15c Olive Green (309).
Top imprint and plate no. block of six, one hinged, others Mint N.H., deep
shade, small thin in top center stamp, Fine appearance
(Image)
15c Olive Green (309).
Strips of three, four, a pair and single used with 10c 1902 on piece, tied
by purple "Transito Colon 24 Nov. 1903" circular datestamp and
target, 10c tear, one 15c corner off, otherwise Fine, unusual ship-mail
usage cancelled on arrival at Colon (Image)
50c Orange (310). Block
of four with horizontal guide line, lightly hinged, remarkably vibrant
color on bright white paper, precise centeringEXTREMELY FINE BLOCK OF THE 50-CENT 1902 ISSUE. BLOCKS OF THIS QUALITY ARE RARELY ENCOUNTERED.
With 1978 P.F. certificate (Image)
$1.00 Black (311). Block
of four, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, deep
shade, beautifully centered with wide marginsAN EXTREMELY FINE BLOCK OF THE $1.00 1902 ISSUE CONTAINING TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED GEMS.
This block is without question one of the finest extant. (Image)
$2.00 Dark Blue (312).
Block of four, top pair lightly hinged, no trace of a hinge on bottom pair,
some horizontal perf separations have been delicately rejoined, perfectly
centered, intense shade and proof-like impression on bright
paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM BLOCK OF THE $2.00 1902 ISSUE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE ANY FINER MULTIPLE OF THIS SCARCE DOLLAR VALUE.
This block of the $2.00 1902 Issue was hinged on the upper pair only. The horizontal center row of perfs have been expertly reinforced in places, which causes us to value the block as hinged. However, the Scott value of $5,250.00 for a block only carries a small premium over the $4,800.00 value of four singles. A block of this superb quality should realize well in excess of Scott Retail. (Image)
$2.00 Dark Blue (312).
Horizontal pair, cancelled by datestamps, deep shade and Very Fine, an
unusually choice used pair, Scott Retail as two singles
(Image)
$5.00 Dark Green (313).
Block of four with horizontal guideline, h.r., intense dark shade and
proof-like impression, bright and fresh, nibbed perf at top
rightFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE AND IMPRESSIVE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
The Scott value for a block carries a small premium over the $11,600 total for four singles. (Image)
$2.00 Dark Blue, $5.00 Dark
Green (312, 313). Tied by New York double-oval cancels on piece, $5.00
perfectly centered with wide margins, an Extremely Fine Gem, $2.00
well-centered and Very Fine, very scarce in these premium grades, Scott
Retail for used singles (Image)
1c Blue Green, Imperforate
(314). Mint N.H. complete pane of 100 from top right of sheet, imprint
and plate nos. at top and right, rich color, fresh, couple tiny wrinkles
and tears in edge of selvage, still Extremely Fine
(Image)
4c Brown, Imperforate,
Schermack Ty. III Private Perforation (314A). Large margins and
perfectly centered, full Schermack perforations on both sides, deep rich
color, very lightly cancelled by datestamp, tiny insignificant corner
crease and minute thin specks at leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE THREE OR FOUR BEST-CENTERED USED EXAMPLES 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.
This stamp is without question one of the finest used examples extant, despite the tiny flaws in the left margin, which are of little significance and not even mentioned on the accompanying certificate. The centering in relation to the Shermack perfs and overall margins, combined with the light cancellation, are attributes rarely seen among examples of the 4c 1908 Imperforate.
With 1967 P.F. certificate (Image)
5c Blue, Imperforate
(315). Mint N.H. block of ten with vertical guide line, large margins,
dark shade and proof-like impression, both the paper and gum are bright and
freshEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MULTIPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1908 IMPERFORATE.
Scott Retail as Mint N.H. blocks and pair without premium for guide line (Image)