Sale 1014 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Friday, 12-14 October, 2011
Category — 1910-11 Washington-Franklin Issues (Scott 376-396)
3c Deep Violet (376). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5424 and hollow star block of six with wide selvage, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate
5c Blue (378). Mint N.H. wide top plate no. 6348 block of six, deep rich color, few minor perf separations at top, Fine-Very Fine
6c Red Orange (379). Mint N.H. top imprint, plate no. 5215 and star block of six, bright color on fresh paper, Fine-Very Fine
10c Yellow (381). Perfectly centered, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, bold strike of Indianapolis registry oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $465.00)
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Barely hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a stunning stamp, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $1,300.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date in any category (incl. one Mint N.H.) and only two others share this grade
15c Pale Ultramarine (382). Mint N.H. right imprint and plate no. 4949 block of six, vivid bright color, ample to wide margins, light natural gum skipsFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT 1911 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED WASHINGTON ISSUE.
A review using Power Search found only four other Mint N.H. plate blocks we have sold since 1993 and in all our Rarities sales. This is the only example from the right position
1c Green, Coil (385). Mint N.H. guide line pair, fresh and crisp, excellent color, Very Fine, scarce line pair, with 1993 and 2001 P.F. certificates
1c Green, Coil (385). Guide line pair, bottom stamp Mint N.H., Very Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $345.00)
1c Green, Coil (385). Guide line strip of four, separated from the roll with parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, lightly cancelled by what appears to be three strikes of a Des Moines Iowa duplex, Fine-Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate, very scarce used coil multiple, Scott Retail as two used singles and guide line pair
1c Green, Coil (387). Pair, 2mm spacing, tiny trivial gum soak top right corner, otherwise Very Fine
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Mint N.H., bright color on fresh paper, three extra wide marginsVERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1910 PERF 12 COIL, SCOTT 388.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered an average of only one stamp in Mint N.H. condition per year since keeping computerized records.
Ex Odeneal and Hoffman. With 2007 P.F. certificate.
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Lightly hinged, deep rich color, enormous margins at top and bottom and almost perfectly centered side-to-sideEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.
Small pencil notation on gum. With 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Pair with 3mm spacing, deep rich color, centered to top but with design clear of coil edge, slightly smudgy cancelsFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1910 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK ISSUE. FEWER THAN A DOZEN USED PAIRS AND ONE USED GUIDE LINE STRIP OF FOUR ARE KNOWN TO US.
In addition to this P.S.E. certified pair, our last review of the Philatelic Foundation records found only nine other used pairs and the unique used strip of four with guide line which have been certified as genuine.
With 1995 P.S.E. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, neat strike of wavy-line machine cancel, two light creasesFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail, and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production accounts for their rarity. Many have small faults such as corner creases or small tears.
Ex Maffeo. With 1987 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates
1c Green, Coil (392). Mint N.H. guide line pair, bright color, Fine-Very Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (393). Mint N.H. guide line pair, vivid color and wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $800.00)
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Mint N.H. pair, 3mm spacing, beautiful wide margins and almost precise centering, Extremely Fine, the left stamp especially nice, with 1988 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Coil (394). Beautifully centered and wide margins, wonderful rich color and sharp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, Gem 100; SMQ $260.00 as 98, unpriced in higher grade), this is one of only two to have been awarded this supreme grade (there are no 100J's)
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H. guide line pair, near perfect centering with wide margins, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 395.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,050.00)
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color, wide margins with the right stamp almost perfectly centered, Very Fine and choice
5c Blue, Coil (396). Mint N.H., intense color, crisp impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $1,050.00)