The John F. Odeneal Collection of Mint United States Stamps continued...

FRESH AND VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE VERY RARE 30-CENT PERF 10 WASHINGTON-FRANKLIN ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.

Despite the recent P.S.E. claim that a watermark has been "discovered" on one stamp from one of the 476A panes, the vestige of a watermark on the dandy roll used to make unwatermarked paper has been known to philatelists since 1918. The unwatermarked paper supplied to the Bureau for printings of sheets that were perforated gauge 10 and 11 is known to have had "ghost" watermarks where the brass pieces were removed. We currently side with the group of philatelists who believe that the 30c Perf 10 Unwatermarked, Scott 476A, was legitimately issued.

With 1984 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

This 50c issue was only available in post-office stocks for a very short period of time, because it was released only three weeks prior to the beginning of the new Perf 11 series.

With 1996 and 2001 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $15,100.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date to a Mint N.H. Scott 477 (five in total). One of the others realized $15,500 hammer in our 2007 Rarities sale. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPER -- ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE IN THE P.S.E. POPULATION REPORT.

This stamp was used for less than six months before the Perf 11 stamps were produced. Due to its short production run and the only difference between this and the previous $1.00 issue (Scott 460) being the watermark, many collectors and dealers of the day overlooked this issue. It is especially scarce with such perfect centering.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $11,400.00). Only one has graded higher to date, and only seven others share this desirable grade. (Image)