The Natalee Grace Collection of Used Stamps of the United States, Part Three continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 352.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 4-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 354, IN EXISTENCE. THIS MAGNIFICENT GUIDE LINE PAIR HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.

Johl notes that the 4c coil was used primarily for mailing advertising matter and so was not widely distributed. This also meant that not many were saved, and that very few multiples were used. The rarity of a guide line pair in this condition cannot be overstated -- the guide line only occurs after every 20 stamps, making it nine times as rare as a normal pair. For a guide line pair to receive this coveted grade both stamps must have wide and even margins, which is also orders of magnitude more difficult to find than just a single or even a regular pair.

With 1986 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $12,500.00 as 95). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 355.

As an indication of rarity, this is the first we have offered since this exact guide line pair was last offered in our Twigg-Smith sale in 2001 and this is the only example contained in Power Search. Perhaps a half dozen are known in any condition.

Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1989 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SIXTEEN RECORDED GENUINE USED MULTIPLES OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356. ESPECIALLY IMPRESSIVE AS A STRIP OF THREE. IN OUR OPINION THERE ARE NO GENUINELY USED GUIDE LINE PAIRS OF THIS ISSUE.

According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed.

Our census of Scott No. 356 in used multiples, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/356/356.pdf , contains thirteen pairs, one strip of four and two strips of three. The other strip of three is rejoined. Five of the pairs originated on the same cover, which was prepared by Henry Hammelman and mailed in August 1911. It also contained other denominations. A guide line pair has been certified as genuine, but the cancel needs to be reexamined to see if it is one of the fakes produced during the last 20 years.

With 1976 and 1996 P.F. certificates. Last offered in our 1997 Rarities sale. Scott Retail as pair and single. (Image)

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