2017 Rarities of the World continued...

FINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE. THERE ARE ONLY FOUR PLATE BLOCKS RECORDED.

Lewis Kaufman records only one top and three bottom plate blocks, most with similar centering to the one offered here. The top plate block realized $52,500 hammer in our 2009 sale of the "MLG" collection. The second bottom plate block was offered in our 1967 Rarities sale (also ex Eno, perfs touch design at bottom of bottom stamps). The third bottom plate block was part of the Wampler collection (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE.

With 2004 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $6,250.00) (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $5,000.00). Only four original-gum examples are graded higher. There are no Mint N.H. stamps graded above 90 in the P.S.E. Population Report, so collectors who demand superb centering would be well advised to consider this gem (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.

With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00) (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE WITH SCHERMACK PERFORATIONS, SCOTT 314A. ONLY 32 USED SINGLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.

With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufactures for supplies of imperforate stamps, which could then be privately perforated to conform to each firm's machine. In May 1908, a supply of 25 sheets (400 stamps per sheet) of the 4c 1902 Issue, without perforations, was delivered to the Schermack Mailing Machine Co. in Detroit. The entire supply was cut into coils with Schermack Type III perforations, designed for the firm's patented affixing machine and delivered to the Winfield Printing Co. for use on mass mailings of advertising material. Approximately 6,000 were used on a mailing for Hamilton Carhartt Manufacturer, and almost all of the 4,000 balance were used on a mailing for Burroughs Adding Machine Co.

Our census of Scott 314A incorporates the records of The Philatelic Foundation, the Levi records (which represents over 40 years of auction sales) and our own computerized sales history, and is available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/314A/314A.pdf . The census reveals a startling fact -- there are only 32 used singles (two on piece), a used strip of three, a used pair and three covers (one of which bears a strip of three), for a total of 42 used stamps. Our previous assumption was that this number was much higher. Approximately one-third show the Schermack perforations on both sides.

Census No. 314A-CAN-32. With 2012 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 317 -- AT VF-XF 85, THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADED AWARDED BY P.S.E. TO THIS COIL RARITY.

According to Johl, these first government coils were an experiment, and collectors and dealers were generally unaware of their existence. Regular sheets of 400 were printed and then perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were then hand pasted together to form rolls. As such, they are almost always strongly centered to one side. The futility of attempts to find sound and centered examples has resulted in very few even being considered for grading. The P.S.E. Population Report bears this out, especially for pairs. This is the highest graded pair or guide line pair in the P.S.E. Population Report.

With 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $17,500.00). There are no pairs or line pairs graded higher than this 85, and only one other pair has equaled this grade (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 1908 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 317.

With 2004 P.S.E. certificate for a pair, this the top stamp (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE PAIR OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.

With 1974 P.F. certificate and older certificate with yeardate cut off (Image)

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FINE APPEARING PAIR OF THE 1908 2-CENT SHIELD HORIZONTAL COIL.

With copy of 1977 P.F. certificate for a strip of four. With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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