Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1918-22 Offset Printing, Rotary Issues (Scott 525-547)
1c-3c 1918-20 Offset Issues (525-526, 528, 528B, 529-530, 536). Plate blocks of six, No. 528 with monogram, second 528 with offset in selvage, Nos. 525, 528B, 529 and 530 Mint N.H., few others h.r., few with small faults, bright colors, Fine-Very Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. VI (528A). Mint N.H. top plate no. 11590 and monogram block of six, radiant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine
1c-3c 1918-20 Offset Issue, Imperforates (531-542, 534, 535). Plate blocks, first two Mint N.H., last h.r., second with offset of second plate no. in sheet margin, large margins, few natural gum bends, Very Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Mint N.H. pair, large margins with portions of adjoining stamps at sides, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1999 P.F. certificate showing a larger bottom margin, which has since been evened out to match the top
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Bottom plate no. 11260 block of six, bottom stamps and top left Mint N.H., other two lightly hinged, huge margins incl. part of eight adjoining stamps, Extremely Fine, this may yield at least one NH 100J single and possibly two, with copy of 1982 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VI, Imperforate (534A). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 11641 block of six, large margins, brilliant color, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, large to huge margins, Extremely Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Block of four with plate no. 12778 at bottom, huge margins, bottom stamps Mint N.H., intense colorEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET ISSUE, SCOTT 534B.
According to Armstrong, the imperforates were issued to satisfy the needs of the last remaining private coil manufacturer. The Mail-O-Meter Company merged with the Schermack Company and so these issues are also known with the Schermack Type III perforations seen on Scott 314A and 482A. However, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps without Schermack perfs did reach the public.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Bottom plate no. 12305 block of six, large margins to ample at right, brilliant color, light natural gum bendsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET STAMP, SCOTT 534B.
According to Armstrong, the imperforates were issued to satisfy the needs of the last remaining private coil manufacturer. The Mail-O-Meter Company merged with the Schermack Company and so these issues are also known with the Schermack Type III perforations, such as are also seen on Scott 314A and 482A. However, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps without Schermack perfs did reach the public.
A Power Search review found only three other unduplicated plate blocks offered in our Rarities sale since 1964 and all of our auctions since 1994. Wampler had one, but Fogelson did not (referring to the Shreve sales).
With 1973 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Large margins to full, brilliant color, bold machine slogan cancel, Very Fine, with 1986 P.F. certificate
1c-3c 1919-21 Issues (538, 540-543). Seven total, incl. two of first with different plate block configurations (both Mint N.H.), Mint N.H. No. 540 with inverted "S30", others lightly hinged with few h.r., bright colors, Fine-Very Fine
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, bright color, well-centered, especially for this difficult Rotary Waste issue, natural inclusion at lower leftVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1919 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 539.
At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919 the Bureau devised an economical plan to salvage this waste by converting the leftovers from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and running them through the flat-plate perforator for the horizontal perforations, giving the stamps perforations on all sides. The Type III design was far more plentiful (producing Scott 540) but a small number of Type II (Scott 539) was also produced.
Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines (perforated 10 vertically on the rotary perforator during the coil part of production and then perforated 11 on the flat plate perforator), most of the stamps are off-center. The rotary press sheets also had a natural tendency to curl, making perforating on the flat plate perforator especially difficult.
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Top plate no. 7462 and "S20" block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., top left stamp single light hinge mark, small h.r. in selvage, radiant color, better centering than normally seen on the few multiples of this issue that exist, bottom right stamp tiny hole at top leftFINE CENTERING. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1919 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS WASTE ISSUE. WE HAVE OFFERED APPROXIMATELY A HALF-DOZEN SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WHERE THE PERFORATIONS DO NOT TOUCH THE DESIGN. A REMARKABLE RARITY.
At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919 the Bureau devised an economical plan to salvage this waste by converting the leftovers from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and running them through the flat-plate perforator for the horizontal perforations, giving the stamps perforations on all sides. The Type III design was far more plentiful (producing Scott 540) but a small number of Type II (Scott 539) was also produced.
Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines (perforated 10 vertically on the rotary perforator during the coil part of production and then perforated 11 on the flat plate perforator), most of the stamps are off-center. The rotary press sheets also had a natural tendency to curl, making perforating on the flat plate perforator especially difficult.
A Power Search review located only four others (including a plate block of eight). All have perforations touching the design, and in three cases significantly so. The plate block offered here is graded Fine, but it is arguably Fine-Very Fine
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Bright color, neat wavy-line machine cancel, nicely centered for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PERF 11 x 10. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST COIL WASTE STAMPS IN USED CONDITION. ONLY THIRTEEN USED SINGLES ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO FINEST COPIES.
At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919 the Bureau devised an economical plan to salvage this waste by converting the leftovers from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and running them through the flat-plate perforator for the horizontal perforations, giving the stamps perforations on all sides. The Type III design was far more plentiful (producing Scott 540) but a small number of Type II (Scott 539) was also produced.
Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines (perforated 10 vertically on the rotary perforator during the coil part of production and then perforated 11 on the flat plate perforator), most of the stamps are off-center. The rotary press sheets also had a natural tendency to curl, making perforating on the flat plate perforator especially difficult.
Our census of Scott 539, available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/539/539.pdf , records only thirteen used singles, one used block of four and one on cover. Most are off-center -- only two have decent centering and are confirmed as sound -- the example offered here and the ex Natalee Grace copy.
Census No. 539-CAN-01. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1990 and 2000 P.F. certificates
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Redistributed original gum over slight thinning at top right, rich color, margins clear of design all aroundFINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY UNUSED STATE.
A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press sheet stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier experimental printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.
With 2015 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Bright color, bold cancel, fresh and Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary (545). Block of four, top stamps single h.r., bottom stamps lightly hinged, bright shade, Fine-Very Fine
1c Green, Rotary (545). Mint N.H. top plate no. 13896 and star block of four, natural s.e. at left, fresh and Fine, we have offered only two others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Mint N.H. block of four, brilliant color, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Top plate no. 13596 block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp h.r., brilliant color, right pair affected by brown stains, left pair could be broken out and offered as two Very Fine singles (bottom left choice Mint N.H.), Scott value for one Mint N.H. and one hinged (the two at right are giveaways)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., top right stamp barely hinged, rich colors, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail as singles
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H. top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, rich colors and detailed impressionsFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE $2.00 CARMINE AND BLACK 1920 ISSUE.
A Power Search review indicates this is the first we have offered in Mint N.H. condition since our 2004 Saddleback auction.