Sale 929 — The Alan Geisler Collection of U.S. and Possessions Stamps

Sale Date — Monday, 26 February, 2007

Category — 2c Imperforate with Schermack Ty. III Perforations (Scott 482A)

Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
367
 
Sale 929, Lot 367, 2c Imperforate with Schermack Ty. III Perforations (Scott 482A)2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (482A). Deep rich color on bright paper, with Schermack perforations mostly trimmed at sides but still clearly visible at left, wide margins at top and bottom, wavy-line machine cancel

FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST ISSUES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.

Scott 482A, like its slightly more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines. The Schermack "Sealer and Stamper" machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the hyphen-hole perfs on one side would be cut off. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, has a very small survival rate.

Our census of Scott 482A (published in our Zoellner sale and available at www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/482A/482A.htm) records one pair (ex Zoellner), three covers, one unused single and 34 used singles for a total of 40 stamps. Schermack Type III stamps are often cut into the design by the oblong perforations or miscut with one side of the perforated margin missing.

Census No. 482A-CAN-11. With 1966 and 1994 P.F. certificates

50,000
23,000