2015 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ANY MINT NEVER-HINGED SCOTT 310 BY PROFESSIONAL STAMP EXPERTS.

Anyone who has been building a gem, never-hinged set of the 1902 Issue will immediately recognize the rarity of the 50c value in such superlative quality. It is one of the most challenging of the series to find both never-hinged and with perfect centering. This is confirmed by the fact that out of 52 never-hinged examples of Scott No. 310 submitted to the P.S.E. for grading, only this example achieved the lofty grade of Superb 98. Quite likely this is the finest never-hinged example in existence.

With 1998 P.F., 2010 P.S.E. and 2014 P.S.A.G. certificates (latter two grading Superb 98; SMQ $24,000.00) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 318.

With 1963, 1977 and 2008 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" in the grade is used for stamps of extraordinary quality. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT SHIELD ISSUE WITH SAN FRANCISCO ROULETTES.

There are three distinct imperforate errors in the 1908 2c Shield Issue, listed in Scott as Nos. 319d (imperf horizontally), 319e (imperf between) and 319r (rouletted between). The imperforate-horizontally multiples (Scott 319d) come from a block of 25 purchased from the Washington D.C. post office. All known examples of Scott 319d are printed in a deeper shade of Carmine than 319e or the San Francisco Roulette.

The rouletted multiples come from a small number of sheets received by the San Francisco postmaster that were missing a line of perforations between the first and second rows at top. Rather than destroy or return the problem sheets, the postmaster applied his own roulette for separation. The existence of top position blocks confirms the position of the error stamps in the sheet.

With 1994 P.F. certificate. This is the first we have offered since our 1998 Rarities sale. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SOUND PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.

Issued on July 31, 1908, and intended only to be used by private vending machine companies, Scott 322 is only known with the Die II widened line at lower left.

With 1949 A.P.S. and 1982, 2001 and 2008 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE TYPE II U.S. AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE PERFORATION ON COVER. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE AS A PASTE-UP PAIR.

It is believed that only six covers are known. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED 98 BY P.S.E.

With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $4,000.00). A total of seven used examples have been graded by the P.S.E. This example is the highest grade awarded with only one other sharing this exalted grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 10-CENT COIL, SCOTT 356, WITH BOTH STAMPS WELL-CENTERED. TRULY A CONDITION RARITY.

With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $10,000.00). Only one pair has graded higher (at 95) and only three others share this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENALLY RARE COMPLETE SET OF PANAMA-PACIFIC SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE. THIS IS THE ONLY SET WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE. A RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

From February 20 to December 4, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition was held in San Francisco, to commemorate Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean and to celebrate the opening of the mankind's greatest engineering achievement, the Panama Canal.

A series of commemorative stamps were created to promote the exposition, depicting Balboa (1c), the locks at the Panama Canal (2c), the Golden Gate (5c) and Discovery of San Francisco Bay (10c). These were released in 1913 as Perf 12, and again in 1914-15 as Perf 10 stamps.

Separately, the Post Office Department decided to prepare a limited number of proof sets showing every United States stamp printed up to the time of the Exposition. A total of 413 different designs were made. Only two sets were officially prepared, but it is widely recognized that between 3 and 5 of each were made. These included Officials, Newspapers and Periodicals, Philippines and other special use stamps.

As part of the special proof set, the Post Office Dept. included the new Panama-Pacific designs, which had just been issued. We know of no other sets, and we have not seen any other individual values offered. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 1916 3-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 456.

With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,650.00). Only three have graded higher (all 98) and two others share this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 10 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARK $1.00 FRANKLIN IS GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. CERTAINLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES EXTANT.

Even though this issue is not particularly rare, collectors who have been searching know the extreme difficulty of obtaining examples with such perfect centering and in such pristine condition. With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; unpriced above the grade of 98, SMQ $13,750.00 for 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to reach this exalted grade (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE PERF 10 5-CENT ERROR.

With 2011 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95) (Image)

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