Lot
2306 
1923, 2¢ Harding, rotary press printing, gutter block of 18, o.g., F.-V.F. and scarce gutter block; with 1965 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 612 $1,230.
Realized: $450
Lot
2307
1923, 2¢ Harding, rotary press printing, double paper variety, vertical block of 12 showing double paper variety caused by pasting two rolls of paper together, top right two stamps with some paper adherence, small flaws including some thins and some paper creasing from double paper, F.-V.F. appearance, a scarce variety. Scott No. 612 var. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $270
Lot
2308
1923, 2¢ Harding, rotary press printing, bottom left corner margin plate no. "14867" block of 4, o.g., never hinged, fresh with rich color, Very Fine. Scott No. 612 $500.
Realized: $180
Lot
2309 /
1923, 2¢ Harding, rotary press printing, complete sheet of 100, o.g., most never hinged, hinge remnants at edges affecting nine stamps incl. plate, signed by Post Office Officials including Postmaster General Harry S. New, W.I. Glover (3rd Asst. PMG), M.L. Eldsness Jr. (Superintendent of Stamps) and L.A. Hill (Director of BEP), center, Fine and rare signed sheet. Scott No. 612; $3,092 as singles Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $550
Lot 2310 o
1923, 2¢ Harding, rotary press printing, the rare perf 11, line machine cancel, centered to the lower right, strong color, Fine; with 1985 P.F. certificate.Scott No. 613 $35,000 in the grade of fine.
AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1923 2¢ HARDING ROTARY PERF 11 ISSUE - A GREAT 20TH CENTURY RARITY.
The Harding Memorial stamps mark one of the quickest turnarounds from concept to delivery in the history of U.S. postage stamps. President Harding, the 29th president of the U.S., died of a heart attack on August 2, 1923. Less than a month later a memorial stamp honoring his presidency was issued. How the Bureau of Engraving and Printing managed to print over one and one half billion stamps in 3 months is also something of a miracle. It is possible the haste at which this stamp was produced might be at least partially behind one of the great rarities of 20th century U.S. stamps, the rotary press sheet waste stamp perforated 11x11. The stamp was printed on the rotary presses, but was perforated on the flat plate, perf 11 equipment, rather than with the normal perf 10 perforating machines used to perforate the rotary press stamps of the time.
Realized: $18,000