Sale 1289 — 2023 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2023
Category — Washington-Franklin and Other Issues, including Upright Jenny
2c Rose, Ty. I, Perf 10 x 11 (499D). Choice centering and margins, bright color, tied by wavy-line machine cancel with part of Elizabeth N.J. Jun. 3, 1917 circular datestamp at left on piece of cover, pencil note on the back "J. M. Bartels. The only used copy"VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE I 1917 ISSUE WITH COMPOUND PERFORATIONS -- PERF 10 HORIZONTALLY BY PERF 11 VERTICALLY -- WHICH WILL BECOME SCOTT 499D IN THE 2024 SCOTT CATALOGUE. AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE A NEWLY LISTED MAJOR SCOTT NUMBER, OF WHICH JUST ONE EXAMPLE IS KNOWN -- RARER THAN THE ONE-CENT AND 15-CENT Z GRILL STAMPS, BUT JUST STARTING ON ITS TRAJECTORY IN DEMAND AND VALUE.
The history and significance of this stamp are documented for the first time in this Rarities of the World sale catalogue. When the gavel falls, the successful bidder will be the first to have their name identified with Scott 499D, a new major listing in the forthcoming 2024 Scott Catalogue. This listing is confirmed in writing by the Scott editor-in-chief, Jay Bigalke (his statement accompanies). Accordingly, the 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (594886) identifies this stamp as Scott 499D.
The signed notation on back was made by J. Murray Bartels, a German-born stamp dealer in the United States who died in 1944. Therefore, this piece must have reached philatelic hands sometime between 1917 and 1944. However, the existence of a 2c compound perforation 10 x 11 stamp was not noted in Johl's 1937 book on 20th century stamps, nor in Armstrong's 1979 book on the Washington-Franklin series. When the first Philatelic Foundation certificate was issued (#150031, October 2, 1985), the stamp was identified as Scott “499var.” At this time, the compound perforation stamps were listed as minor varieties of their respective issues. This changed in 2003 when the Scott Catalogue elevated the Perf 10 x 12 and 12 x 10 compound perforation stamps to major Scott numbers -- 423A through 423E -- but the 2c Perf 10 x 11 from the later issue on unwatermarked paper was overlooked. When this stamp was consigned months ago, we recognized the significance of the 10 x 11 compound perforation. After certification by The Philatelic Foundation and confirmation from the Scott editor-in-chief that it will be listed as Scott 499D, we are now able to offer a new major-listing stamp.
This stamp is a hybrid of the 1916 and 1917 issues. The basic 2c Type I design was printed on unwatermarked paper and perforated with 10-gauge perforations in September 1916. If this stamp had 10-gauge perforations all around, it would be Scott 463. The changeover to 11-gauge perforations occurred prior to March 1917. The 2c Type I on unwatermarked paper with 11-gauge perforations all around is Scott 499. This stamp proves that at least one 2c Type I sheet was perforated on the 10-gauge machine in one direction -- from side to side, creating Perf 10 horizontal rows -- then the sheet was finished on the 11-gauge perforating machine in the other direction -- from top to bottom, creating Perf 11 vertical rows. The postmark date is more complete in the photograph on the earlier certificate, before someone trimmed down the piece, and it is dated June 3, 1917, at Elizabeth, New Jersey. That fits with the use of the 11-gauge perforating machine for sheets released in March 1917.
How many 2c Type I Perf 10 x 11 stamps exist? That question is very difficult to answer. If Bartels was aware of its significance and collectors such as George Ewing had examples of compound perforations in their collections before World War II, then philatelists should have been on the alert for Perf 10 x 11 stamps of any 1916 Issue denomination. The fact that only this one stamp is recorded in the P.F. records and we have not seen another Perf 10 x 11 stamp indicates that it is extremely rare. The odds of finding another Scott 499D are very small, but not impossible. It is also possible another denomination will be found with 10 x 11 compound perforations.
As for value, the keys to completing a United States stamp collection are well-known: the 1c Z Grill, Scott 85A (two known, one available), the 15c Z Grill, Scott 85F (two known), the 24c Continental, Scott 164 (one known) and the 2c Compound Perf 10 x 12, Scott 423E (one known). Now we can add Scott 499D to the list. We think our estimate is conservative and leave it to the bidders to establish Scott 499D's market value in its first offering. It will be fun to watch the bidders play "keepaway."
Signed Bartels. With 1985 and 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificates. To be listed in the 2024 Scott Catalogue and accompanied by a written statement from Jay Bigalke, the editor-in-chief, confirming that fact.
