1c Blue Green, Coil (316). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, deep rich colors, proof-like impression, choice centering on post-office fresh paper

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE FINEST SINGLE OF THE 1908 ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 316. ONLY TEN UNUSED PAIRS AND FIVE UNUSED SINGLES ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

According to Johl, these first government coils were an experiment, and collectors and dealers were generally unaware of their existence. Regular sheets of 400 were perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were pasted together to form rolls.

It is unknown exactly how many of these experimental coils were produced (one paste-up pair is known). They were superseded less than a year later by the Washington-Franklin issue coils, the first of which were issued on December 29, 1908.

Our census of Scott 316, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/316 , records seven pairs, three line pairs (one of which is rejoined) and five unused singles, for a total of 25 stamps. The population of singles has recently grown -- the pair offered in our 2015 Hall sale was broken shortly after that sale, and a pair with perfs in at bottom of one stamp was broken in 2019. The single offered here is sound and better centered than any of the other newly created singles.

Census no. 316-OG-02. Ex Engel as part of a strip of three and Whitman. With 1961, 1987 and 1997 P.F. certificates

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