2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Mint N.H., deep rich color, attractive centering and margins

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 539.

At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919, the Bureau devised a plan to salvage this waste by converting the stamps from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and putting the panes through the flat-plate perforator in use at the time, giving the stamps perforations on all sides.

Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines of differing gauges at different times, most of the stamps are off-center. Evidence of the rarity of Mint N.H. centered examples can be seen in the tiny graded populations -- the P.F. has graded one example at 85 and P.S.E. has graded one at 80, with none higher.

With 1987 and 2019 P.F. certificates

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