Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 1922-29 Issues (Scott 551-621)
2c Carmine (554). Right imprint and large 5-point star block of six, lightly hinged, brilliant color, Fine-Very Fine
4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 at Top (556b). Rich color, "Jacksonville Fla" precancel, couple creases and single short perf at bottom rightFINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS A NEW DISCOVERY OF THE EXTREMELY RARE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON PERFORATED 10 AT TOP. ONLY TEN ARE RECORDED IN THE SIEGEL CENSUS.
At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel.
The Perf 10 on One Side varieties span both the 1917 Washington-Franklin and 1922-23 Issues. It is interesting to note that, apart from the 2c, there is no duplication of denomination between the issues. This would seem to indicate that the improperly repaired wheel was in use for only a short period of time, as there was little overlap in production of the issues. Based on dates of issue of the basic stamps, this probably occurred early in 1923.
Our census of Scott 556b, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/556b , contains three unused (one in a block of six with five normal stamps) and seven used examples. Two of the other used examples are contained in a vertical strip of four with the same Jacksonville Florida precancel. The centering on those stamps also matches this example and it is apparent that they are from the same portion of the sheet. It is the existence of that strip of four that encouraged the consignor of this stamp to review his extensive Jacksonville precancel collection, where he found this rarity.
Census no. 556b-CAN-05. With 2020 P.F. certificate
10c Orange, Imperforate Pair (562b). Positions 39-40, horizontal pair, unused (no gum) as are all known examples, vivid color, ample to large margins including guideline at right, left stamp small spots which may be a trace of the blue crayon found on many examples of this issue or may be natural inclusions, Very Fine and choice, ex Liberman, Ward backstamp, with 1987 and 1989 P.F. certificates
12c Brown Violet (564). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering with wide margins, rich color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $600.00), one of four at this perfect grade with only two higher at 100J
25c Yellow Green (568). Mint N.H. top plate no. 17445 block of six, well-centered, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
30c Olive Brown (569). Mint N.H., essentially perfect centering, rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $850.00)
$1.00 Violet Black (571). Mint N.H. bottom plate no. 18681 block of six, rich color on bright paper, Very Fine and choice
$2.00 Deep Blue (572). Mint N.H. top plate no. 14306 block of six, rich color on bright paper, few small natural gum skips, Very Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top plate nos. 14326/14327 and arrow block of eight, bright colors, choice centering, light natural gum wrinkles, Extremely Fine and attractive
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Top arrow and double plate nos. 14326/14327 block of eight, lightly hinged, position 6 natural gum crease, Very Fine
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Block of six with arrow and blue plate no. 14326, five stamps Mint N.H., top left stamp lightly hinged, bright colors, Very Fine and attractive, Scott value as singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Mint N.H. top plate no. F 14326 block of four, bright and fresh, Fine-Very Fine, Scott value as four singles
$5.00 Carmine & Blue (573). Top arrow and double plate nos. 14326/14327 block of eight, rich colors, neat strikes of blind oval cancel, few perf separations sensibly reinforced at top right, small scrape in selvage above position 2, Very Fine and scarce used late block, listed but unpriced in Scott
1c Green, Rotary (578). Block of four, well-centered, light cancel, Very Fine and rare used block, with 1995 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Rotary (578). Horizontal block of six, well-centered, light strikes of Boston Mass duplex cancel, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, an unusually choice used block which is scarce in any condition, with 2009 P.F. certificate, Scott value as block of four and two singles
2c Carmine, Rotary (579). Block of four, brilliant color, nicely balanced margins, four strikes of oval grid cancel, Extremely Fine, wonderfully choice quality for this scarce used block, we have offered only a handful of others since keeping computerized records, with 2006 P.F. certificate
3c Violet, Perf 10 (584). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $475.00)
7c Black, Perf 10 (588). Pane of 100 with plate no. 18180 at lower right, perhaps 8-10 h.r., others Mint N.H., crisp impression, several with toned spots on back, Fine-Very Fine
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, Jumbo margins and outstanding centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 2-CENT CARMINE PERF 11 ROTARY WASTE ISSUE WITH JUMBO MARGINS. THIS STAMP IS RARELY SEEN WITH THIS MARGIN WIDTH AND CENTERING.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,500.00). Only one stamp grades higher (at 98) and only one other shares this grade
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Mint N.H., bright shade, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Block of four, brilliant color, duplex cancels, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a very scarce used block with a genuine cancel, with 1996 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Block of four with top selvage, rich color, unobtrusive oval cancels, top left stamp faint diagonal crease, still Fine, a very scarce used block, with 1974 A.P.S. and 2000 P.F. certificates
1-1/2c Brown, 2c Carmine, Ty. I, Coils (598-599). Mint N.H., brilliant colors, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gems, each with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $315.00 as 98 which is not very relevant), each is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Mint N.H. joint line pair, bright shade, showing trace of plate number at top, Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (599A). Three joint line strips of four, one joint line pair, eight pairs and one single, rich colors, Fine with a few bordering on Very Fine, three with 1991 P.F. certificates
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1c Yellow Green, Coil (604). Mint N.H., mathematically perfect centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $500.00), this is one of only five examples at this perfect grade, with none higher
2c Harding, Perf 11 (610). Mint N.H. with top selvage, Jumbo margins and near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $325.00)
2c Norse-American (620). Mint N.H., mathematically precise centering on brilliant white paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $350.00), one of nine in this perfect grade with none higher, underpriced in SMQ, as the three examples we have offered in this grade have each realized between $500 and $750 hammer
2c, 5c Norse-American (620-621). Mint N.H. top arrow and double plate no. blocks of eight, rich colors, Fine-Very Fine