Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — 1902-08 Issues (Scott 300-320b)
8c Violet Black (306). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 1500 block of 20, representing the full top two rows of the right pane, selvage at right and half arrow at left, exceptional color and detailed impression on bright paper, well-centered essentially throughout
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A FRESH AND RARE LARGE FORMAT TOP POSITION PLATE BLOCK OF THE 8-CENT 1902 ISSUE, SCOTT 306.
This originates from an old-time holding of blocks and strips of early Bureau issues that were purchased at the post office and then stored away in the dark for generations. The pieces of that holding, kept away from light and hinge wielding collectors, are extremely fresh, with brilliant colors. Mint N.H. plate blocks of Scott 306 are scarce, and plate blocks larger than the required six stamps are extremely rare. Power Search does not list a multiple this large, either Mint N.H. or hinged, since a complete pane offered in our 2002 Rarities sale.
Scott value as plate block and singles
10c Pale Red Brown (307). Mint N.H., wide margins and exceptional centering, rich color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1991 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95), only two grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report
50c Orange (310). Original gum, bright color and choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1999 PF No. 0344572 View Cert
$1.00 Black (311). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp
$1.00 Black (311). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautifully balanced margins, Very Fine, with 1980 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1980 PF No. 83283 View Cert
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Original gum, hinged at top, bright color, Fine, with 1999 P.S.E. certificate
Certificate
1999 PSE No. 36459 View Cert
$2.00 Dark Blue (312). Original gum, deep rich color, attractive centering and margins, natural gum bend not noted on certificate, Very Fine, with 2012 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2012 PF No. 503471 View Cert
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-centered with wide margins
very fine and choice MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE.
The 1902-03 Second Bureau Issue was a great improvement over the Bureau's first efforts in 1894 and 1895. Perforations tend to be cleaner, and centering better, but the large plate layout and perforation method still resulted in a large number of poorly centered stamps. Furthermore, stamps issued in choice condition seldom stayed that way, because the boom in stamp collecting that began with the Roosevelt administration caused hordes of hinge-bearing philatelists to mount stamps over and over again. This is especially true when it comes to the $5.00 denomination. This fact is made abundantly clear when one realizes that the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a $5.00 value in Never-Hinged condition is 90, given to only five stamps. The stamp offered here has not been numerically graded, but its quality is self-evident.
With 2016 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
2016 PF No. 535744 View Cert
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Original gum, lightly hinged, near perfect centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color and proof-like impression on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1902 ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
From the Nathanael Greene collection. With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only eight original-gum examples grade higher. There are no Mint N.H. stamps graded above 90 in the P.S.E. Population Report, so collectors who demand superb centering would be well advised to consider this lightly hinged gem. SCV $2,400
Certificate
2019 PSE No. 01355139 Graded 95 View Cert
$5.00 Dark Green (313). Original gum, few h.r., deep rich color and detailed impression, unusually wide margins for this difficult issue, Very Fine and choice
1c Blue Green, 2c Carmine, Booklet Pane of Six (300b, 319g). 1c original gum, barest trace of hinging on one stamp in top row if at all, Fine, No. 319g also barely hinged, Very Fine
1902-08 Issue, Small Graded Balance (301/319b). Five Mint N.H. P.S.E. graded stamps, including Nos. 301 (XF 90), 302 (VF-XF 85), 306 (VF-XF 85), 314 (Gem 100) and 319b (XF 90), Extremely Fine group, total SMQ $1,100, a couple older certificates accompany as well
1c Blue Green, Imperforate (314). Mint N.H., enormous margins with parts of all adjoining stamps, rich color on post-office fresh paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; SMQ $600 as 100, unpriced in 100 Jumbo grade)
Certificate
2008 PSE No. 01183731 Graded 100J View Cert
1c Blue Green, U.S. Automatic Vending Co. Ty. II (314). Guide line strip of four, h.r. on guide line pair, outer stamps Mint N.H., rich color and choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2016 PF No. 541837 View Cert
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Horizontal pair, original gum, h.r., large margins all around, deep rich color, Very Fine
5c Blue, Imperforate (315). Mint N.H., huge even margins, rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
Certificate
2005 PSE No. 01020872 Graded 98 View Cert
5c Blue, Imperforate, U.S. Automatic Vending Co. Ty. I (315). Guide line pair, original gum, bottom stamp Mint N.H., top stamp h.r., deep rich color, choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE AND CHOICE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 5-CENT LINCOLN WITH U.S. AUTOMATIC VENDING COMPANY TYPE I PERFORATIONS.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate.
Certificate
2004 PSE No. 00129878 View Cert
1c Blue Green, Coil (316). Paste-up pair, top stamp with bottom selvage used for the paste-up, original gum, rich color, choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PAIR OF THE ONE-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 316. OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY TEN PAIRS AND FIVE SINGLES, AND THIS IS THE ONLY PASTE-UP. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL 20TH CENTURY STAMPS.
According to Johl, these first government coils were an experiment, and collectors and dealers were generally unaware of their existence. Regular sheets of 400 were printed and then perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were then pasted together to form rolls. The pair offered here comes from the union of one strip with another to form the roll.
It is unknown exactly how many of these experimental coils were produced. They were superseded less than a year later by the Washington-Franklin issue coils, the first of which were issued on December 29, 1908.
Our census of Scott 316, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/316, records seven pairs, three line pairs (one of which is rejoined) and five unused singles, for a total of 25 stamps. Two pairs have been broken in the last few years. None are known used.
Census no. 316-OG-PR-12. Ex Berman. Signed in pencil "S.P." (Sam Pinchot). With 1976, 1990 and 2023 P.F. certificates.
5c Blue, Coil (317). Pair, original gum, attractive centering and margins, intense shade and impression on fresh paper
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM PAIR OF THE RARE 5-CENT VERTICAL COIL, SCOTT 317.
According to Johl, these first government coils were an experiment, and collectors and dealers were generally unaware of their existence. Regular sheets of 400 were printed and then perforated in only one direction. They were then cut into strips of 20. The strips were then pasted together to form rolls. As such, they are almost always strongly centered to one side.
With 1954, 2003 and 2023 P.F. certificates.
1c Blue Green, Horizontal Coil (318). Pair with paste-up at right, original gum, left stamp lightly hinged, right stamp small h.r., deep dark shade, perfectly centered top to bottom
VERY FINE PAIR OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.
Signed in pencil on gum. With 1953 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1953 PF No. 4348 View Cert
2c Carmine, Coil (322). Pair, lightly hinged, brilliant color
FRESH AND VERY FINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1908 HORIZONTAL COIL.
Issued on July 31, 1908, and intended only to be used by private vending machine companies, Scott 322 is only known with the Die II widened line at lower left.
Ex "Vineyard" and Hoffman. With 1983, 1995 and 2008 P.F. certificates
Certificate
2008 PF No. 465324 View Cert
1995 PF No. 0296505 View Cert
1983 PF No. 0115457 View Cert
2c Scarlet, Ty. I, U.S. Automatic Vending Co. Experimental Coil (319c). Pair, original gum, h.r., few adherences on back, radiant color, Very Fine and rare, ex Sisson and Getlan, with 1991 P.S.E. certificate, unlisted in Scott
Certificate
1991 PSE No. 15872 View Cert
2c Scarlet, Ty. I, U.S. Automatic Vending Co. Ty. II (320b). Guide line strip of four, original gum, guide line pair h.r., outer stamps Mint N.H., bright color, Extremely Fine, with 2016 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2016 PF No. 541838 View Cert