Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

The Dr. Alfred S. Martin Collection, Part 1: United States Postal History continued...

**Scott 482A**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
183		2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Type III Perforations (482A). Full to large margins all around, part of stamp from adjoining row shows in top margin, Schermack Type III hyphen-hole perfs well clear of design on both sides, intense shade characteristic of Type Ia, tied by neatly applied "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 17 3PM 1920" wavy-line machine cancel on window envelope with Holeproof Hosiery Co. corner card EXTREMELY FINE STAMP ON A PRISTINE COMMERCIAL COVER. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 39 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE, ON OR OFF COVER. THIS IS THE FINEST AND EARLIEST OF THREE RECORDED SCOTT 482A COVERS AND, IN OUR OPINION, IT IS ONE OF THE TOP TEN MOST IMPORTANT 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELIC ITEMS IN EXISTENCE. Scott 482A, like its more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines. The Schermack "Sealer and Stamper" machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the hyphen-hole perfs on one side would be cut off. Under these circumstances, the condition of this single stamp, with intact perfs on both sides, is truly remarkable. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, has a very small survival rate. Our updated census of Scott 482A published in the Zoellner catalogue and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/482a/482a.htm records three covers, one unused single, a used pair and 33 used singles for a total of 39 stamps. Most examples are either cut well into the design or have the Schermack perfs trimmed away on one side. The cover offered here is the Earliest Documented Use of Scott 482A, clearly datestamped February 17, 1920. The next earliest date is February 27. Among the icons of 20th Century United States philately are the position blocks of the 24c Inverted Jenny, the 1901 Pan-American Invert blocks and covers, the 1908 4c Imperforate line pairs and covers, the 1908 2c Vertical Coil pairs and cover, the pair of Scott 482A and the cover offered here. Removing redundant items from our list, we feel justified in ranking this cover among the Top Ten most important 20th Century United States philatelic items in existence. Census No. 482A-COV-03. Ex Isleham (Siegel 1986 Ameripex sale). With 1967 and 1988 P.F. certificates (Image)	E. 100,000-150,000	160,000.00

Scott 482A

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

183

2c Deep Rose, Ty. Ia, Imperforate, Schermack Type III Perforations (482A). Full to large margins all around, part of stamp from adjoining row shows in top margin, Schermack Type III hyphen-hole perfs well clear of design on both sides, intense shade characteristic of Type Ia, tied by neatly applied "Milwaukee Wis. Feb. 17 3PM 1920" wavy-line machine cancel on window envelope with Holeproof Hosiery Co. corner card

EXTREMELY FINE STAMP ON A PRISTINE COMMERCIAL COVER. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 39 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE, ON OR OFF COVER. THIS IS THE FINEST AND EARLIEST OF THREE RECORDED SCOTT 482A COVERS AND, IN OUR OPINION, IT IS ONE OF THE TOP TEN MOST IMPORTANT 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELIC ITEMS IN EXISTENCE.

Scott 482A, like its more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines. The Schermack "Sealer and Stamper" machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the hyphen-hole perfs on one side would be cut off. Under these circumstances, the condition of this single stamp, with intact perfs on both sides, is truly remarkable. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, has a very small survival rate.

Our updated census of Scott 482A published in the Zoellner catalogue and available at our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/482a/482a.htm records three covers, one unused single, a used pair and 33 used singles for a total of 39 stamps. Most examples are either cut well into the design or have the Schermack perfs trimmed away on one side. The cover offered here is the Earliest Documented Use of Scott 482A, clearly datestamped February 17, 1920. The next earliest date is February 27.

Among the icons of 20th Century United States philately are the position blocks of the 24c Inverted Jenny, the 1901 Pan-American Invert blocks and covers, the 1908 4c Imperforate line pairs and covers, the 1908 2c Vertical Coil pairs and cover, the pair of Scott 482A and the cover offered here. Removing redundant items from our list, we feel justified in ranking this cover among the Top Ten most important 20th Century United States philatelic items in existence.

Census No. 482A-COV-03. Ex Isleham (Siegel 1986 Ameripex sale). With 1967 and 1988 P.F. certificates (Image)

E. 100,000-150,000

160,000.00