Price of US Stamp Scott #556: 4c 1923 Martha Washington Perf 11. Page 2

4c Yellow Brown (Scott 556). Mint N.H. wide bottom plate no. 15221 block of six, extraordinarily well-centered, bright color, fresh and crisp, Extremely Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1037, Lot 2116

4c Yellow Brown (Scott 556). Mint N.H., wide balanced margins, lovely bright color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $325.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2012, Sale 1034, Lot 484

4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 at Top (556b). Rich color, light strike of oval registry cancel, transitional perfs at top where perforated 10 at left to perforated 11 at right FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON PERFORATED 10 AT TOP. ONLY TWO REGULARLY-CANCELLED COPIES ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE IN SOUND CONDITION. IT IS ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH TRANSITIONAL PERFORATIONS. 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. Our census of Scott 556b, illustrated below and available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/556b/556b.pdf , contains two unused and six used (two in a multiple). Four of the six used copies have precancels and so cannot be confirmed as having gone thru the the mails. Of the two regularly-cancelled copies, this is the only one in sound condition. Census No. 556b-CAN-01. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1986 and 2001 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2012, Sale 1028, Lot 467

1923, 4¢ yellow brown (556), top margin plate no. block of 6, well centered, original gum, never hinged, fresh and Very Fine. Scott price $400

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2012, Sale 344, Lot 4682

4c Yellow Brown, Perf 10 at Top and Bottom (556b). Vertical strip of four, Perf 10 between top two stamps — thus containing two examples of the variety — bright color, “Jacksonville Fla.” precancel, third stamp from top some creasing, bottom stamp toned (neither an error stamp) FINE. THE 1922 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 AT ONE SIDE STAMPS. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED MULTIPLE. A GREAT 20TH CENTURY RARITY. Our census of Scott 556b (available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/556b/556b.pdf) and printed on p. 92 of this catalogue, contains only two unused and five used examples, including the two contained in this multiple. Census No. 556b-CAN-PR-4. With 2004 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as two singles

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2010, Sale 1001, Lot 2131

1923, 4¢ yellow brown (556), near perfect centering in wide balanced margins, vivid color, pristine never hinged original gum, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp. SMQ price $960. Scott $40 Expertization: 2007 PSE Certificate graded Supurb 98.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2010, Sale 331, Lot 761

4c Yellow Brown, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (Scott 556a). Block of nine containing one vertical pair of the variety, bottom right corner selvage with “J.W.B.” and “J.McF.” plate finisher’s initials, the block was damaged and patched during production with brown paper affixed to back at the Bureau, partially erased blue crayon rejection mark VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. A GREAT RARITY OF THE ISSUE AND A MAGNIFICENT EXHIBITION ITEM According to Gary Griffith in his book United States Stamps 1922-26, the brown paper on the back was a common Bureau repair, where sheets of 400 or half-sheets of 200 that were mangled in the perforating process were taped back together in order to salvage usable panes. Often, if one pane of 100 was damaged, the remaining panes could be salvaged and put into circulation. Sometimes the damaged and taped panes found their way into circulation, probably from being erroneously placed among the undamaged panes. Ex Lilly and Griffith. With 1983 and 2001 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 968B, Lot 727

4c Yellow Brown (Scott 556). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, fabulous centering and choice margins, fresh color and detailed impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98, SMQ price $1,200.00), one of seven to have been awarded this grade with only two higher

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1974

4c Yellow Brown (Scott 556). Mint N.H. wide left plate no. 16214 block of six, nicely centered, fresh and bright, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2008, Sale 967, Lot 4931

1923, 4¢ yellow brown (556), full top margin plate no. 16370 block of six, outstanding centering, bright and fresh, tiny natural inclusion speck in one, original gum, never hinged, Extremely Fine, a choice full top plate block. Scott value $400

Matthew Bennett International, Apr 2008, Sale 326, Lot 492

1923, 4¢ yellow brown (556), beautifully centered within huge margins, gorgeous color, fresh original gum, never hinged, Extremely Fine-Superb, a choice jumbo mint single. SMQ $455 as 95, $1,650 as 98. Scott $42 Expertization: 2008 P.S.E. Certificate graded XF-Sup 95J.

Matthew Bennett International, Apr 2008, Sale 326, Lot 491