Sale 1384 — 2026 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 June, 2026
Category — Washington-Franklin and Later Issues
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Guide line pair, original gum, vivid color, better centering than normally seen on this difficult issue
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356.
According to Johl (Volume 1, page 181), only 10,000 of the 10c Washington coil stamp were issued. They were made especially for a New York firm to send out advertising samples, similar to the 3c Orangeburg coil. Only a few rolls were sold to the firm, and the remaining rolls were distributed to some of the large post offices across the country. Dealers acquired several rolls, but because most contemporary collectors did not collect coils, many were used and destroyed.
With 1959 and 2004 P.F. certificates. Collectors waiting for this in choice Mint N.H. condition may have a very long wait — the highest grade awarded is a 75, and ungraded examples tend to have natural gum creases.
10c Yellow, Coil (356). Original gum, faintly hinged, marvelous glowing color
FINE AND ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL, SCOTT 356.
With 1976 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine, Bluish (358). Mint N.H., wide and beautifully balanced margins, radiant color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only three grade higher and one shares this lofty grade.
5c Blue, Bluish (361). Mint N.H., rich color on deeply blued paper, near perfect centering with unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER IN EXISTENCE. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN TERMS OF GUM, CENTERING, SIZE OF MARGINS AND COLOR. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
The 5c is the scarcest of the regularly issued Bluish paper stamps (the very rare 4c and 8c values were only distributed through official channels and not through the post office). We have only been able to locate a few examples comparable to the stamp offered here. One was offered in our 1998 Zoellner sale, another was offered in the Floyd sale held by Shreves and a third was in our 2026 sale of the "Monterey" collection (graded XF 90 by the P.F. and realized $26,000 hammer).
Ex "Beverly Hills", Curtis and Field. 2005 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded in the P.S.E. Population Report and no other example shares this grade.
6c Red Orange, Bluish (362). Mint N.H., vivid color on deeply blued paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY EXCEPTIONAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.
During the early stages of production of the 1908-09 Washington-Franklin stamps, the Bureau tried to solve the problem of paper shrinkage that caused off-center perforations and resulted in a large number of unusable sheets. Armstrong notes that up to twenty percent of sheets had to be discarded. The first such experiments resulted in the Bluish Paper stamps (Scott 357-366). Rag cloth was added to the wood pulp mixture, but this did not have the desired effect and the experiment was discontinued.
With copy of 2002 P.F. certificate for a plate block of six. With 2025 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Not counting the far more common 1c and 2c values, Superb 98 this is the highest grade awarded to any Mint N.H. Bluish paper stamp — both to 6c values (the other offered in Sale 1326, lot 4147, with a hint of frame oxidation and realized $57,500 hammer).
13c Bluish Green, Bluish (365). Original gum, barest faint trace of hinging, intense color and sharp proof-like impression, perfectly centered with jumbo margins for this stamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONAL LIGHTLY HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 13-CENT BLUISH PAPER, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Ex Zoellner, "Westchester" and Field. With 1988, 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded to the 13c Bluish and it is shared by only eight others. With the barest trace of hinging and wide margins, this is a superb stamp in every respect.
15c Pale Ultramarine, Bluish (366). Mint N.H. with wide right selvage, brilliant color and crisp impression, gorgeous centering for this difficult issue with well-proportioned margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER WITH WIDE SHEET SELVAGE.
Ex Schwartz and Field. With 1989 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only four others.
2c Carmine, Lincoln, Bluish (369). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, absolutely enormous margins all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT LINCOLN ON BLUISH, GRADED SUPERB 98 jumbo bY the p.f.
With 1985 and 2023 P.F. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has graded none at this grade with two higher (at 100).
2c Carmine, Coil (388). Guide line pair, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color
A FINE AND RARE GUIDE LINE PAIR OF THE 1910 2-CENT PERF 12 COIL WITH SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK, SCOTT 388.
With 1966 and 2021 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75).
3c Deep Violet, Orangeburg Coil (389). Deep rich color, light crease at top not noted on certificate, tied by "Orangeburg N.Y. May 13, 5 PM, 1911" wavy-line machine cancel on light blue envelope with "Bell & Company Incorporated Manufacturing Chemists" corner card to St. Louis Mo., cover with some light creasing (possibly from contents), few edge stains
FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ON-COVER USE OF THE 3-CENT ORANGEBURG COIL. ONLY 13 ORANGEBURG COIL COVERS HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The Orangeburg coil was made by the Post Office Department in 1911, specifically for use by the Bell Pharmaceutical Company. The 3c coil stamps were used to send samples of their products to physicians. Due to the quantity of mail, they were put through the first-class cancelling machine at Orangeburg, New York. The Orangeburg coil stamps' use on third-class mail, and the fact that philatelists were generally unaware of their production accounts for their rarity.
Signed George Sloane. With 1952 P.F. certificate.
10c Orange, Panama-Pacific (400A). Mint N.H., wide and perfectly balanced margins all around, brilliant color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT ORANGE PERF 12 PANAMA-PACIFIC ISSUE.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only five grade higher.
2c Red, Ty. I, Coil (449). Mint N.H. joint line pair, vivid color, bottom stamp with pencil notation on gum at bottom
FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 1915 2-CENT TYPE I VERTICAL COIL.
The 2c Type I rotary plate was used very briefly to make vertical coils issued in late 1915. It was briefly used because the Type I plate was not very deeply engraved and the curvature of the rotary press yielded impressions lacking in some of the details. The Bureau noticed this immediately, and quickly replaced it with the Type III plate (according to Scott, the EDU for No. 449 is Oct. 29, 1915, and the EDU for Type III is Dec. 10, 1915).
Ex Max Simon (Sale 292). With 1963, 2005 P.F. and 2012 P.S.E. certificates (VG 50).
3c Violet, Coil (456). Mint N.H. pair, detailed impression, unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 3-CENT HORIZONTAL COIL SCOTT 456, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only three grade higher (highest is 98).
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Coil (491). Joint line pair, original gum, bright color
FRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM JOINT LINE PAIR OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II ROTARY PRESS UNWATERMARKED 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 1970 P.F. (for line strip of four) and 2008 P.S.E. certificates.
2c Carmine (519). Straight edge at bottom, used with 1c Green (462), tied by "New York, N.Y. Nov. 3 11PM 1917" wavy-line machine cancel on cover with stamp dealer's corner card to Newark N.J., manuscript "Ans 11/6/17" at lower left, also with manuscript "#429" at right, top flap missing, minor edgewear at top right not affecting stamps and not noted on certificate
VERY FINE. A SCARCE EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 519 USED ON COVER.
This stamp was created in 1917 when a small excess supply of the imperforate Scott 344 was returned by the New York City post office to the Bureau for credit. Rather than issue the credit, the Bureau perforated the sheets and returned them to the New York City post office for public sale. The earliest recorded use is October 10, 1917, less than a month before this was sent.
With 2021 P.F. certificate.
2c Carmine, Ty. VII, Imperforate (534B). Pair with vertical guide line, original gum, large margins, light natural gum wrinkles not noted on certificates
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A DESIRABLE PAIR OF THE RARE TYPE VII IMPERFORATE OFFSET ISSUE, WITH THE VERTICAL GUIDE LINE.
Most Type VII stamps were used by private vending and affixing machine companies. However, unlike Scott 314A and 482A, a small supply of the imperforate 2c Type VII stamps reached the public. With 1986 and 2018 P.F. certificates.
3c Deep Violet (537a). Block of four, deep rich color in this distinctive shade, bold "Salem Ohio" precancels
FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE 3-CENT VICTORY ISSUE IN THE DEEP RED VIOLET SHADE, FROM A NEW DISCOVERY. ONLY FIVE OTHER USED BLOCKS ARE RECORDED.
Our census of 537a used, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/537a, contains only 17 singles and five other blocks of four. Three other blocks have the Salem precancel.
Census no. 537a-CAN-BL-23. With 2025 P.F. certificate.
1c Green, Rotary Perf 11 (544). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, attractive centering and margins
FRESH AND FINE. AN INCREDIBLY ELUSIVE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR 20TH CENTURY RARITY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 20 OF THE 1923 ONE-CENT ROTARY PERF 11, SCOTT 544, EXIST IN ANY UNUSED STATE—ONLY APPROXIMATELY TEN ARE MINT NEVER-HINGED.
A small quantity of 1c Rotary Press stamps was perforated 11 at the end of 1922, using remainder sheets from the earlier printings that were normally perforated in 10 gauge or 10/11 compound gauge. Its existence as a Perf 11 variety was discovered in 1936, and the stamp received its Scott Catalogue listing in 1938.
Most of the recorded copies of Scott 544 are off-center or have been damaged--the result of irregular production and mishandling. Our review of the records of The Philatelic Foundation and Power Search found only ten Mint N.H. examples. The P.F. has graded two, at 75 (ex Whitman) and 85 (ex "Scarsdale"). P.S.E. has graded three, with two at 70 (including the example offered here) and one 75. One is graded 70 by P.S.A.G. (Sale 1235, lot 1374). Of the four ungraded we record, one has a tiny perf hole tear and two are centered to two sides. Only one other, ex Zoellner and Wingate and centered to right, has the potential to grade well. A Mint N.H. block of four was offered in our 1985 Rarities sale, but we are not including this in our count.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (F 70). Only one grades higher (at 75, ex "Laila" and Petersen).
5c Dark Blue, Perf 10 at Top (557c). Transitional perfs at top from mostly Perf 10 to a couple Perf 11 at top right, rich color, "Fergus Falls Minn" precancel, thin spot and light horizontal crease
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1922 5-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM. ONLY FOURTEEN USED SINGLES ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel. Many examples of the Perf 10 on One Side rarities show transitional perfs from 10 to 11 or from 11 to 10 (this shows 10 to 11 at top). This is because the out-of-gauge perforation pins would frequently cross the span of more than one stamp, depending on where the wheel contacted the sheet.
Our census of Scott 557c, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/557c, contains 14 used singles, four in a used block and one on cover, for a total of 19 copies. More than half have faults. This is the only example recorded with the Fergus Falls Minn. precancel.
Census no. 557c-CAN-14. With 2026 P.F. certificate.
25c Yellow Green, Perf 10 at Left (568c). Bold "Salt Lake City Utah" precancel, deep rich color
FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1922 25-CENT NIAGARA FALLS PERFORATED 10 ON ONE SIDE. ONLY EIGHT USED SINGLES ARE RECORDED. ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE PERFORATED 10 ON ONE SIDE VARIETIES. THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE 2012.
At a certain point during production one of the perforating wheels became defective. In the course of repairs part of one perforation wheel was inadvertently changed from Perf 11 to Perf 10. Based on the physical evidence of surviving copies, this was the nineteenth row of pins on the wheel.
Many examples of the Perf 10 on One Side rarities show transitional perfs from 10 to 11 or from 11 to 10. This is because the out-of-gauge perforation pins would frequently cross the span of more than one stamp, depending on where the wheel contacted the sheet.
The Perf 10 on One Side varieties span both the 1917 Washington-Franklin and 1922-23 Issues. It is interesting to note that, apart from the 2c, there is no duplication of denomination between the issues. This would seem to indicate that the improperly repaired wheel was in use for only a short period of time, as there was little overlap in production of the issues. Based on dates of issue of the basic stamps, this probably occurred early in 1923.
Unlike the other flat plate perf 10 on one side varieties, the 25c is perforated 10 at either left or right. This is due to the horizontal orientation of the stamp.
Our census of Scott 568c at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/568c, records eight used singles, one unused single and two unused in a block of eight. Five of the eight have either roller cancels or precancels, and all have similar centering. The last example of this rarity we have offered was in our 2012 "Natalee Grace" auction.
2c Carmine Lake, Coil (606a). Mint N.H. pair, mathematically perfect centering, deep rich color
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED PAIR OF THE 2-CENT 1923 COIL IN THE CARMINE LAKE SHADE, GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. NO OTHERS SHARE THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). this is the the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others.
1c-10c National Parks, Small Die Proofs on White Wove (740P2-749P2). Complete set of 10 values, 28 x 43mm or 43 x 28mm, bright colors and clear impressions
VERY FINE. THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF ONLY TWO COMPLETE SETS OF THE 1934 NATIONAL PARKS ISSUE SMALL DIE PROOFS.
Dies from the 1934 National Parks Issue were used to pull both large and small die proofs. However, only four of the values are known as large die proofs so a complete set cannot be achieved. We are aware of one other complete set, offered in our Sale 1044 in 2013, plus a partial set lacking three values offered in our Sale 1113.
$1.00 Candleholder (1610). Mint N.H. bottom left corner brown plate no. 39076 block of nine, with prominent foldover causing offset of "PL. 39079" to appear at left edge, rich colors
VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY REPORTED MODERN OFFSET PLATE NUMBER IN COLLECTOR HANDS. THE OFFSET PLATE, 39079, IS OFFICIALLY REPORTED AS HAVING NO IMPRESSIONS. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
The 50c thru $5.00 of this issue were printed on two different presses. One press used offset (lithography), and the other engraved plates. According to the Durland book, offset plates 39077, 39078 and 39079 were used by the sheet-fed Miller offset press to print, respectively, the yellow candle, the orange glow and the brown background. The sheets were then moved to the sheet-fed Giori press which printed the intaglio brown candle holder and lettering. The intaglio plates were numbered 39076, 39086, 39087 and 39088.
As a result of the foldover it is possible to see the distance between the offset plate numbers and the stamp's design (the yellow and orange plate nos. appeared above the brown and so were not captured on this multiple). Offset plate numbers are impossible to find because a large foldover such as the one offered here, which are easier for inspectors to detect, would have to occur in order for it to be captured.
Official records indicate that no impressions were made from 39077 (yellow) and 39079 (brown), and there are no impression data for 39078 (orange). Durland notes that the first day of issue was July 2, 1979, and since all other offset plates for this issue were sent to press after that date, it must be that these three were used to print the initial supply.
Illustrated and described in an article (as quoted above) in 1994 Durland catalogue (copy accompanies).
3c Violet, Baseball Centennial (855). Tied by clear "Cooperstown, N.Y. June 12 9:00 A.M. 1939" First Day cancel on legal-size cover with blue cachet, unaddressed but signed by many baseball luminaries such as Babe Ruth, pitcher Grover Alexander, pitcher Walter Johnson, a descendant of Abner Doubleday, the presidents of the National League, American League and International League and several others
VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE FIRST DAY COVER CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BASEBALL, WHICH IS SIGNED BY SEVERAL INDUCTEES INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME IN COOPERSTOWN.
Accompanied by typed letter signed by Vincent Dailey which reads in part "I thought you would be interested in receiving one of the first aid (misspelling of day) covers marking the Centennial of Baseball, at Cooperstown, New York, last Monday" and listing the signers.
ADDENDA: According to the Baseball Hall of Fame's website, the organization was established in 1936 with five original members. The actual building and museum was opened on June 12, 1939 (the date on the cover and two days before the accompanying letter was sent), at which time there were 25 players (eleven living) who had been inducted into the hall of fame.