4c Brown, Schermack Ty. III (314A). Large margins to clear with full Schermack perforations at right, deep rich color, neat strike of wavy-line machine cancel, light creases, small tear, tiny thin spots

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE.

With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufacturers for supplies of imperforate stamps, which could then be privately perforated to conform to each firm's machine. In May 1908, a supply of 25 sheets (400 stamps per sheet) of the 4c 1902 Issue, without perforations, was delivered to the Schermack Mailing Machine Co. in Detroit. The entire supply was cut into coils with Schermack Type III perforations, designed for the firm's patented affixing machine and delivered to the Winfield Printing Co. for use on mass mailings of advertising material. Approximately 6,000 were used on a mailing for Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturer, and almost all of the 4,000 balance were used on a mailing for Burroughs Adding Machine Co.

Our unpublished census contains 45 used examples, including three strips of three (one on cover), three singles on separate covers, and 33 single used copies (four are or were at one time on piece, including one of the sound copies with full margins). All three strips of three and two covers were used by Karl Koslowski, who was the only person able to acquire some of the 4c Imperforates. He is also the source for the only known unused copies. Our published census of unused examples (updated) contains four pairs, two guide line pairs and nine singles, for a total of 21 unused stamps.

Unpublished Census No. 314A-CAN-24. This issue rarely is seen at auction -- the last example we offered at auction was in our Lake Shore sale in 2004. With 1985 P.F. certificate

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