Sale 1315 — The Eugene L. Grace Collection of United States and Confederate States Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 12-14 March, 2024
Category — 1912-23 Issues (Scott 498-550)
1c Green, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (498f). Mint N.H., Position G with tab at right, unusually choice centering essentially throughout, rich color and very fresh, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
2c Rose, Ty. I, A.E.F. Booklet Pane (499f). Tab at left, original gum, lightly hinged on two stamps with remainder Mint N.H., brilliant color
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT A.E.F. BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN 20 EXIST IN ANY CONDITION.
The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917, primarily for use by the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed, as Congress voted to allow mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed. A Power Search review shows many surviving examples have faults. The example offered here is one of the exceptions.
With 2016 P.S.E. certificate.
5c Rose, Error (505). Mint N.H. single error in a block of nine, beautifully centered error as well as 2c stamps, fresh and Extremely Fine, very choice quality, with 1991 P.F. certificate
15c Gray (514). Mint N.H., extra wide margins and beautifully centered, crisp shade on bright fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
30c Orange Red (516). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, vivid color, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Curtis, with 2001 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
50c Red Violet (517). Mint N.H., choice centering, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1986 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Original gum, lightly hinged, huge margins with part arrow selvage at right, choice centering, some slight color oxidation, still Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H. precise centering with rich colors, post office fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), SCV $340
$5.00 Deep Green & Black (524). Mint N.H., excellent centering and margins, Extremely Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII (528B). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 12752 selvage, wide and well-balanced margins, bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)
1c Green (531). Horizontal pair, huge margins all around including portions of adjoining stamps, wavy-line machine cancel at top, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2020 P.S.A.G. certificate (Gem 100)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. IV, Imperforate (532). Mint N.H., massive margins showing significant portions of all adjoining stamps, radiant color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 100, SMQ $400.00 as 100)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. IV, Imperforate (532). Mint N.H. block of 25, huge margins all around, bright color, few light natural gum bends, Extremely Fine, Scott value as singles
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Mint N.H. strip of three with right plate No. 11895 sheet margin, large to huge margins other sides, bright color, natural gum bend near bottom not mentioned on certificate, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 P.F. certificate, Scott value as singles
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Huge margins all around including bottom plate no. 11260 sheet margin and portions of adjoining stamps, fresh color, Benton Harbor Mich. circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2018 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ in this top grade, SMQ $1,000 as Gem 100), this is the highest grade awarded to a used example and it is shared by only seven others
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Block of four with top sheet margin, vertical guide line and arrow, huge margins other sides, cancelled by "Benton Harbor Mich. Mar. 17 '21 1:00 PM" duplex datestamp and oval grid, Extremely Fine Gem block, a superb position multiple, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Block of four with horizontal guide line, huge margins all around with portions of adjoining stamps, cancelled by "Benton Harbor Mich. Sep. 29 '21 12:30 PM" duplex datestamp and oval grid, Extremely Fine Gem block, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; blocks unpriced in SMQ)
2c Carmine, Ty. V, Imperforate (533). Center line block of four, huge margins with portions of adjoining stamps all around, cancelled by "Benton Harbor Mich. Dec. 20 '20 7:00 PM" duplex datestamp and oval grid, small corner crease at upper left in margin only and not affecting the printed design, Extremely Fine Gem block, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Large even margins three sides and huge 25mm sheet margin at right, deep rich color, light waving-flag machine cancel, thin spot in sheet margin only 5mm from the stamp design (could be trimmed leaving a huge margin), Extremely Fine Gem, a lovely example of this scarce stamp, with 1970, 1994 and 2015 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
3c Violet, Ty. IV, Imperforate (535). Pair with right plate no. 9333 sheet margin, huge margins other sides including traces of adjoining stamps, duplex cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100)
1c Gray Green (536). Mint N.H., rich color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
3c Deep Violet (537a). Rich color in the Deep Violet shade, Bethlehem Pa. boxed handstamp cancel, Fine and scarce, with 2003 P.F. certificate
1c Green, 2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary Perf 11 x 10, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (538a, 540a). Mint N.H. bottom selvage blocks of eight, rich colors, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. II, Rotary Perf 11 x 10 (539). Original gum, small h.r., with top selvage, bright color, Fine, with 1980, 2004 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary Perf 11 x 10, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (540a). Mint N.H. block of 36 with bottom sheet margin, brilliant color, well-centered, Very Fine to mostly Extremely Fine, Scott value as pairs
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Mint N.H., brilliant color, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1980 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
2c Carmine Rose, Ty. III, Rotary (546). Block of four, bright color, neat "New York H.T." oval registry cancels, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2020 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H., deep rich colors, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H. with top right corner selvage, rich colors, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great eye appeal, with 1997 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Carmine & Black (547). Mint N.H. center line block of four, intense colors, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate
1c-5c Pilgrim Tercentenary (548-550). Mint N.H., each with unusually choice centering and rich colors, Extremely Fine Gems, with 2006 or 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), an excellent opportunity to acquire the set with uniformly high grades