Sale 937 — 2007 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 16 June, 2007
Category — 1902-08 Issues
1c-$5.00 1902-03 Issue, Small Die Proofs (300P2-313P2). On a complete page from a Roosevelt album, rich colorsVERY FINE. A SCARCE COMPLETE PAGE WITH THE 1902 ISSUE FROM A ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM.
Only 85 presentation albums prepared.
3c Bright Violet (302). Bright color, tied by "U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Apr. 4, 1905" waving-flag machine cancel on picture postcard depicting Woosung Harbor near Shanghai, to Vienna, Austria, receiving datestamp at bottom rightVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED SINGLE-FRANKING USE OF THE 3-CENT 1902 ISSUE WITH THE U.S. POSTAL AGENCY SHANGHAI MACHINE CANCEL.
Very few examples of the U.S. Postal Agency in Shanghai machine cancel are known. This use on a card with the 3c 1902 is believed to be unique (others are 2c frankings).
15c Olive Green (309). Left imprint and plate no. 3208 block of six, lightly hinged, beautiful rich color, minor perf separations, still Fine and unusually fresh, ex Cheshire
50c Black, Large Die Essay on India (310-E2). Die sunk on 89 x 103mm card, almost complete engraving -- we note shortened shading lines in leaf ornaments at upper right and left -- small piece of bottom right corner of India paper torn offVERY FINE. ONE OF TWO SCOTT-LISTED PROGRESSIVE DIE ESSAYS AND THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS NEARLY-FINISHED STATE.
There are only two known die essays for the 50c 1902 Issue. Each is unique. Ex Cheshire and Lake Shore.
$1.00 Black (311). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression on crisp paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.
With 1998 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $12,100.00). None have graded higher, and only seven N.H. stamps have achieved this grade to date.
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE. A PRETTY STAMP.
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90; SMQ $4,190.00)
1c Blue Green, Imperforate Horizontal Coil (314H). Mint N.H. guide line strip of seven, large margins, deep rich color, light vertical crease along the guide lineEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE STRIP OF SEVEN OF THE ONE-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE FLAT PLATE COIL STAMP.
These coils were made from the flat plate regular issue stamps, and were issued in rolls of either 500 or 1,000. Very few large multiples are known for this issue.
With 1986 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged guide line strip of four and Mint N.H. pair does not include value for the additional single.
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Bottom imprint and plate no. 4073 block of six, barely hinged, large margins all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1908 5-CENT IMPERFORATE LINCOLN ISSUE.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Coil (322). Pair, lightly hinged, rich color, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.
Armstrong notes that only 167 examples had been certified by the Philatelic Foundation as of 1980. The infrequency with which this coil appears at auction would indicate that it may in fact be rarer, and that Armstrong's census information may contain duplicate records. Issued on July 31, 1908, this was intended only to be used by private vending machine companies.
With 1949 A.P.S. and 1982 and 2001 P.F. certificates