Price of US Stamp Scott Catalogue # 523 – US$2.00 1918 Benjamin Franklin Perf 11. Page 15

United States 1910-30 Issues 1918 $2 orange red and black, well centered, rich color, n.h., fine, with 2001 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Nov 2009, Sale 200911, Lot 3133

U.S. General Issues, 1918, $2 orange red & black, #523. N.h., pl. # single, gum dist. spots resulting in trace of thin (priced as hinged), Fine to Very Fine appearing. Scott $600+. Estimate value $140.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2009, Sale 83, Lot 444

U.S. General Issues, 1918, $2 orange red & black, #523. L.h., Fine to Very Fine. Scott $600. Estimate value $200.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2009, Sale 83, Lot 443

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Choice wide margins and excellent colors, faintly hinged, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.F. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 2109

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Barest trace of hinging, strong colors, fresh and Fine, with 1977 A.P.S. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 2111

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). With wide part arrow selvage at left, bright colors, lightly hinged, Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 2110

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Mint N.H., radiant color, detailed impressions on post office fresh paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK 1918 FRANKLIN ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. — ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER. With 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $7,200.00 as 98). This is the only example to have achieved this grade, and only one has graded higher

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 968B, Lot 690

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Attractive margins and centering, excellent colors, neat Los Angeles oval cancel, Very Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1941

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Mint N.H., attractively centered, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85, SMQ price $1,350.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1940

United States 1910-30 Issues 1918 $2 orange and black, well centered with wide margins, bright color, n.h. and post office fresh, with graded (XF 90) 2009 PSE cert. (SMQ price $2,350)

Cherrystone Auctions, Jun 2009, Sale 200906, Lot 206

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Mint N.H., top sheet margin with plate no. 8179, choice centering with wide margins EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. RARE IN THIS CONDITION. With 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3365

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (Scott 523). Top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, slightly disturbed original gum, some slight oxidation FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1918 $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. ONLY A HANDFUL OF PLATE BLOCKS EXIST. This is one of the scarcest and most desirable of the 20th Century bi-colored issue plate blocks.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 971, Lot 1836

$2.00 Orange Red & Black (523). Top plate nos. 8179/8177 and arrow block of eight, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impression FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1918 $2.00 ORANGE RED & BLACK. ONLY A HANDFUL OF PLATE BLOCKS EXIST. The $2.00 and $5.00 1918 Issue are the first bi-colored dollar-denominated postage stamps issued by the United States. Both were released just three months after the famous 1918 24c Inverted Jenny, but the early printings were issued in small quantities, since stocks of the earlier $2.00 and $5.00 issues were still on hand. According to Johl, the $2.00 Orange Red & Black was a color error on the part of the Bureau of Engraving & Printing. The official description and order for the bi-color stamps specified “Red and Black” for the $2.00. When subsequent printings appeared in 1920 and philatelists brought the matter to the attention of the Bureau, they were told “this stamp has always been this color” (Johl, p. 306). From studies of Bureau and Post Office records, it is clear that the originally-intended color was not issued until November 1920 (Scott 547), and that the earlier Orange Red stamps were mistakes. The quantity issued has been variously estimated at between 47,000 and 68,000. With 1959 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 971, Lot 1835

UNITED STATES 1910-30 Issues 1918 $2 orange red and black, bright color, small h.r., fine

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2009, Sale 200904, Lot 111

UNITED STATES 1910-30 Issues 1918 $2 orange red and black, top plate number single, well centered, h.r., light gum stain from hinge removal, otherwise v.f., with 2004 PSE cert.

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2009, Sale 200904, Lot 110