Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320)
5c Blue, Large Die Essay on India (304-E2). Die sunk on 91 x 104mm card, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, rare, this essay differs from the issued design with the shading on the side figures unfinished, this is the only example we have offered since sometime before 1993, ex Ainsworth, with 2007 P.F. certificate
1902-08 Issues, Balance. 15 stamps on a stock card, complete through the 50c as well as the imperfs, also an extra 3c, 1c-8c, 13c, 15c, 2c Shield and Imperfs Mint N.H., others hinged, nice centering and margins, fresh colors, Very Fine and choice, four P.F. certificate accompany (one a copy for a block), Scott value exceeds $2,000
50c Orange (310). Mint N.H., wide margins and precise centering, vibrant color on pristine paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The 1902-03 Regular Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforation method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Furthermore, stamps issued in choice condition seldom stayed that way, because the boom in stamp collecting that began with the Roosevelt administration caused hordes of hinge-bearing philatelists to mount stamps over and over again. For this reason, today's collectors have grown accustomed to paying many multiples of Scott value for Extremely Fine stamps in Mint Never-Hinged state. Anyone who has pursued this set can testify that the 50c is rarely encountered in such condition. Apart from the $2.00 and $5.00 values, it is more elusive than any other value of the set in superb Mint N.H. condition. This example probably ranks among the ten highest-quality examples in existence.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only three grade higher (two at 95J and one at 98) and only four others share this desirable grade.
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-centered with wide margins
very fine and choice MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
The 1902-03 Second Bureau Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforation method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Furthermore, stamps issued in choice condition seldom stayed that way, because the boom in stamp collecting that began with the Roosevelt administration caused hordes of hinge-bearing philatelists to mount stamps over and over again. This is especially true when it comes to the $5.00 denomination. This fact is made abundantly clear when one realizes that the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a $5.00 value in Never-Hinged condition is 90, given to only five stamps. The stamp offered here has not been numerically graded, but its quality is self-evident.
With 2016 P.F. certificate.
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., large even margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. and 2016 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H. horizontal pair, large margins all around, deep color and highly detailed impression, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins all around, deep rich color, wavy-line machine cancel
EXTREMELY FINE. THE 1908 5-CENT IMPERFORATE IS EXTREMELY RARE IN USED CONDITION, ESPECIALLY AS A MULTIPLE. THIS OUTSTANDING PAIR IS THE HIGHEST GRADED BY P.S.E.
According to Johl, only 29 sheets of 400 of the 5c imperforate were issued. Most were sent to Indianapolis and the majority was used by manufacturers of private coils. Some unused were no doubt kept by collectors -- 825 copies were distributed to members of the Detroit Philatelic Society. It is possible that most of the used copies originate from this supply.
Ex Hillmer, "Natalee Grace" and Depew. With 1987 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $6,500.00). This is the highest graded pair in the P.S.E. Population Report and it is matched by no others.
ADDENDA: ONE OTHER SHARES THIS GRADE.
2c Lake, Ty. II, Imperforate (320A). Horizontal pair, large margins all around, neat Chicago circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Helton, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), this is the highest grade recorded and is equaled by only one other pair
2c Scarlet, International Vending Machine Co., Perforated Approximately 12½ (320b). Pair, original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, fresh and Fine, the International Vending Machine Company installed their machines in post offices, using the 2c Shield with their own 12½ gauge perforations, the coils were replaced with the government coils in July 1908, ex Hansen, with 2008 P.F. certificate