1c Blue Green, Coil (316). Paste-up pair, top stamp with bottom selvage used for the paste-up, original gum, rich color, choice centering

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 316. OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY TEN PAIRS AND FIVE SINGLES, AND THIS IS THE ONLY PASTE-UP. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL 20TH CENTURY STAMPS.

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 printed and then perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were then pasted together to form rolls. The pair offered here comes from the union of one strip with another to form the roll.

It is unknown exactly how many of these experimental coils were produced. They were superseded less than a year later by the Washington-Franklin issue coils, the first of which were issued on December 29, 1908.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. Two pairs have been broken in the last few years. None are known used.

Census no. 316-OG-PR-12. Signed in pencil "S.P." (Sam Pinchot). With 1976 and 1990 P.F. certificates.

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