Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320)
$1.00 Black (311). Huge margins and excellent centering, purple registry oval cancels, also a bit of brown in top right corner which may be additional cancelling ink or possibly a stain (it does not show thru on back as a stain), but is not mentioned on either accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Saadi, with clear 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Intense color and proof-like impression, choice centering with wide margins all around, unobtrusive oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Ex Drs. Dauer and Kirke. With 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,650.00). Only one used stamp grades higher (at 98J) and no others share this grade.
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Wide and beautifully balanced, margins, deep rich color, registry oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
With 1991 and 2004 P.F. certificates.
4c Brown, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (314A). Wavy-line machine cancel, full Schermack perfs at left and fully visible perfs at right, deep rich color, completely soundVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE, SCOTT 314A. ONLY 32 USED SINGLES ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufacturers for supplies of imperforate stamps, which could then be privately perforated to conform to each firm's machine. In May 1908, a supply of 25 sheets (400 stamps per sheet) of the 4c 1902 Issue, without perforations, was delivered to the Schermack Mailing Machine Co. in Detroit. The entire supply was cut into coils with Schermack Type III perforations, designed for the firm's patented affixing machine and delivered to the Winfield Printing Co. for use on mass mailings of advertising material. Approximately 6,000 were used on a mailing for Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturer, and almost all of the 4,000 balance were used on a mailing for Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
Our census of Scott 314A, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/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 32 used singles (two on piece), two used strips of three (one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library), a used pair and four covers (one of which bears a strip of three), for a total of 46 used stamps. Almost half of the used examples have faults.
Census no. 314A-CAN-20. Ex Lessin and from our 1982 Rarities sale. With 1946 A.P.S., 1982 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Horizontal pair, large even margins all around, deep rich color, light strike of mute oval cancelEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1908 5-CENT IMPERFORATE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN USED CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AS A MULTIPLE.
According to Johl, only 29 sheets of 400 of the 5c imperforate were issued. Most were sent to Indianapolis and the majority was used by manufacturers of private coils. Some unused were no doubt kept by collectors -- 825 copies were distributed to members of the Detroit Philatelic Society. It is possible that most of the used copies originate from this supply.
With 1985 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Schermack Ty. III (320Ad, formerly 320d). Guide line pair, full Schermack Ty. III perforations as with all known examples, bold military slogan machine cancelVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 1908 2-CENT CARMINE TYPE II. THIS ISSUE IS ONLY KNOWN WITH SCHERMACK TYPE III PERFORATIONS AND VERY FEW USED GUIDE LINE PAIRS ARE KNOWN..
The Scott Catalogue notes that "No. 320Ad was issued imperforate, but all examples were privately perforated with large oblong perforations at the sides (Schermack Type III)." In this respect it is similar to its more famous and expensive counterparts, Scott 314A and 482A.
With 2014 P.F. certificate.