Sale 997 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 26-29 October, 2010
Category — 1909 Bluish Paper Issue (Scott 357-366)
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Mint N.H., flawless centering with choice margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,700.00), a very high-end example for the grade
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Barely hinged, unusually wide margins, handsomely centered, rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 1978 P.F. certificate
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Barely hinged if at all, better centered than typically seen, choice margins and intense color on clearly blued paper, Very Fine, with 1977 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates
3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Couple natural "blind" perfs top right, perfs close but clear at top, Fine, slightly blurry Stanley Gibbons New York handstamp guarantee, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, wide margins, deeply blued paperVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only eleven other Mint N.H. examples since keeping computerized records, which extend over 16 years of auctions.
Ex Hoffman. With 1989 and 2002 P.F. certificates
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Bright and crisp with attractive margins, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Barest trace of hinging, wide top selvage, rich color on deeply blued paper, Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Remarkably fresh, beautiful color, clearly blued paper and with characteristic strong watermark, neatly reperfed at bottom, Fine appearance; also incl. 1c and 2c on Bluish Paper, 2c Mint N.H., Fine, 6c with 2005 P.S.E. certificate
8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Lightly hinged, deep rich color on nicely blued paper, wide margins for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A FRESH AND SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT BLUISH PAPER.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives.
Ex Vineyard and Hansen. With 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). H.r., beautiful glowing color, fresh and crisp, Very Fine, with 1975 A.P.S. certificate
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Faintly hinged, exceptionally strong color, Very Fine, with 1986 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates
10c Yellow, Bluish (364). Vivid color, lightly hinged, perfs close but clear at top, Fine, with 1974 and 1992 unused P.F. certificates
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Mint N.H., intense color on deeply blued paper, wide marginsFRESH AND FINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER.
With 1998 and 2008 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75)
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Deep rich color, tiny h.r., bottom perfs close but clear, Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Unused (regummed), well-centered, rich color, reperfed at right, Extremely Fine appearance, Scott Retail as original gum
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Deep rich color on deeply blued paper, light strike of town cancel (probably Saginaw Mich.)VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER ISSUE.
Most of the small number of 13c Bluish Paper stamps that were used were cancelled at Saginaw.
With 1988 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $1,400.00)
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Lightly cancelled, probably Saginaw, Mich. oval, reperfed at top and right, Fine appearance, with 2006 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Mint N.H., bright color on deeply blued paper, Fine, with copy of 2004 P.S.E. certificate for block of four
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Lightly hinged, bright color, beautiful centering and margins, Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Strong bluish paper, barest trace of hinging, Very Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). H.r., fresh color on clearly blued paper, Fine, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate