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United States continued...

1908 FIVE CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUED STAMPS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

321

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, an impressive top right corner sheet-margin single, boasting huge sheet selvages, and the other two margins quite large, deep intense color and impression, o.g., l.h., extremely fine; a particularly handsome mint example; 1981 PF certificate. (Image)

$220.00

SOLD for $190.00
Will close during Public Auction

322

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, a showpiece complete set of all four position arrow blocks of four, along with the centerline block, being a reconstruction of the sheet guide line and arrow markings, a wonderfully matched set which is believed to be one of only two such sets known, each block is marvelously fresh, with deep luxuriant color and strong impressions, plus all are exceptionally well margined, pristine o.g., one stamp on the top arrow block and another on the centerline block may have just the barest trace of hinging (if at all), all others n.h., very fine-extremely fine; a stunning set, containing the extremely rare centerline block of four, which is terribly elusive, as all of the imperforate sheets of 400 were divided into four panes of 100 stamps by the guide lines, because of the way these 33 sheets of imperforates were distributed, there are fewer than six centerline blocks that could potentially exist; cataloged in Scott only as hinged position multiples, with no premium added for never hinged. (Image)

$16,000.00+

SOLD for $10,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

323

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, full left sheet-margin arrow and ball marker mint block of four, exceptionally large and wonderfully well balanced margins all around, deep luxuriant color and impression on bright paper, left sheet margin also showing portion of pressmen initials, o.g., three stamps n.h., fourth stamp at top left lightly hinged, extremely fine; a very rare position block; it is believed that the ball shaped marking, known on less than 2 tenths of a percent (.002) of sheet plate proofs, represents indentations from a Brinnell plate hardness measuring. (Image)

$2,400.00

SOLD for $1,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

324

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, a matching right sheet-margin arrow and ball maker mint block of four, a perfect exhibition companion block to the previous lot, uniformly large margins, sumptuously rich color and impression, o.g., lightly hinged, extremely fine; another very rare position block; 1980 PF certificate. (Image)

$2,400.00

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

325

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, top margin imprint and plate no. 2953 block of six, large to very large margins all around, deep rich color, o.g., lightly hinged, very fine; a handsome example of this scarce plate block. (Image)

$2,750.00

SOLD for $1,350.00
Will close during Public Auction

326

PBPBPB

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, horizontal pair, large well balanced margins all around, tied to piece by three strikes of a striking magenta "Shasta Springs, Cal./M.O.B./Sep 15/1908" double ring c.d.s., the earliest documented use of Scott #315, minor toning around edges of pair (accompanying certificate overstates as "staining") still extremely fine; 1973 PF certificate; ex-Jennings, Wagner.Any genuinely used pair of the Five Cent 1908 Imperforate is a rarity, as so many seen on the market have either fraudulent or non-contemporaneous postmarks. In fact, a review of the Philatelic Foundation records reveals that less than 25 pairs have been certified as genuine. Not only is the pair offered here among this scant population of genuine pairs, it is unique in two ways - being the earliest documented usage, but it also is the only used pair that bears a colored cancellation. One of the great used rarities of the 20th century. (Image)

$10,000.00+

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

327

OPB

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, a spectacular used bottom sheet-margin imprint and plate no. 2953 block of six, possessing large to extra-large margins all around, as well as prooflike color and impression on bright fresh paper, four neat and unobtrusive strikes of double oval "Washington/D.C." postmarks, extremely fine.The rarity and importance of this used plate number block of the Five Cent 1908 Imperforate cannot be overstated. Any genuinely used single or pair of this stamp is a rarity, so much so that it has prompted many nefarious individuals to try to apply fraudulent or non-contemporaneous cancellations on mint or unused singles. Certification by a competent and recognized expertizing authority is essential on any used Scott #315. The amazing used plate block offered here from the Ainsworth collection is accompanied by a 1994 PF certificate and is, currently, the only certified genuinely used multiple that is larger than a block of four (of which there are scant few) in the PF records. The fact that it is not only a block, but a plate number block is simply unbelievable. That such an item exists is one of the philatelic treasures of 20th century United States philately.As stated above, this plate block is accompanied by a 1994 PF certificate; ex-Wagner (acquired privately); of course, a used plate block is not priced by Scott, so we have simply cataloged it as a used pair and a block of four. (Image)

$35,000.00+

SOLD for $23,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1908 FIVE CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUE POSTAL HISTORY

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

328

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, right sheet-margin horizontal pair, with wide even margins all around and deep luxuriant color, tied to registered 2c Carmine on oriental buff stamped envelope by two strikes of double oval "Boston/Mass." postmarks, with a third strike cancelling the stamped envelope indicia (the combination paying the two times domestic letter rate, plus the 8c registry fee), with experimental registry label at left (Form 1549-A) and bears a magenta "Boston, Mass./Apr 10, 1909/Registered" c.d.s., addressed to New York City and with two different pinkish magenta New York registration arrival backstamps, very fine and incredibly handsome.This magnificent cover ranks among one of the rarest and most valuable covers in 20th century United States philately. There are only two covers known to exist bearing the Five Cent 1908 Imperforate, both of which bear horizontal pairs (no singles on cover are recorded). Each of these two covers are extraordinary rarities, but the cover offered here is the more desirable of the two, as it is used within the correct time period and pays a correct registry rate. The other known cover is used out of period (1917) and is not quite as attractive overall.An essential cover to a host of serious specialists, including those who collect the 1902-03 Regular issue series, "Lincoln" on stamps, examples of each Scott number on a genuinely used cover and simply to the collector who seeks out incomparable United States philatelic rarities. The Scott catalog prices a pair on cover at $45,000.00, but given that neither cover has been on the open auction market in over a dozen years, we believe that their evaluation may prove to be quite conservative; ex-Wagner (acquired privately). (Image)

Est. $40,000-50,000

SOLD for $67,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1908 FIVE CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUE PRIVATE PERFORATIONS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

329

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, Parkhurst Company "perforations", this vertical strip of four is the only known certified example of the Five Cent Lincoln imperforate issue of 1908 with Parkhurst Vending Machine perforations: the Parkhurst machines were unique in that their vending equipment dispensed stamps in three completely separate units within each machine, so that individual rolls of the 1c, 2c and 5c stamps could be placed within the machine and be purchased separately, then as each unit became empty it could be removed and replaced with a fresh roll; unfortunately their experimental machines were not successful as their weak point was the method of "feeding" the roll of stamps as they were dispensed, they did not perforate the stamps in the traditional sense as other vending machine companies, but rather had a system of regularly spaced pins pulling the roll through the machine, these pins, as evidenced by the strip offered here, were of a very crude nature and, in effect, simply punctured the stamps in the margins between the stamps, this method of separation clearly was not efficient and the experimental test by the Parkhurst Company was quickly abandoned; the strip offered here is well margined and possesses full o.g., the top stamp has a light thin spot and the bottom stamp has a fault at bottom right due to the inevitable tearing action which was necessary due to the poor method of "perforating", none of these faults are of consequence as this experimental strip is unique and represents one of the most important rarities in the entire field of Vending Machine coils; furthermore this strip would be a fabulous addition to a specialized collection of the 1902-03 issue; each stamp with light "O.K./H.M.C. (Hugh M. Clark) handstamp and accompanied by a 1989 PF certificate; ex-Agris. (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $21,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

330

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, Schermack Ty II perforations, an incredibly rare mint pair, possessing outstanding centering within large margins, deep rich color, o.g., h.r., small thin spot in right stamp of little importance given the rarity of this pair, otherwise very fine; signed both "CHM" (MeKeel) and "RAC" (Richard Champagne); this is one of the rarest and most sought after private vending machine items in existence, as very few are recorded, this being only the third such pair we have seen offered at auction in over twenty years, the last being the pair sold in our 1997 auction of the Dr. Joseph Agris collection which realized $7,500.00 (plus the buyer's premium) versus a then catalog value of $3,500.00, despite some marginal nicks, the only other pair we have seen was quite faulty. (Image)

$13,000.00

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

331

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, Schermack Ty. III perforations, choice mint pair of this vending machine rarity, quite well centered, deep luxuriant color and a crisp impression, o.g., l.h., right stamp with small thin spot not mentioned on either accompanying certificate, otherwise very fine; clear 1975 APS and 1995 PSE certificates. (Image)

$4,750.00

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

332

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, U.S. Automatic Vending Ty. I separations, pair, perfectly centered, rich luxuriant color, o.g., top stamp with minor h.r., extremely fine; seldom encountered in such outstanding quality. (Image)

$800.00

SOLD for $725.00
Will close during Public Auction

333

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, U.S. Automatic Vending Ty. II separations, pair, exceptionally well centered and margined, strong rich color, o.g., right stamp with small thin spot, otherwise very fine; 1993 PSE certificate. (Image)

$1,500.00

SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

334

315

#315, 5c Blue imperforate, U.S. Automatic Vending Ty. III perforations, handsome mint pair of this scarce perforation, well centered within large margins, deep luxuriant color and a crisp impression, o.g., left stamp with minor h.r., choice very fine; 1992 PSE certificate. (Image)

$1,275.00

SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

1908 FIVE CENT IMPERFORATE ISSUE EXPERIMENTAL COIL

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

335

317

#317, 5c Blue coil, perf. 12 horiz., an incredibly fresh mint pair of this experimental coil rarity of which fewer than ninety pairs are recorded, in a much more brilliant state of preservation than the vast majority, with strikingly intense color and a crisp detailed impression on considerably brighter paper than usual, nicely centered, full clean o.g., top stamp with minor h.r., bottom stamp lightly hinged, very fine; 1953 APS, 1984 and 1995 PF certificates. (Image)

$17,500.00

SOLD for $7,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

1909 TWO CENT LINCOLN CENTENARY ESSAYS & PROOFS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

336

367-E3

#367-E3, 2c Lincoln, large die essay on India, in carmine die sunk on full size card measuring 148x201mm, an incomplete engraving lacking some shading in the head, plus no background shading and the date ribbon blank, small light corner crease at bottom right of card and small thinning to the card at top to remove control number, a very fine and striking essay of the Two Cent Lincoln commemorative; listed as probably unique by Brazer; ex-Livingston. (Image)

$3,500.00

SOLD for $2,800.00
Will close during Public Auction

337

367P1

#367P1, 2c Lincoln, large die proof on India, die sunk on full size card measuring 130x193mm, signed and typewritten dated "Approved January 18, 1909" by the Postmaster General, wonderfully fresh and clean, extremely fine and handsome. (Image)

$1,100.00

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

338

367P1 var.

#367P1 var., 2c Lincoln, large die proof on wove paper, measuring 76x97mm being most of the die area with an additional overage at bottom, the special die proof prepared for H.M. Southgate, Bureau control number 361791 at bottom, fresh and very fine; this special printing of proofs is characterized by being on wove paper by virtue of when they were pulled and virtually always being off card with a control number placed on the front of the proof paper, apparently only one proof of each commemorative issue (from the Trans-Mississippis to the 1934 3c Mothers of America issue, plus five air post stamps including the 5c Beacon and all four Zeppelin stamps were supplied in this way), thus a unique example; ex-Southgate, Livingston. (Image)

$1,100.00+

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction

339

367P2

#367P2, 2c Lincoln, small die proof on wove paper, quite fresh, deep rich color, margins slightly trimmed, otherwise very fine. (Image)

$1,000.00

SOLD for $290.00
Will close during Public Auction

340

367P2a

#367P2a, 2c Lincoln, "Panama-Pacific" small die proof on wove, deep color and impression on typically slightly toned paper, very fine; an extremely rare proof, of which no more than three to five are believed to have been produced; a special printing of small die proofs was produced in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition, these proofs are on characteristic yellowish wove paper that differs from the wove paper of the earlier small die proofs; the first example we have had the pleasure to offer in our auctions; ex-Wunderlich. (Image)

$1,750.00

SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction