Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — 1917-20 Issues (Scott 485-550)
5c Carmine, Imperforate, Error (485). Mint N.H. single error in a block of nine, huge margins with portions of all 16 adjoining stamps, brilliant color, pristine gumEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT IMPERFORATE ERROR IN A BLOCK OF NINE, GRADED GEM 100 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
During the course of production of the normal 2c plate No. 7942, three positions were noted to be defective. The plate was returned to the siderographer, who burnished out the three positions and mistakenly re-entered them using a transfer roll for the 5c stamp. The error passed unnoticed and the sheets were issued to the public in Perf 10, Imperforate and Perf 11 formats (Scott 467, 485 and 505). The imperforate is by far the rarest of the three.
With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ as a block, SMQ $40,000.00 as a Gem 100 single -- the highest grade priced)
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Mint N.H., deep rich color, detailed impression, beautiful centering for this difficult issue with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A VERY RARE CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY TYPE II.
Unlike most other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.
With 1985 and 2016 P.F. certificates. With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $8,750.00). This is the highest graded Mint N.H. single of Scott 491 and no others share this grade. The next two highest examples are graded F 70 and VF 80
4c Orange Brown, Coil (495). Wide margins and perfect centering, light unobtrusive duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $425.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a used No. 495 and is the only example to achieve this desirable grade
2c Lake, Ty. I, Booklet Pane Single (499i). Intense color which is distinctly different from the normally issued Rose color and shades, excellent centering with s.e. at left, unobtrusive strike of duplex cancel, Very Fine, this is the discovery example which has just been listed in the 2017 Scott U.S. Specialized and is the only example we are aware of, this is every bit as rare, if not rarer, than the Scott 406c in Lake shade which catalogues $6,000.00, with 2016 P.F. certificate
3c Light Violet, Ty. I, Double Impression (501d). Clear doubling of design, perfs clear of design all around, natural gum crease, Fine, a highly collectible example of this rare printing anomaly
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H., vivid color on fresh paper, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
5c Rose, Error (505). Single error in Mint N.H. block of nine, natural s.e. at top, radiant color, fresh and Very Fine
7c Black (507). Mint N.H. with top plate no. 13950 selvage, intense shade and impression, perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1996 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $1,300.00), only three have graded higher (two at 98J and one at 100)
7c Black (507). Mint N.H., near perfect centering, crisp impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 P.F. and 2016 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $375.00)
11c Light Green (511). Mint N.H., lovely color, perfectly centered, fresh and Extremely Fine Gem, with 1989 and 2004 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $450.00), only nine have graded higher
13c Apple Green (513). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright paper, Jumbo margins and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00), only one has graded higher (Gem 100 from our 2016 sale of the "Hanover" collection)
20c Light Ultramarine, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Between (515b). H.r., bright pastel color, attractive margins with perfs clear of design all around, single pulled perf at upper left, Very Fine appearing example of this error, most we have seen have perfs cutting in on the left side, (Datz states most are poorly centered), Scott Retail as Fine
$1.00 Violet Brown (518). Mint N.H., well-centered, unusual bright shade, Extremely Fine Gem, with photocopy of 1993 P.F. certificate for block of four, this the top right stamp
1c Gray Green (525). Mint N.H., wide margins and perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $375.00)
1c Gray Green, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (525c). Block of four with two error pairs, natural s.e. at top and right, fresh color, small thin spot at bottom, Very Fine appearance, exceedingly rare, this error only occurred in the two right-hand rows from the left pane of the plate and so is always found with straight edge at right -- and in this case at top as well since this was also from the top row -- we have not offered another example since 2000 (a used block), Datz states at least three used pairs are known but makes no mention of an unused pair
2c Carmine, Ty. Va, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Between (528g). Bottom stamp Mint N.H., fresh and bright colorFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE Va VERTICAL PAIR IMPERFORATE BETWEEN.
This is the first example we have offered since 2000 and that pair had a faint crease. Datz notes this error is "rare".
Ex Stollnitz. With 1976 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet (537a). Mint N.H., lovely color in the true Deep Violet shade, trivial natural inclusion at top left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
1c Pilgrim Tercentenary (548). Mint N.H., radiant color, essentially perfect centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $450.00), only six have graded higher (all at 98J), this could have easily received a Jumbo appellation, this is the highest grade we have offered in one of our auctions
5c Pilgrim Tercentenary (550). Mint N.H., perfect centering with wide balanced margins, magnificent color and impression, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb example of this issue, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,575.00).