The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 386.

According to Johl (Vol. 1, p. 111), the Bureau switched to Perf 8-1/2 for their coils after a very short period of time. The Perf 12 coils proved to be too susceptible to falling apart in the machines used to affix (and make) the coils. Scott 386 was one of the first to be discontinued. Only one Mint N.H. guide line pair has been certified to date by P.S.E. (graded 70), and we have offered only perhaps a dozen since keeping computerized records.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A HUGE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL SCOTT 387.

Ex Scarsdale. With 1999 P.F. and 1999 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo, SMQ $1,400.00 as 90, $3,050.00 as 95). Only three have graded higher to date and only one other shares this grade. (Image)

VERY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1910 PERF 12 COIL.

As an indication of rarity, we have offered only five other singles, one guide line pair and three pairs (one a paste-up) in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records.

Ex Odeneal. With 2007 P.F. certificate. In our opinion this is underpriced in Scott in Mint N.H. condition, an opinion shared by SMQ, which prices this at $3,300.00 in the grade of 80. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1911 PERF 12 HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.

This is considerably more difficult to find with such choice centering with 2mm spacing than with 3mm.

With 1986 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 388.

This 2c coil was in production for only a short period of time before being superseded by the Perf 8-1/2 issue. Due to the greater popularity of the horizontal coils with users, combined with a wary attitude by many collectors that early coils were simply trimmed stamps, many were used and few preserved.

With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL, SCOTT 389. ONLY TWO UNUSED SINGLES AND SIX UNUSED PAIRS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production account for their rarity.

A census of the Orangeburg coil, published in The Philatelic Foundation's Opinions VII book, records two singles and seven unused pairs, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. We recall seeing only one other pair at auction in the past 15 years.

With 1960 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)

FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)