Sale 997 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 26-29 October, 2010
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-319)
5c Blue (304). Mint N.H., wide margins and essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00)
5c Blue (304). Bottom imprint and plate no. 3157 block of six, original gum, barely hinged, detailed impression, Fine-Very Fine
6c Claret (305). Mint N.H., rich color and sharp impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
6c Claret (305). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage, exceptionally well-centered, wide margins, especially top and bottom, beautiful color, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
10c Pale Red Brown (307). Right imprint and plate no. 1590 block of six, two diagonal selvage creases clear of imprint and plate no., otherwise Fine
13c Purple Black (308). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and perfectly centered, intense color and impression, Extremely Fine Gem, outstanding condition
15c Olive Green (309). Block of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top pair lightly hinged, pretty shade, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
50c Orange (310). Lightly hinged, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $900.00)
50c Orange (310). Barely hinged, vibrant color, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $485.00)
50c Orange (310). Mint N.H. block of four, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, left vertical pair has wide margins and choice centeringFINE-VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on post-office fresh paper, perfectly centered with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE WE HAVE EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO OFFER IN OUR AUCTIONS. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $40,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date, and only two others have been awarded this grade
$1.00 Black (311). Lightly hinged, attractive margins and centering, intense shade, Very Fine and choice, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $590.00)
$1.00 Black (311). Lightly hinged, bright shade, fresh and Very Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black (311). Top imprint and plate no. 1629 block of six, completely separated along horizontal perfs (two strips of three and selvage), neatly reconstructed with tiny hinge slivers, appears Fine, Scott Retail as six hinged singles (the value for the rare plate block is $25,000.00)
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Wide margins and faintly hinged, fresh and Very Fine, with, photocopy of 1988 P.F. certificate for block of four
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Wide margins three sides, intense color, Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Lightly hinged, wide margins and attractively centered, single partly nibbed perf at top, otherwise Very Fine
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Disturbed original gum, reperfed, Very Fine appearance
4c Brown, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins to well clear at left with Schermack perforations on both sides, deep rich color, usual wavy-line cancel, thinned at right and barely noticeable light vertical creaseVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE WITH SCHERMACK PERFORATIONS, SCOTT 314A. ONLY 31 USED SINGLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our recently-completed census of Scott 314A incorporates the records of the Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records (which represents over 40 years of auction sales) and our own computerized sales history. The census reveals a startling fact -- there are only 31 used singles (two on piece), a used strip of three and three covers (one of which contains a strip of three), for a total of 39 used stamps. Our previous assumption was that this number was much higher.
From the Belasco collection. With 1962 and 2010 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Coil (317). Pair, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1908 VERTICAL COIL.
The 5c 1908 Coil stamps, which were stripped by hand, are almost always strongly centered to one side.
With 1990 P.S.E. and 1975 and 2006 P.F. certificates.