Rare United States Stamps and Covers continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE SIMPLY CANNOT BE FOUND WITH BETTER CENTERING AND MARGINS -- AN ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR STAMP.

While the $2.00 1902 Issue is not very rare, only a few extant have the centering and margins of this stamp.

With 2003 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE.

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Our unpublished census contains 44 used examples, including three strips of three (one on cover), three singles on separate covers, and 32 single used copies (four are or were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.

With 1992 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1908 VERTICAL COIL.

Armstrong notes that, by 1980, only 79 pairs had been certified by the Philatelic Foundation.

With 1951 and 1990 P.F. certificates (Image)

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

Armstrong notes that by 1980 approximately 80 pairs had been certified by the Philatelic Foundation.

With 1972 and 1992 P.F. certificates (Image)