Sale 1202 — The James Depew Collection of Superb U.S. Coils and 20th Century Imperforate Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 22 May, 2019
Category — 1910-13 Perf 8.5 Horizontal Coils, Single-Line Watermark (Scott 392-396)
4c Brown, Coil (395). Mint N.H. guide line pair, mathematically perfect centering within wide margins, intensely rich color and a deeply etched impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 395, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS STANDS ALONE AS THE HIGHEST GRADED.
The 1910-13 Perf 8-1/2 coils were a response by the Post Office Department to the tendency of the 1908-10 Perf 12 coils to break apart in production or handling. The larger gauge did indeed prevent inadvertent separation, but the change went too far as many users found that they accidentally tore the stamps when separating. The Perf 10 coils, released beginning in 1914, were the compromise and they remained in production throughout the rest of the Washington-Franklin period. The 4c Brown Perf 8-1/2 coil was released in August 1912. It is very elusive as a Mint N.H. guide line pair in superb grades.
Ex "Hanover". With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; SMQ $14,500.00). This is the highest grade P.S.E. has awarded to a Scott 395 in any condition, and it is the sole guide line pair to reach this exalted grade.
