2015 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY THREE EXAMPLES OF THE 1917 20-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM VARIETY WITHOUT A PRECANCEL. NONE IS KNOWN UNUSED.

Our census of Scott 515d, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/515d/515d.pdf , contains a total of ten used copies. None is known unused. Of the ten copies only three have regular cancels, including one with a brushstroke and one with a boxed cancel. This is the finest of the three.

Census No. 515d-CAN-01. Ex Twigg-Smith and Natalee Grace. With 1992 and 2001 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT PERF 11 DOUBLE-LINE WATERMARKED ISSUE, SCOTT 519. A RARE STAMP IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.

This stamp was created in 1917 when a small excess supply of the imperforate Scott 344 was returned by the New York City post office to the Bureau for credit. Rather than issue the credit, the Bureau perforated the sheets and returned them to the New York City post office for public sale.

With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,250.00). Only three have graded higher (all at 98) and only five others share this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK ON A FLOWN ZEPPELIN COVER.

Ex Siskin, Dr. Martin and Bakwin. Scott Retail $2,000.00 for $2.00 on cover ($550.00 for Scott 518 on cover) (Image)

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FINE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1922 ISSUE PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM VARIETY AND ONE OF ONLY THREE WITH ORIGINAL GUM. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 ON ONE SIDE VARIETIES IN UNUSED CONDITION.

Our census records of Scott 562c contain only four unused examples. One was offered in our 1990 Rarities sale and described as "Mint." Another was offered in our 2010 Rarities sale and is without gum. The third was offered in our sale of the "Sirron" Collection. It has original gum and a perf indentation. In addition, we record 12 used singles and two used pairs. Of the used examples contained in our records, only five singles and one pair are sound.

Census No. 562c-OG-03. P.S.E. encapsulated. Scott Retail as "Fine" (Image)

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VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE PLATE BLOCK OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED 2-CENT NATIONAL PARKS IMPERFORATE. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.

The 2c National Parks issue is listed in Scott as imperforate horizontally (Scott 741a) and imperforate vertically (Scott 741b). According to Johl, one pane was found completely imperforate. Johl also notes "For quite some time prior to the issuance of the Park stamps, most of the stamps printed at the Bureau had been prepared on the rotary press and perforated on the special perforators. Most of the help who had previously worked on the flat bed perforators had been transferred to other departments. The sudden demand for flat plate perforating necessitated recalling the personnel to the perforating department and it was some time before they again reached their former efficiency."

This great rarity should not be confused with the imperforate Farley reprints, some of which were gummed -- this plate number was not used for those later issues.

With 1935 A.P.S. certificate submitted by John B. Thayer of Philadelphia and signed by Eugene Costales, George B. Sloane and J. M. Bartels. With 1982 P.F. certificate. Unlisted in Scott. (Image)

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