Sale 1297 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 31 October-2 November, 2023
Category — 1917-19 Issues (Scott 481-524)
2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (482A). Deep rich color on bright white paper, Jumbo margins, Schermack perforations completely intact at left showing small part of adjoining stamp at left, indistinct cancel leaves most of design clearly visible
EXTREMELY FINE. AT xf 90 JUMBO, THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADED EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY IN THE P.S.E. POPULATION REPORT. IT IS ESPECIALLY RARE AND DESIRABLE WITH SUCH ENORMOUS MARGINS AROUND DESIGN.
Scott 482A, like its slightly more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Mailometer Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines with the Schermack Type III perforations. The Schermack “Sealer and Stamper” machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the Type III hyphen-hole perfs would be cut off on one side. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, Scott 482A has a very small survival rate.
Our census of Scott 482A, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/482A, records one used pair, three singles on separate covers and 42 used singles, for a total of 47 genuine stamps. A single with original gum and apparently imperforate has been certified as Scott 482A with perforations trimmed off, but most specialists agree it is a trimmed copy of Scott 500 (see Belasco book, p. 35).
Schermack Type III stamps are often cut into the design by the oblong perforations or miscut with one side of the perforated margin missing. This problem for collectors, which meant very little to contemporary users of the stamps, resulted from two consecutive events. First, the sheets were perforated with the Schermack holes, creating an opportunity for misalignment between the stamps. Second, when the strip of stamps was fed through the Schermack affixing machine, the cutting blade did not always align with the space between stamps.
Census no. 482A-CAN-22. Ex Drucker. With 1986 and 2003 P.F. certificates. With 2018 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $160,000). This is the highest graded Scott 482A in the P.S.E. Population Report and it is equaled by no others.
