Sale 1028 — The Natalee Grace Collection of Used U.S. Stamps, Part Three: 1902 and Later Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 20 September, 2012
Category — Perf 11 Double-Line Watermark Issue, 1916-17 Perf 10 Unwatermarked Issue (Scott 461-480)
2c Pale Carmine Red, Ty. I (461). Brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, unusually choice centering for this issue with wide margins, long and full perforations, part of Millburn N.J. boxed cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 2-CENT PALE CARMINE RED PERF 11 ON SINGLE-LINE WATERMARKED PAPER, SCOTT 461. THIS WAS THE FIRST ISSUE TO BE PERFORATED 11, AND ONLY A LIMITED QUANTITY WAS PRODUCED.
The Bureau switched from 12-gauge to 10-gauge perforations to address criticism that the stamps separated too easily. However, the Perf 10 stamps had the opposite effect, often causing users to tear their stamps. Facing public criticism, Third Assistant Postmaster General Dockery experimented with this Perf 11 issue. In June 1915 90,000 trial stamps with the trial perforation were issued and deemed satisfactory. However, due to the frugality of wartime conditions the Bureau did not change to the new Perf 11 wheels until all of the old Perf 10 wheels had worn out. The change was not started until almost two years later, and by this time the Bureau was using unwatermarked paper.
With 1959 and 1999 P.F. certificates as block of four. The stamp offered here has the best centering of any in the block, and also of any we have encountered.
