2006 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 FRANKLIN ISSUE ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.

This 50c issue was only available in post-office stocks for a very short period of time, because it was released only three weeks prior to the beginning of the new Perf 11 series.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 PERF 10 UNWATERMARKED FRANKLIN ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.

This stamp was used for less than six months before the Perf 11 stamps were produced. Due to its short production run and the only difference between this and the previous $1.00 issue (Scott 460) being the watermark, many collectors and dealers of the day overlooked this issue. It is especially scarce with such perfect centering.

With 1983 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE IMPERFORATE 5-CENT ERROR IN A BLOCK WITH FIVE 2-CENT STAMPS.

With 1982 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as the single error, with no 2c stamps included as a multiple. The block of nine with the error in hinged condition catalogues $22,500.00 (Image)

VERY FINE FOR THE 2-CENT TYPE Ia IMPERFORATE ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THIS TWENTIETH CENTURY RARITY.

Scott 482A, like its slightly more famous predecessor, Scott 314A, was issued imperforate by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and sold to the Schermack Company for use in its patented stamp-affixing machines. The Schermack "Sealer and Stamper" machine typically applied stamps one at a time, and, in most cases, the hyphen-hole perfs on one side would be cut off. Unlike Scott 314A, the release of imperforate sheets printed from the experimental Type Ia plates escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, and, therefore, has a very small survival rate.

Our census of Scott 482A (published in our Zoellner sale and available at www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/482A/482A.htm) records one pair (ex Zoellner), three covers, one unused single and 32 used singles for a total of 38 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. The stamp offered here is remarkable because the perforations are complete and the design in essentially complete.

Small backstamps. Census No. 482A-CAN-31. With 1974 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT TYPE II PERF 10 HORIZONTAL COIL ON UNWATERMARKED PAPER.

With 2006 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE CENTERED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY PRESS HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 491.

Unlike most other issues, the horizontal coil is actually scarcer than the vertical coil. It was in production for only a short period of time before being replaced by the Type III, Scott 492.

With 1965 and 1990 P.F. certificates. (Image)

VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE JOINT LINE STRIP OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT ROTARY PRESS HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 491.

Most larger multiples such as this have been broken to satisfy collector demand for singles and line pairs.

With 1989 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as joint line pair and two singles (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED PANE OF 30 OF THE ONE-CENT A.E.F. PANE WE HAVE EVER HANDLED. A REMARKABLE CONDITION RARITY.

With 1979 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE BOOKLET PANE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT NO MORE THAN TWENTY PANES EXIST, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE POORLY CENTERED. THIS WELL-CENTERED EXAMPLE RANKS AMONG THE FINEST EXTANT.

The A.E.F. booklet panes were issued in September 1917 to post offices serving the American Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War I. Only 3,000 panes were prepared of both the 1c and 2c denominations. By October they were no longer needed for the postcard rate, as Congress passed a vote allowing first-class mail to be sent free of charge by active members of the Armed Forces. Many of the panes were destroyed.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)