Sale 968B — The Alan B. Whitman Collection, Part Three: 1902-34 Issues, B-O-B
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 22-25 September, 2009
Category — 1916-17 Issues (Scott 498-518)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
685
20c Light Ultramarine (515). Mint N.H. with selvage at top, brilliant color, post-office fresh, mathematically perfect centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 515 HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $1,450.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. The 20c seems to have much lower P.S.E. Population Report numbers in the higher grades than many others of this issue. It is clearly one of the more difficult denominations to obtain in higher grades.
95
5,250