The Scarsdale Collection, Part Four - Washington-Franklin Issues continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE ROTARY-PRESS COIL WASTE ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH CONDITION. THIS IS THE FINEST WE HAVE EVER OFFERED.

At the beginning or end of a coil-stamp print run from the 170-subject rotary plates, some leading or trailing paper was left over that was too short for rolling into 500-stamp rolls. In 1919, the Bureau devised a plan to salvage this waste by converting the stamps from coil stamps into sheet stamps. This was accomplished by cutting the sheets into panes and putting the panes through the flat-plate perforator in use at the time, giving the stamps perforations on all sides.

Since Scott 539 was put through two different perforating machines of differing gauges at different times, most of the stamps are off-center. The stamp offered here is a true condition rarity by virtue of its centering, margins and Mint N.H. state.

Ex Piedmont. With 1968, 1988 and 2000 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW EXTANT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THIS MAJOR RARITY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 20 ARE KNOWN UNUSED.

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. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott catalogue listing in 1938.

Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged -- the result of poor production standards and mis-handling. The finest copies known come from a block of four, of which this stamp was originally the bottom right stamp. The Zoellner copy, subsequently offered in our 2000 Rarities sale where it realized $62,500, also comes from this block.

Ex Drucker (Siegel Sale 851, lot 441, realized $60,000 hammer). With 1987 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT ROTARY COIL WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 545. A DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.

Due to the nature of the rotary press printing process, it is often difficult, if not impossible, to find these issues with perfect centering. The stamp offered here is the exception to the rule.

Ex Piedmont. With 2000 and 2001 P.F. certificates (the former as a block of four). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF Superb 95 Jumbo, SMQ $3,500.00 as 95, $10.200.00 as 98). Only two others have graded higher to date. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY COIL WASTE ISSUE, SCOTT 546, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.

With 2003 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $2,200.00). Only one has graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (Image)