United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY FIVE USED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT BLUISH ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE RAREST USED STAMPS IN 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY.

Our research, including a thorough search of auction catalogues, the Levi records and the records of the Philatelic Foundation, produced five used examples of the 5c Bluish: 1) duplex cancel with 1911 yeardate, reperforated at bottom and pressed-out corner crease, the example offered here, 2) stamp originally affixed upside down on Nov. 9, 1910 cover from Kansas City Mo. to Bogota, Colombia, two pulled perforations (removed from cover), 3) s.e. at left, used on Oct. 24, 1910 cover from Cambridge Mass. to Bangkok, Siam, 4) s.e. at left, used on June 20, 1910 cover from Detroit Mich. to American Express office in London, and 5) centered to bottom right, used on May 18, 1910 cover from Kansas City Mo. to Bogota, Colombia.

To summarize, three are known on cover (two with straight-edge, the third far off center), and one other is known off cover (choice centering, two pulled perforations).

With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP HAS THE BEST CENTERING AND MARGINS OF THE TEN USED COPIES OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH THAT HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. A WONDERFUL RARITY.

Of the ten copies certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation, two have s.e. at top (the only known used pair), one shows slight thinning at right, two are partly reperforated and one has a tiny tear. Only four copies are sound and have perforations on all sides. One of these is also cancelled by the oval.

With 1981 and 1993 P.F. certificates (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. PROBABLY LESS THAN TWENTY GENUINE USED COPIES OF THE 10-CENT BLUISH EXIST.

A search of the Philatelic Foundation records finds only twelve used singles and three used on cover.

With 1989 P.F. certificate. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH.

With 1984 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE. A CHOICE AND RARE BLOCK OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH, CANCELLED AT SAGINAW MICHIGAN

The entire supply of Scott 365 can be traced to Saginaw Mich., where a quantity was discovered in the Post Office three years after they were issued. Research at the time showed that a quantity had been used prior to a new supply of different 13c stamps being received. This new supply was placed on top of the Bluish sheets, saving them from use. Saginaw is the sole source of this issue.

Ex Herzog. With 1969 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY TEN USED COPIES OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION. A GREAT RARITY.

Of the ten certified copies, exactly half have faults of varying degrees. The stamp offered here is one of the three finest.

With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)