printing paperfold), few h.r., few with natural gum skips and bends, No. 561 thin spot, overall fresh and Fine-Very Fine, desirable group
2c Carmine (554). Right plate no. 17196 and six-point star block of six, lightly hinged, rich color, top stamps faint natural gum wrinkle, Fine, scarce plate block with six-point star
3c Violet (555). Mint N.H. top plate no. 16712 block of six, bright color on post-office fresh paper, Very Fine and choice
4c Yellow Brown (556). Mint N.H., bright color, beautiful centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $325.00)
5c Dark Blue, Imperforate Pair (557a). Original gum block of four, the bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, large even margins all around, deep colorEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MULTIPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1922 IMPERFORATE.
One or two panes of 100 are believed to exist. According to Gary Griffith, one was found in Stamford Conn. and was broken by Philip Ward who numbered each stamp before dividing the pane. This block does not have the numbers, indicating that it probably came from the other pane.
Scott Retail as Mint N.H. and hinged pairs
6c Red Orange (558). Mint N.H. right plate no. 14169 block of six, vibrant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, a pretty plate block
8c Olive Green (560). Top plate no. 16450 block of six, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice
10c Orange, Imperforate Pair (562b). Horizontal pair, unused (no gum) as are all known examples, exceptionally well balanced margins, vibrant color, Very Fine, a desirable and scarce pair of this variety, according to United States Stamps 1922-26 by Gary Griffith, noted dealer Philip Ward purchased a pane in 1925 in Oklahoma which had large areas marked for destruction with a blue crayon, examples such as the pair offered here not defaced by the blue crayon are rare, with 2011 P.F. certificate
10c Orange, Perf 10 at Top (562c). Transitional perforations at top, "Brooklyn, N.Y." precancel, intense color, trivial creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 10-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM VARIETY.
Our records contain sixteen used examples, the majority of which have faults to some degree. Census No. 562c-CAN-15. With 2007 P.F. certificate
10c Orange, Perf 10 at Top (562c). Horizontal pair, both stamps Perf 10 at top, vibrant color, neat "Brooklyn N.Y." precancel, right stamp with portion of design scraped away at bottom rightFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED PAIRS OF THE 1922 10-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel.
Many examples of the Perf 10 on One Side rarities show transitional perfs from 10 to 11 or from 11 to 10. This is because the out-of-gauge perforation pins would frequently cross the span of more than one stamp, depending on where the wheel contacted the sheet.
The Perf 10 on One Side varieties span both the 1917 Washington-Franklin and 1922-23 Issues. It is interesting to note that, apart from the 2c, there is no duplication of denomination between the issues. This would seem to indicate that the improperly repaired wheel was in use for only a short period of time, as there was little overlap in production of the issues. Based on dates of issue of the basic stamps, this probably occurred early in 1923.
Our census of Scott 562c, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/562c/562c.pdf , contains two unused singles, eleven used singles, one single in a pair and two pairs, for a total of two unused and sixteen used. All except one pair have precancels.
Census No. 562c-CAN-PR-14. With copy of 1970 P.F. certificate.
12c Brown Violet (564). Mint N.H. pane of 100 with top plate no. and right plate no. and large six-point star blocks of six, natural s.e. bottom and left, light Scott No. pencil notation in selvage, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, the right plate block particularly choice
14c Blue (565). Mint N.H. pane of 100 with bottom and right plate no. blocks of six, natural s.e. top and left, deep rich color, light Scott No. pencil notation in selvage, one stamp with tiny toned spot, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as plate blocks and singles
20c Carmine Rose (567). Right plate no. 18674 and large five-point star block of six, lightly hinged, brilliant color, Extremely Fine
30c-$5.00 1922-25 Issue (569-573). Mint N.H., fresh colors, first three Very Fine, last two perfectly centered and Extremely Fine
$2.00 Deep Blue (572). Mint N.H. top arrow block of four, brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful Mint N.H. position block, Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Violet Black (571). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14306 block of six, brilliant color, outstanding centering, Very Fine and choice
$2.00 Deep Blue (572). Mint N.H. top F14306 block of six, rich color, Very Fine and choice
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H., bright colors on post office fresh paper, essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,150.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a Scott 573 in any category
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. bottom arrow block of four, well centered, bright colors, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail for four singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. centerline block of four, bright color on fresh paper, Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the position
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. centerline block of four, brilliant colors, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. centerline block of four, brilliant colors, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. centerline block of four, rich colors, top right stamp natural inclusion, Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. centerline block of four, radiant colors, fresh and Very Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. block of four, bright colors, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail as singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Two Mint N.H. blocks of four, one with right selvage, rich colors, natural gum wrinkles, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top arrow and double plate nos. 14326/14327 block of eight with wide selvage, bright colors, usual light natural gum creases, Fine-Very Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top arrow and double plate nos. 14326/14327 block of ten, bright colors, choice centering, one stamp with natural gum skips, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail for plate block and two singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Top arrow and double plate nos. 14326/14327 block of 12, lightly hinged, fresh colors, outstanding centering throughout, single gum soaked perf tip lower left corner, Extremely Fine, a lovely plate block, Scott Retail as plate block of eight and four singles