Value of US Stamps Scott Cat. # 360 – 4c 1909 George Washington Bluish Paper. Page 2

1909, 4¢ orange brown, bluish paper (360), rich color and full, lightly hinged original gum, tiny natural paper inclusion, fresh and Fine. Scott $27,500 A MOST ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4¢ BLUISH PAPER. Expertization: 1962 PF and 2003 PSE Certificates. The 4¢ and 8¢ values on bluish paper were never issued to the public. One pane of 100 of each was kept for the Post Office archives and the rest destroyed. Over the years, 80-90 of each were used to exchange for other stamps needed for the national collection.

Matthew Bennett International, Feb 2012, Sale 340, Lot 424

4c Orange Brown, Bluish (Scott 360). Rich color on nicely blued paper, unusually wide margin at top FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c 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. With 1969 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1805

1909, 4¢ orange brown, bluish paper (360), fresh and well centered with rich color and full original gum, F.-V.F. Scott value $27,500 AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4¢ BLUISH PAPER, OF WHICH ONLY ABOUT 90 ARE BELEIVED TO EXIST. Expertization: 2000 APS, 2001 PSE and 2002 PF Certificates. The 4¢ and 8¢ values on bluish paper were never issued to the public. One pane of 100 of each was kept for the Post Office archives and the rest destroyed. Over the years 80-90 of each were used to exchange for other stamps needed for the national collection.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 336, Lot 1271

4c Orange Brown, Bluish (Scott 360). Lightly hinged, bright shade on nicely blued paper, unusually wide margin at top FINE. 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 4c and 8c 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 (lot 155). The corner selvage was probably removed to make the stamp fit into an album space. With 1972 P.F. certificate issued to Raymond H. Weill Co.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1945

4c Orange Brown, Bluish (360). Mint N.H. with plate no. 4934 in wide selvage at top, rich color on nicely blued paper, choice centering with wide margins for this difficult issue VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS IS THE FINEST OF THE THREE MINT NEVER-HINGED COPIES WE HAVE SOLD AND THE ONLY ONE OF THOSE WITH THE PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE. During the early stages of production of the 1908-09 Washington-Franklin stamps, the Bureau tried to solve the problem of paper shrinkage that caused off-center perforations and resulted in a large number of unusable sheets. Armstrong notes that up to twenty percent of sheets had to be discarded. The first such experiments resulted in the Bluish Paper stamps (Scott 357-366). Rag cloth was added to the wood pulp mixture, but this did not have the desired effect and the experiment was discontinued. According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c 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. In the absence of a plate block of the 4c Bluish, this plate number single and the one other known plate multiple (a strip of three) assume far greater significance. With 1973 and 2007 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 968B, Lot 466

4c Orange Brown, Bluish (Scott 360). Deep rich color, sharp proof-like impression on fresh deeply-blued paper A FINE AND CHOICE POST-OFFICE FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT BLUISH PAPER. This stamp was described in a 1944 Col. Green sale as Mint Never-Hinged and has been sold three times since as Never Hinged. In 1999 the Philatelic Foundation rendered its opinion “previously hinged”, basing its conclusion on what we believe is a tiny natural vertical ridge in the gum at the very top of the stamp. The stamp is sold on the basis of the current certificate, because sometimes hinging is in the eye of the beholder, but we feel confident that the provenance and physical characteristics weigh heavily in this stamp’s favor. With 1976 and 1999 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3300

UNITED STATES 1909 BLUISH PAPER 1909 4c orange brown, left margin single, well centered, rich color and sharp impression, small h.r., v.f. example of this rare stamp, with 1978, 1990 and 2001 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2009, Sale 200903, Lot 208

4c Orange Brown, Bluish (Scott 360). Neat hinge mark, rich color, fresh FINE-VERY FINE. A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. From our 1987 Rarities of the World sale. With 1964 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 953

1909, 4¢ orange brown, bluish paper (360), deep rich color and a strong impression, original gum, h.r., handstamp on reverse, reperforated at right, Fine appearance, a fresh and attractive example of this highly sought after bluish paper of which approximately 90 exist. Scott value $24,000 Expertization: 1966 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Oct 2007, Sale 320, Lot 563