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

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FINE. THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER IS THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED BLUISH PAPERS IN USED CONDITION. ONLY FOUR USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, AND THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS..

A total of 40 sheets (4,000 stamps) were printed of the 3c on Bluish paper, using four different printing plates. A quantity was inadvertently distributed to various post offices, including the post office in New York, which accounts for the Brooklyn cancel. A small quantity was apparently used, but these have almost all been lost to philately.

Our census of Scott 359 in used condition, illustrated below and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/359/359.pdf , records three used copies plus one on cover. A fourth off-cover example needs to be reexamined for authenticity. This makes it as rare, or rarer, than the 5c on bluish, which catalogues three times as much.

Census No. 359-CAN-01. With 1992 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER, AND ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED OFF-COVER EXAMPLES. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY PHILATELY.

Our census of used 5c on Bluish paper, illustrated below and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/361/361.pdf , records two off-cover used examples plus three on cover. The other off-cover example has been off the market since our 2001 auction of the Twigg-Smith collection.

Census No. 361-CAN-02. Accompanied by cover on which this originated. It was used from Kansas City Mo. in Nov. 1910 to the same recipient as 361-COV-05. With 1993 P.F. certificate as on cover. (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 6-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. ONLY TEN ARE KNOWN USED, AND OF THESE PERHAPS THREE ARE SOUND. A GREAT RARITY.

Our census of Scott 362 used, illustrated below and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/362/362.pdf , illustrates the ten used examples of Scott 361 certified as genuine. Three additional copies are certified with either non-contemporary cancels or decline opinion, leaving only ten undisputedly genuine copies. Of these ten only four are sound or potentially sound, and only two are well-centered. They are difficult to find in any condition -- only two used copies are contained in Power Search.

Census No. 362-CAN-01. With 1975 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 10-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE THIRTEEN OFF-COVER EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

Our census of Scott 364 used, illustrated at left and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/364/364.pdf , records thirteen genuine off-cover examples, plus three used on covers. Virtually all are either faulty or off-center to some degree.

Census No. 364-CAN-02. Purchased by the owner from our sale of The Western Reserve Historical Society collection. With 2007 P.F. certificate. We are unsure why Scott Catalogue value is half that of the 6c and 15c, despite similar census numbers. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 13-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH SUCH A CLEAR STRIKE OF THE SAGINAW OVAL CANCEL. WE ARE CONFIDENT IN STATING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.

The 13c, both unused and used, is recorded as having been found only at the post office at Saginaw, Michigan. According to the Assistant Postmaster, John J. Spencer, "We found what was left of what no doubt had been originally ten sheets safely resting at the bottom under a lot of new stock, the coming of which had doubtless saved these from annihilation [or use]. They were readily distinguished, having a marginal pen and ink marking. We found a partial mint sheet and margins from several other sheets had been used. One or two sheets had also been precancelled. We were satisfied that ten sheets (of 100) had reached this post office."

A review using Power Search and the Philatelic Foundation's online records failed to find another with the cancellation as clearly-struck as the example offered here. With 1992 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 15-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. ONLY TEN GENUINE USED COPIES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE BLUISH PAPERS IN USED CONDITION.

According to Johl, the 15c stamps were discovered in the post office in Buffalo N.Y. The rarity of the 15c on Bluish in used condition is often overlooked by collectors, probably because it is fairly plentiful in unused condition. Our census, illustrated opposite and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/366/366.pdf , records only ten used copies. None is known on cover. Another has a certificate declining opinion as to whether the cancel is contemporary, and two others (not included) need to be reexamined for genuineness. Of the confirmed copies only two or three are sound. The example offered here, with bright color, a clearly-defined cancel and a nearly invisible small flaw, is highly desirable.

Census No. 366-CAN-01. Light purple backstamps. With 1978 and 1984 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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