Sale 1028 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used U.S. Stamps, Part Three: 1902 and Later Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 20 September, 2012
Category — 1909 Commemorative Issues, 1910-11 Perf 12 Single-Line Watermark Issue (Scott 367-389)
2c 1909 Commemoratives (367-368, 370-373). Each with wide margins and choice centering, rich colors, cancels incl. duplex, registry oval, waving flag and purple on No. 368, Extremely Fine Gems, a superb used group of these issues which would no doubt grade very highly
2c Lincoln, Bluish (369). Gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced margins, intense shade and impression on deeply blued paper, long and full perforations all around, unobtrusive strike of duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, with 1999 P.F. certificate
1c-15c 1910-11 Issue (374, 377, 380-384). Seven items, incl. horizontal pairs of the two imperforates with plate no. at right, others unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, four qualify as being especially Jumbo, bright colors, Extremely Fine, a superb group, several would no doubt grade very highly, the 4c (No. 377) with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
1c Green, 2c Carmine, Booklet Panes of Six (374a, 375a). 1c Position D with plate no. 5447 at upper right, Philadelphia duplex cancels, light creases and gum soaks and few trivial perf separations, 2c Position A, brilliant color, neat "Des Moines Iowa Aug. 10, 1915" duplex cancels, both with choice centering, Very Fine appearance, scarce as used panes, the 1c is especially scarce with the plate no.
2c Carmine (375). Mathematically precise centering with Jumbo margins, brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, neat wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, an absolutely stunning stamp, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $165.00 as 98), this is the highest grade possible and only three others share this grade
3c Deep Violet (376). Perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, neat cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp which is superb in every respect
5c Blue (378). Absolutely Jumbo margins, radiant color on post-office fresh paper, neat strike of Providence R.I. oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
6c Red Orange (379). Jumbo margins and perfectly centered, bright color, neat strike of South Boston oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a massive stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $95.00 as 95, $310.00 as 98), only one has graded higher to date (at 98) and only five others share this grade, another of the five is also part of this collection but not offered in this sale (leaving only four others,) but in our opinion this example is superior
1c Green, Coil (385). Guide line pair, radiant color and crisp impression, unobtrusive strikes of duplex cancels, Very Fine and choice, a scarce used joint line pair, according to Johl this issue was current for less than two months before being replaced by the Perf 8-1/2 issue (Scott 390), this short time frame combined with a general lack of enthusiasm for endwise coils contributes to its scarcity in used condition, with 2001 P.S.E. and 2002 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (386). Guide line pair, brilliant color, light strikes of oval registry cancel, centered to left, Fine and rare, only three guide line pairs have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, with 2006 P.F. certificate, undercatalogued in Scott
2c Carmine, Coil (386). Pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering side-to-side and wide margin at top, neat strike of New York oval registry cancel, Very Fine and choice, this is an exceedingly difficult coil to obtain in used condition, we have only offered one other since keeping computerized records (in our 2001 Twigg-Smith sale), the Natalee Grace Collection also contains a guide line pair (offered in the previous lot), but this pair without the line is much better centered, with 1995 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (387). Guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering, neat New York circular datestamp and duplex cancelsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB SOUND USED PAIR OF THE 1910 ONE-CENT SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 387. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN IN ANY CONDITION, AND THIS IS THE FINEST KNOWN.
According to Johl this was issued on the same day as the vertical coil, Scott 385, and was current for less than two months.
Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1989 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Undercatalogued in Scott -- this same example brought $2,300 in 2001.
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Guide line strip of four, center pair the guide line pair, beautiful rich color and sharp detailed impression, neat target cancels and part of purple cancels (probably from use on registered mail)VERY FINE STRIP. THE UNIQUE USED GUIDE LINE MULTIPLE OF SCOTT 388. AN OUTSTANDING 20TH CENTURY RARITY.
This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.
Approximately ten used pairs are known. After a thorough search of certificate records and auction catalogues, the only used guide line multiple we have been able to locate is this strip of four, which is specifically mentioned as being unique in Scott Catalogue.
Ex Hanschen and Twigg-Smith. With 1981 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue notes "The used guide line pair of No. 388 is unique. It is the center pair in a strip of four. It is Fine-Very Fine and is valued thus." Scott Retail as guide line pair and two singles.
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Strip of three with paste-up tab at left, rich color, tied on small purple piece by neat strikes of Orangeburg N.Y. circular datestamp and duplex oval grid, the left stamp (overlaying the paste-up) has a small piece out of corner, right stamp has small piece out at bottom left, a few other small faults mostly on far right stampFINE APPEARANCE. ONLY TWO USED MULTIPLES OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING 20TH CENTURY RARITIES.
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 Bell products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, most 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. This strip of three was apparently used on a larger package from Bell Pharmaceuticals, and was hand-cancelled. The style of envelope is consistent with those seen on covers bearing Orangeburg coil singles.
Only two 3c Orangeburg used multiples are recorded: the strip of three offered here and another strip of three, centered sharply to bottom left, with tiny stain spots at top and top right and small closed tear at bottom left (ex Bissell and Hanschen, illustrated below). No used pairs and no used guide line pairs are known to exist.
Ex Twigg-Smith. Left stamp lifted to verify paste-up. With 1961, 1995 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Scott Retail as pair and single