An extremely rare example of the US 1912-1922 2c Deep Rose Type 1a Imperforate stamp holds an estimate of $60,000 in Robert A Siegel's latest auction.
Focusing on United States essays, proofs and rare stamps, the sale will be held on May 22 in New York. The 2c Imperforate boasts the highest estimate, as one of only 43 recorded examples.
 Many examples of this major 20th century rarity are lacking their hyphen-hole perforations |
The 1912-1922 2c stamp was printed imperforate and sold to the Schermack Company for use in one of its patented stamp affixing machines.
The "Sealer and Stamper" machine would then apply one stamp at a time, with the characteristic hyphen-hole perforations usually cut off in the process.
A release of imperforate sheets from the experimental Type 1a plate escaped the notice of contemporary collectors, leading to a very small survival rate.
As such, the 2c stamps of this variety are exceedingly rare, with only three covers, one unused single, a used pair and 37 used singles ever recorded.
The example at auction is finer than most, with the private Schermack perforations clearly visible on both sides.
Most examples are cut well into the design, but this copy is fully intact, with only a small corner margin crease at the top right affecting its otherwise strong appearance.
Starring alongside the 2c Deep Rose with a $50,000 estimate is the 4c 1908 Imperforate with Schermack perforations from the 1908 issue.
A nice example with a bold machine wavy-line cancel, there are only 31 used copies recorded in the auction house's census.
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