US Stamp Prices Scott Catalog # 359 – 1909 3c George Washington Bluish Paper. Page 1

USA (Scott 359) 1909 WASHINGTON 3¢ DEEP VIOLET BLUISH PAPER Original gum, previously hinged. Fresh, very fine. Cat price $1800.

Regency-Superior, Aug 2015, Sale 112, Lot 745

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). Fabulous centering and choice color, two top left perf tips toned (mostly on back), otherwise Extremely Fine, signed Geo. B. Sloane in pencil

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2015, Sale 1107, Lot 430

United States 1909 Bluish Paper 1909 3c deep violet, lightly hinged original gum, rich color, fine, handstamp guarantee on reverse, with 1976 and 2015 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2015, Sale 201507, Lot 2128

1909, 3¢ deep violet, bluish paper (Scott 359), o.g., lightly hinged, handsome example of this terribly difficult bluish paper, a trivial natural inclusion spot at center only shows on the back of the stamp, Fine to Very Fine, 1984 P.F. certificate. Scott $1,800. Estimate value $750 – 1,000.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2015, Sale 669, Lot 2917

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). Top imprint and plate no. 4927 block of six, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression on nicely blued paper, well-balanced margins throughout, few minor perf separations delicately reinforced VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED PLATE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS AMONG THE FINEST. Lewis Kaufman records only five plate blocks, including four from the top position and one from the left. The plate block here was offered in our 1993 Rarities sale, and apart from two examples contained in the MLG collection (top and side), it is the only example we have sold since keeping computerized records. A pane of 100 is also known, with imprint and plate numbers at top and right. With 1964 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 604

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). Block of four, lightly hinged, rich color on deeply blued paper, choice centering EXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND PERFECTLY CENTERED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. Considering the quality of the stamps in this block, especially the one at bottom right, it is a small miracle that this block has not been broken to feed demand for quality singles. With 2005 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 603

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). With wide selvage at right, rich color on deeply blued paper, particularly evident with the attached selvage, inclusion (or something) affecting one perf at top, light corner crease in selvage at right, otherwise Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 602

1909, 3¢ deep violet, bluish paper. Right margin plate number “4925” single, o.g., fairly light hinging, rich color, fresh and Fine, a scarce plate number single. Scott No. 359; $1,800.

Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, Apr 2015, Sale 60, Lot 2798

1909, 3¢ deep violet, bluish paper. O.g., barest trace of hinge (appears n.h.), rich vibrant color on deeply blued paper, nicely centered amid well balanced margins, exceptionally fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 1985 and 1997 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 359; $1,800. A LOVELY PRISTINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1909 3¢ DEEP VIOLET ON BLUISH PAPER.

Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions, Apr 2015, Sale 60, Lot 2350

o 1909, 3¢ deep violet, bluish paper (359), quite well centered for this, outstanding color and freshness. Neat machine cancel. Very Fine. Scott $9,000 A CHOICE USED SINGLE OF THE 3¢ BLUISH PAPER, POSSIBLY THE FINEST OF THE FIVE CERTIFIED COPIES. GIVEN IT IS AS RARE AS THE 5¢ USED, AND CATALOGUES ABOUT HALF THE VALUE OF THE 5¢, AND THAT IT IS AT LEAST TWICE AS RARE AS THE USED 6¢, 10¢ AND 15¢ VALUES, AND CATALOGUES LESS THAN ANY OF THESE, WE DEFINITELY FEEL THE 3¢ IS UNDERVALUED. Expertization: 2008, 2014 P.F. Certificates. There is one copy of the used 3¢ bluish that is better centered than the present example, but it had not been examined in over 50 years, and may or may not be considered sound by today’s more rigorous expertizing standards.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2015, Sale 351, Lot 169

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). Lightly hinged with “S.A.” pencil initials on gum, well-centered on strongly blued paper, fresh and Very Fine, a choice example of this scarce stamp, with 2010 P.F. certificate (VF 80)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2015, Sale 1093, Lot 158

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). Deep rich color and proof-like impression on nicely blued paper, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. and 1992 P.S.E. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2015, Sale 1093, Lot 159

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (359). Deep rich color, light town cancel, faint diagonal crease thru left side of vignette FINE APPEARANCE. THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER IS THE RAREST OF THE REGULARLY-ISSUED BLUISH PAPERS IN USED CONDITION. ONLY FOUR USED EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. A total of 40 sheets (4,000 stamps) were printed of the 3c on Bluish paper, using four different printing plates. A quantity was inadvertently distributed to various post offices, including the post office in New York. A small quantity was apparently used, but these have almost all been lost to philately. Our census of Scott 359 in used condition, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/359/359.pdf , records three used copies plus one on cover. A fourth off-cover example needs to be reexamined for authenticity. This makes it as rare, or rarer, than the 5c on bluish, which catalogues three times as much. Census No. 359-CAN-03. With 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2015, Sale 1093, Lot 161

3c Deep Violet, Bluish (Scott 359). Top imprint and plate no. 4918 block of six with wide selvage, lightly hinged with blue Stanley Gibbons backstamps on each, rich color on deeply blued paper FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 3-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN. Lewis Kaufman records only five plate blocks, including four from the top position and one from the left. The plate block here was offered in our 1993 Rarities sale, and apart from two examples contained in the MLG collection (top and side), it is the only example we have sold since keeping computerized records. A pane of 100 is also known, with imprint and plate numbers at top and right. With 1976 P.F. and 1994 P.S.E. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2015, Sale 1093, Lot 160

1909, 3¢ deep violet, bluish paper (Scott 359), o.g., previously hinged, bold rich color and sharp detailed impression, scarce bluish paper in sound condition, Fine, 1978 P.F. certificate, pencil notation on reverse “I. Koslow”. Scott $1,800. Estimate price $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Jan 2015, Sale 663, Lot 1701