Sale 1093 — The Curtis Collection: U.S. 20th Century and Air Post
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 23-24 February, 2015
Category — 1908-10 Washington-Franklin Imperfs and Imperf Coils (Scott 343-347V)
3c Deep Violet, Ty. I, Horizontal Imperforate Coil (345H). Pair, large margins, fresh color, trivial small tear in bottom marginVERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT HORIZONTAL IMPERFORATE COIL.
It is known that the Post Office issued 13,500 3c imperforate coils (27 rolls of 500). However, there was little commercial need for a 3c stamp. When the first perforated 3c coil (No. 389) was issued the following year, only one company used it, Bell & Co. of Orangeburg, New York. When the Scott Catalogue introduced listings for imperforate coils, the 3c was included. Stamp dealer George Sloane tried to acquire examples of all government-issued coils for one of his customers, but he was unable to find any 3c imperforate coils. On his recommendation, the Scott Catalogue deleted the 3c imperforate coil in its 1941 edition.
Ken Lawrence found this pair in 1997. He submitted it to the A.P.S. for expertizing. Because it has a guide line at top, it was compared to Perf 8-1/2 coils with guide line at top, since these were manufactured the same year with the same equipment. After careful scrutiny by coil specialists, including George Brett, W. Wallace Cleland, Mick Hadley, George Wagner and Larry Weiss, it was determined that the top edge possesses the traits of the coil stamp.
With 2002 A.P.S. certificate. Listed but unpriced in Scott
