Sale 1019 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 1-2 March, 2012
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 311-320c)
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
The 1902-03 Regular Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforating method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Furthermore, stamps issued in choice condition seldom stayed that way, because the boom in stamp collecting that began with the Roosevelt administration caused hordes of hinge-bearing philatelists to mount stamps over and over again. This fact is made abundantly clear when you realize that the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a $5.00 value in never-hinged condition is a 90, given to only three stamps.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80; SMQ $6,550.00).
