Sale 951 — The Tahoe Collection of Superb Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 27 February, 2008
Category — 20th Century Issues
$1.00 Black (311). Jumbo margins, intense shade and proof-like impression, oval Los Angeles registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a massive stamp, with 1988 and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80 Jumbo; SMQ $70.00 as 80, $115.00 as 85), we feel this grade is rather low given the massive size of the stamp's margins
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Perfectly centered, wide margins, light cancel, remarkably bright and fresh, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00), this is the only example to achieve this grade and only one has graded higher to date
2c Carmine (332). Intense shade, light machine cancel, Jumbo margins and superb centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp
$1.00 Violet Brown (342). Deep shade and detailed impression, exceptionally wide margins and choice centering, double-oval cancel, Extremely Fine, this is probably the most difficult denomination of the set to obtain in such superb used condition (only one has graded higher than 90 to date in P.S.E.'s Population Report), with 2004 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Coil (352). Guide line pair, deep rich color on bright paper, wavy-line machine cancelVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT COIL, SCOTT 352.
Undercatalogued in Scott. With 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates.
1c Green, Coil (390). Guide line pair, beautifully centered with huge and even margins, wavy-line machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal used guide line pair, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $600.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date, and only three others share this grade
2c Carmine, Coil (391). Guide line pair with intact perfs and parts of adjoining stamps at top and bottom, rich color on bright white paper, sharp "Waukegan Ill. Aug. 23, 1916" duplex cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 391, IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
With 2002 P.S.E. and 2003 P.F. certificates.
4c Brown, Coil (395). Intense shade, huge and even margins, neat oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $355.00), this is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this high grade
1c Green, Coil (412). Guide line pair, deep rich color and detailed impression, wide margins, light strikes of 1913 duplex cancels leave design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, scarce in such choice used condition and especially desirable with a cancel dated so shortly after it was issued, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $540.00), only one has graded higher to date in the P.S.E. Population Report
2c Rose Red, Ty. I, Perf 12 x 10 (423B; formerly 425d). Bright shade, unusually wide margins, neat machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1914 2-CENT PERF 12 x 10 ISSUE. ONLY 30 USED COPIES ARE RECORDED.
Our census of Scott 423B, available at www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/423B/423B.htm, records 30 used and one unused example of this great rarity.
Census No. 423B-CAN-06. Ex Twigg-Smith and Chesapeake. With 1977 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
5c Blue, Perf 12 x 10 (423C; formerly 428a). Choice centering, "Tampa Fla." handstamped precancel, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY SEVEN RECORDED SOUND EXAMPLES OF THE 1914 5-CENT WASHINGTON PERF 12 x 10.
For no apparent reason, the 5c has the highest percentage of faulty stamps of any of the 1914 Compound Perf issues. Of the 24 used copies in our census, seventeen are either faulty or have the perforations in on at least one side of the design. The stamp offered here is easily one of the finest, and it was the highlight of the 5c Compound Perforations offered in our Chesapeake sale.
Census No. 423C-CAN-05. Ex Floyd and Chesapeake. With 1960 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
3c Violet, Coil (445). Pair, rich color, unusually wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive magenta cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED PAIR OF THE 3-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 445, IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
With 2002 A.P.S. and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,800.00). The P.S.E. Population Report lists Scott 445 in single, pair and line pair format. This is the only used example in any of the three categories to achieve a P.S.E. XF-Superb 95 grade. One used line pair has been graded 90, the next highest grade, followed by two singles and two pairs graded 85.
5c Blue, Coil (447). Guide line pair, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, light wavy-line machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 447. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE, AND THE ONLY LINE PAIR GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Coil multiples can be extremely difficult to obtain in such superb used condition. They are rarely found well-centered both side-to-side and also top-to-bottom. Guide line pairs add an additional degree of rarity, as they occur only once every 20 stamps. Add in the factor that few guide line pairs were used, and its true rarity in this condition can begin to be appreciated.
With 1999 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,450.00). This is the only used line pair to achieve this grade, which is the highest awarded to date (used pairs have received two 95's and one 98).
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Pretty shade, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, neat machine cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 449, IN WHAT MAY BE THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Ex Floyd. With 1981 P.F. certificate
4c Brown, Coil (457). Rich shade, wide balanced margins, unobtrusive registry oval cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful used coil single
5c Blue, Coil (458). Pair, rich color, remarkably well-centered with even margins, 1918 duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, especially desirable with the yeardate of the cancel showing contemporary usage, with 2003 P.F. certificate for strip of three, this being the left pair
50c Light Violet (477). Perfectly centered with wide margins all around, pretty pastel color, boxed cancel leaves design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, a surprisingly difficult stamp to find in such choice used condition, with 2005 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Light Green (480). Jumbo margins, neat oval cancel leaves design clearly visible, Extremely Fine Gem, difficult to find in such superb used condition, with 1989 P.F. certificate for pair
5c Blue, Coil (496). Pair, perfectly centered, deep rich color and proof-like impression, bold "St. Louis Mo." cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb pair in every respect and without question one of the finest we have ever encountered, with 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Green, Perf 10 at Top (498g). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, neat machine cancel, unusually choice centering for this rare Perf 10 at Top or Bottom varietyVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE FOUR RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT GREEN 1917 ISSUE PERFORATED 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TAHOE COLLECTION, AND OF ANY COLLECTION OF USED 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Our records of this rarity contain twelve unused (including two in a block of four, four in a block of 25 and and a plate block of six containing 1-1/2 stamps with the variety) and four used examples. The four used examples can be identified as follows: 1) bottom stamp in top selvage vertical pair, PFC 37681, condition unconfirmed; 2) the stamp offered here, last offered in Siegel Sale 930, realized $42,500 hammer; 3) Ohio boxed cancel, PFC 157251, centered to top and right; and 4) lightly cancelled, perfs just in at right, offered in Siegel Sale 872, realized $19,000 hammer.
With 1978 and 2007 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Ty. Va, Imperforate (534). Centerline block of four, huge margins all around, two neat strikes of Salem Mass. double oval cancels, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful used centerline block, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate
3c Deep Violet (537a). Deep rich color on brilliant paper, bold "Salem Ohio" precancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONLY SIXTEEN USED EXAMPLES OF THE RED VIOLET ARE CURRENTLY KNOWN.
The Philatelic Foundation has certified only six singles, one pair (now split) and one block of four as genuine. The other block (uncertified) has a straight edge at right and slight thinning.
With photocopy of 2002 P.F. certificate for vertical pair, this being the bottom stamp. In our opinion this rarity is undercatalogued in Scott.
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Light machine cancel, exceptionally well-centered for this notoriously challenging issue with unusually wide margins, fresh and bright color, tiny trace of corner crease at top right is visible basically only in fluidEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A MARVELOUS USED EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY, AND ONE OF THE WIDEST-MARGINED COPIES IN EXISTENCE.
A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 11/10 compound gauge. Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged as a result of lower production standards and poor handling. The issue normally comes with much narrower margins at sides. The example offered here, with wide margins all around, is certainly one of the biggest copies in existence.
With 2000 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates, the former not mentioning the trivial faint corner crease. The latter P.S.E. certificate still grades as a VF-XF 85
4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 at Bottom (556b). "Johnstown Pa." two-line precancel applied inverted, rich color, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 AT ONE SIDE STAMPS. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS PROBABLY THE BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLE IN EXISTENCE.
Our records of Scott 556b contain only four used examples. Of these, three have precancels, and one shows transitional perfs at top.
With 1993 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Rotary, Perf 11 (595). Almost perfectly centered with unusually wide and well-balanced margins all around, brilliant color, machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, scarce in such pristine condition, with 2004 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $680.00), this is the highest grade awarded to to date, and only one other shares this grade; in our opinion, this coil waste issue is very undercatalogued in SMQ, and if a stamp with this centering and margins is graded 90, there might not be a better used copy