Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — Later Issues
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Original gum, lightly hinged and small pencil notation on gum, perfect centering, bright color on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1910 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO A HINGED EXAMPLE IN ANY FORMAT.
With copies 1972 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates for a pair. With 2025 P.S.E. certificate as this single (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded to a hinged Scott 388 in any format (line pair, pair or single). One Mint N.H. single grades higher (at 98J).
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Mint N.H., remarkably well-centered with wide margins, vibrant color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 10 10-CENT PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Long before numerical grading, the rarity of 10c Panama-Pacific Perf 10 stamps in superb condition (hinged or not) was well-established. The 10-gauge perfs on this issue are almost always uneven or shortened from separation. Centering is rarely above Fine. This stamp is the exception on both counts.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only three grade higher (two at 98J, one at 100).
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific, Perf 10 (404). Wide top plate no. 6135 block of six, original gum, top center stamp lightly hinged, two others barest trace of hinging, three stamps Mint N.H., vivid color, wide margins and outstanding centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST LIGHTLY HINGED PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF SIX OF THE 10-CENT PERF 10 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
With 2008 P.F. certificate.
1c Green, Perf 12 x 10 (423A). Unobtrusive part strike of duplex cancel, perfs completely clear all around
FRESH AND FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 ONE-CENT compound PERF 12 x 10 ISSUE. ONE OF ONLY FOURTEEN USED SINGLES WITH A POSTAL CANCEL.
Our census of Scott 423A at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/423A contains 37 used singles, six used pairs, the unique used block of four and four covers (one with a pair). Of the used singles, 21 have precancels.
Census no. 423A-CAN-34 (formerly the right stamp in 423A-CAN-PR-05). Ex "Sirron". With copy of 1992 P.F. certificate for pair. With 2007 graded (Fine 70; SMQ $4,750) and 2025 ungraded P.S.E. certificates. The Scott Catalogue states in a footnote to this issue, "Value for used is for a sound stamp in the grade of Fine-Very Fine."
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Mint N.H. joint line pair, vivid color
FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 1915 2-CENT TYPE I VERTICAL COIL.
The 2c Type I rotary plate was used very briefly to make vertical coils issued in late 1915. It was briefly used because the Type I plate was not very deeply engraved and the curvature of the rotary press yielded impressions lacking in some of the details. The Bureau noticed this immediately, and quickly replaced it with the Type III plate (according to Scott, the EDU for No. 449 is Oct. 29, 1915, and the EDU for Type III is Dec. 10, 1915).
With 2018 P.F. certificate. SCV $28,000.
50c Light Violet (477). Mint N.H. with bottom sheet selvage, vivid color on fresh paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, light Scott number pencil notation in selvage only
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Merlin, "Hanover" and Myerson. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). The highest grade awarded and only five others share it.
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line pair, original gum, bright color
FRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS UNWATERMARKED HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 491.
Unlike most other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.
With 1970 (for line strip of four) P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates.
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, original gum, light central hinge between each block, one position natural gum skip
FINE-VERY FINE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE UNITED STATES 20TH CENTURY PLATE BLOCKS.
The $2.00 and $5.00 1918 Issue are the first bicolored dollar-denominated postage stamps issued by the United States. Both were released just three months after the famous 1918 24c Inverted Jenny, but the early printings were issued in small quantities, since stocks of the earlier $2.00 and $5.00 issues were still on hand. According to Johl, the $2.00 Orange Red & Black was a color error on the part of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The official description and order for the bicolor stamps specified "Red and Black" for the $2.00. When subsequent printings appeared in 1920 and philatelists brought the matter to the attention of the Bureau, they were told "this stamp has always been this color" (Johl, p. 306). From studies of Bureau and Post Office records, it is clear that the originally intended color was not issued until November 1920 (Scott 547), and that the earlier Orange Red stamps were mistakes. The quantity issued has been variously estimated at between 47,000 and 68,000.
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H. top plate nos. 8179/8178 and arrow block of eight, rich colors, pos. 2 short natural gum crease
FINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1918 $5.00 ISSUE, SCOTT 524.
We have offered perhaps a half dozen in Mint N.H. condition in the past 15 years.
3c Deep Violet (537a). Block of four, brilliant color and nicely centered, Beverly Mass. 1920 duplex cancel, completely sound
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 3-CENT DEEP RED VIOLET SHADE VICTORY ISSUE WITH A HANDSTAMP CANCEL.
The vast majority of used examples of Scott 537a have precancels. Our census of used examples at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/537a contains only four blocks of four and 18 singles. Two of the blocks have precancels and one with a handstamp cancel has faults and much inferior centering to this block.
Census no. 537a-CAN-BL-22, with 2025 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; blocks unpriced in SMQ).
4c Winslow Homer, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (1207a). With top plate no. 27381 selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich colors on bright paper, perfs angled to in at bottom of left stamp, right stamp wide margins all around
VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY PLATE NUMBER PAIR AMONG THE FOUR KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT WINSLOW HOMER IMPERFORATE-BETWEEN ERROR.
Three of the four recorded examples of this error rarity have misaligned perforations on at least one side. This is the only pair with a plate number and is a desirable modern error rarity.
With 2017 P.F. certificate. Scott value without premium for the unique plate number.
13c Indian Head Penny, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Vertically (1734a). Mint N.H. pane of 150, with plate no. 38357 at top left and copyright and zip code notices at top right, the entire pane the error, bright colors
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS INTACT MINT NEVER-HINGED PANE OF THE 13-CENT INDIAN HEAD PENNY IMPERFORATE VERTICALLY IS LIKELY UNIQUE. A WONDERFUL RARITY.
Scott Errors catalogue notes between 300 and 375 pairs are known. This was issued in four panes of 150 (160 stamps) so it is possible only one sheet failed to receive the vertical perforations. This remarkable pane contains 70 pairs, plus the added row (15 across = 7 pairs plus one extra stamp per row). Scott value without premium for the larger multiple, the extra row or the plate number and other positions