4c Brown, Imperforate,
Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (314A). Large margins with full
Schermack perforations on both sides, deep rich color, neat strike of
duplex cancelEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE. ONLY SIX OF THE 32 USED SINGLES IN OUR CENSUS ARE SOUND AND HAVE FULL SCHERMACK PERFORATIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
With the rising popularity of vending and affixing machines, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing received numerous requests from manufacturers 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Our unpublished census contains 44 used examples, including three strips of three (one on cover), three singles on separate covers, and 32 single used copies (four are or were at one time on piece, including one of the sound copies with full margins). All three strips of three and two covers were used by Karl Koslowski, who was the only person able to acquire some of the 4c Imperforates. He is also the source for the only known unused copies. Our published census (updated) contains four pairs, two guide line pairs and nine singles, for a total of 21 unused stamps.
Schermack Type III stamps are often cut into the design by the oblong perforations or miscut with one side of the perforated margin missing. This problem for collectors, which meant very little to contemporary users of the stamps, resulted from two consecutive events. First, the sheets were perforated with the Schermack holes, creating an opportunity for misalignment between the stamps. Second, when the strip of stamps was fed through the Schermack affixing machine, the cutting blade did not always align with the space between stamps. The stamp offered here is remarkable because it is perfectly centered between the Schermack perforations, and it was precisely cut so that the holes on both sides are fully formed.
With 1970 P.F. certificate (Image)