Sale 932 — The Scarsdale Collection, Part 4: Washington-Franklin Issues
Sale Date — Friday, 30 March, 2007
Category — 1908-10 Coil Issue (Scott 348 to 356)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color and detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 348. EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 1981 and 1999 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $3,150.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date, and only one other shares this grade.
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H. pair, rich color and proof-like impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 348, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF GEM 100 BY P.S.E.
With 1998 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100; unpriced as 100 in SMQ, SMQ $1,050.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded to date (two others share this grade)
1c Green, Coil (348). Mint N.H., intense shade, choice centering with wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. guide line pair, rich color, detailed impression, wide margins at sides, fresh and Very Fine, a pretty Mint N.H. guide line pair, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H. pair, dazzling bright color, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1909 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 349.
With 1999 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,450.00). This is the highest grade awarded, and is the only pair to achieve this grade.
2c Carmine, Coil (349). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates, the former as a pair
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H. guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED COIL, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 153), this coil was issued approximately eighteen months after the horizontal coil Scott 354 and was only in use for a short period of time.
With 1992 and 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,900.00). This is the only Mint N.H. line pair to grade 95; only one has graded higher to date.
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H. pair, brilliant color, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1909 4-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 350.
This coil was issued approximately eighteen months after the horizontal coil Scott 354 and was only in use for a short period of time.
With 1979 and 2001 P.F. certificates
4c Orange Brown, Coil (350). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. guide line pair, choice centering beautiful intense shade and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT PERF 12 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK VERTICAL COIL.
Interestingly, this is the only 5c Washington-Franklin perforated vertical coil stamp ever produced. Demand proved to be so low that no others were made.
With 1974, 1985 and 1999 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H. pair, rich color, detailed impression, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1909 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 351.
This is the only 5c Washington-Franklin perforated vertical coil stamp ever produced. Demand proved to be so low that no others were made.
With 1986 and 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,200.00). Only two have graded higher to date.
5c Blue, Coil (351). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright and crisp paper, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS COIL ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, lightly hinged, deep rich color, almost perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, scarce with such choice centering, with 1996 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,400.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date by P.S.E. for any guide line pair (either Mint N.H. or hinged)
1c Green, Coil (352). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, rich color, proof-like impression, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,200.00), only one pair has graded higher
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H. guide line pair, luminous color, detailed impression, choice centering with wide margins at top and bottomVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT PERF 12 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 353.
With 1986 and 2000 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, radiant color, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (353). Mint N.H., brilliant color, detailed impression, long and full perforations at sides, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1996 and 2006 P.F. certificates (the former as pair, the latter XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00), also with 2004 P.S.E. certificate as pair (XF-Superb 95)
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H. guide line pair, perfectly centered with wide margins, deep rich color on bright paper, sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT 1909 HORIZONTAL COIL. SURPRISINGLY SCARCE IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
A review of our computerized records reveals that we have only offered six Mint N.H. guide line pairs in the past 13 years of auctions. Of these, perhaps two or three compare favorably to the example offered here.
With 1978 and 2004 P.F. certificates
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H. pair with 3mm spacing, bright shade, unusually wide marginsFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 354.
With 1987 and 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,850.00). This is the only graded Mint N.H. pair in the P.S.E. Population Report
4c Orange Brown, Coil (354). Mint N.H., choice centering with Jumbo margins, intense shade, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, with 1998 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. guide line pair, brilliant color and detailed impression, remarkably choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355.
With 1976 and 1999 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $7,350.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date (two others share this grade). A review of our computerized records shows that we have on average offered one Mint N.H. guide line pair a year for the past ten years. Very few of those compare favorably to the example offered here.
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H. pair, rich color on crisp paper, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1909 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355.
With 1984, 1996 and 2003 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,900.00). This is the highest Mint N.H. grade awarded to date (only two pairs in P.S.E. Population Report)
5c Blue, Coil (355). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1986 and 1999 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Guide line pair, right stamp Mint N.H., left stamp lightly hinged, brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356, WITH ONE MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed.
With 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $50,000.00 does not take into consideration the one Mint N.H. stamp)
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Mint N.H. pair, vibrant color on crisp paper, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 10-CENT PERF 12 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A MAJOR CONDITION RARITY.
As the previous description notes, very few examples of this coil issue were saved for collectors. A review of our computerized records revealed an astonishing fact: this is the first Mint N.H. pair we have offered since keeping computerized records. Our computerized records encompass almost 13 years of auctions. In that time we have offered in Mint N.H. condition the following examples of Scott No. 356: 1) Mint N.H. guide line strip of four (Zoellner Sale 804, lot 560, realized $35,000 hammer); 2) One Mint N.H. single offered twice (once in Sale 848 and once in Sale 913); and 3) One Mint N.H. guide line pair, ex Silver Lake (Sale 866, lot 206, realized $47,500 hammer).
With 1975 and 2000 P.F. certificates
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Mint N.H., dazzling color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
As the previous description notes, this is one of the most difficult issues to obtain in Mint N.H. condition.
With 2000 P.F. certificate