Lot
1614 
1909, 4¢ orange brown, bluish paper, o.g., lightly hinged, bright shade on nicely blued paper, unusually wide margin at top, fresh and Fine; with 1972 P.F. certificate issued to Raymond H. Weill Co. and 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 360 $27,500.
AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER FROM POSITION ONE IN THE ORIGINAL SHEET OF 100.
According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4¢ and 8¢ Bluish stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. Given the failed experimental nature of the paper mixture, it is no surprise that virtually all copies are off-center to some extent.
This stamp was originally part of the top left corner sheet-margin block of four seen in the Colonel E. H. R. Green collection (Part VII, lot 620, J. C. Morganthau & Co., Dec. 1-8, 1942). The top right stamp from the same block appeared in a Simmy's sale in 1976 with the top sheet selvage intact. The stamp offered here was offered with the corner sheet selvage removed as early as 1970 (Peter Kenedi sale). It was acquired by the present owner in the Siegel 1975 Rarities Sale. The corner selvage was probably removed to make the stamp fit into an album space.
Realized: $12,500
Lot
1615
1909, 5¢ blue, bluish paper, full o.g., deep bold color, bright and fresh, short perf at left, otherwise F.-V.F., a very scarce bluish paper issue; with 2021 P.S.E. certificate. Scott No. 361 $5,750.
Realized: $2,600
Lot
1616 
1909, 2¢ Lincoln, bluish paper, top left corner margin block of 4, o.g., never hinged, strong slightly oxidized color, Fine. Scott No. 369 $1,200.
Realized: $280
Lot
1617
1909, 2¢ Lincoln, bluish paper, left margin plate no. "4979" block of 6 with imprint & siderographer's initials, o.g., lightly hinged, nice allover centering, strong color on distinctively bluish paper, some rejoined perfs in selvage, otherwise Very Fine. Scott No. 369 $2,750.
Realized: $675