1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, attractive centering and margins

FRESH AND FINE. AN INCREDIBLY ELUSIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 20 OF THE 1923 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544, EXIST IN ANY UNUSED STATE--ONLY APPROXIMATELY TEN ARE MINT NEVER-HINGED.

A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.

Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged--the result of irregular production and mishandling. Our review of the records of The Philatelic Foundation and Power Search found only ten Mint N.H. examples. The P.F. has graded two, at 75 (ex Whitman) and 85 (ex "Scarsdale"). P.S.E. has graded three, with two at 70 (including the example offered here) and one 75. One is graded 70 by P.S.A.G. (Sale 1235, lot 1374). Of the four ungraded we record, one has a tiny perf hole tear and two are centered to two sides. Only one other, ex Zoellner and Wingate and centered to right, has the potential to grade well. A Mint N.H. block of four was offered in our 1985 Rarities sale, but we are not including this in our count.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (F 70; SMQ $42,500.00). Only one grades higher (at 75, ex "Laila" and Petersen)

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