Cost of US Stamp Scott Catalogue # 363: 1909 8c George Washington Bluish Paper. Page 2

1909, 8¢ olive green, bluish paper (363), exceptionally well centered for this value with much stronger color than usual and full, lightly hinged original gum; fresh and choice Very Fine. Scott value $30,000 WITH ONLY ABOUT 90 EXAMPLES OF THE 8¢ BLUISH PAPER EVER DISTRIBUTED, AND THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BEING OFF-CENTER AND/OR FAULTY, THIS IS CERTAINLY AMONG THE FINEST OF THIS 20TH CENTURY RARITY EXTANT. Expertization: 2005 PF Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 345, Lot 332

8c Olive Green, Bluish (363). Block of four with wide top selvage, pretty shade on nicely blued paper, top stamps barest trace of hinging (if at all), centered to bottom as are almost all known blocks, perf separations between selvage and block, but the block is completely intact FINE. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RARE BLOCK OF FOUR — THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE 8-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF 20TH CENTURY UNITED STATES PHILATELY. 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. Our Levi records contain five blocks of four, of which three have centering similar to the one offered here. We have no record of one after 1956 so we cannot confirm whether it is intact. Ex “Country Gentleman” (Siegel Sale 422, November 29, 1972) and offered to the market for the first time since that sale. With unfolded 1973 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2012, Sale 1025, Lot 216

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). Narrow h.r. at top, beautiful centering with wide margins, intense color on deeply blued paper, long and full perforations all around EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER. ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLES WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. 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. A review of Power Search and our Levi records revealed only a handful with centering comparable to this example. With 2011 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2012, Sale 1021, Lot 497

1909, 8¢ olive green, bluish paper (363), exceptionally bright and fresh with full original gum, o.g., about Fine and quite handsome. Scott price $30,000

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2012, Sale 344, Lot 4522

1909, 8¢ olive green, bluish paper (363), deep rich color, original gum, fresh and Fine. Scott $30,000 A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8¢ BLUISH PAPER. Expertization: photocopy of 1960 PF Certificate, 2003 PSE Certificate. 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 429

1909, 8¢ olive green, bluish paper (363), fresh and well centered, original gum, exceptionally fresh and Very Fine. SMQ $24,000. Scott $30,000 A SUPERIOR EXAMPLE OF THIS GREAT TWENTIETH CENTURY RARITY, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE QUITE POORLY CENTERED. Expertization: PSE encapsulated and graded VF 80og. 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 428

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). Intense shade on deeply blued paper, centered to bottom right ABOUT FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-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. With 1955 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2011, Sale 1014, Lot 1811

1909, 8¢ olive green, bluish paper (363), rich color with full, lightly hinged original gum perfs barely into frame line at bottom exceptionally fresh and nearly Fine. Scott $30,000 Expertization: 1967 PF Certificate. 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 exchanged for other stamps needed for the national collection.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2011, Sale 338, Lot 1926

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). Deep rich color on nicely blued paper, wide selvage at left, some perf separations between stamp and selvage FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER WITH WIDE SHEET SELVAGE AT LEFT. 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. With 2000 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2011, Sale 1010, Lot 103

1909, 8¢ olive green, bluish paper (363), deep, rich color with full, lightly hinged original gum, bright and fresh, Fine. Scott price $30,000 AN EXCEPTIONALLY FRESH AND HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE 8¢ OLIVE GREEN ON BLUISH PAPER. Expertization: 1957 (block of four) and 2001 PF Certificates. As with the 4¢ on bluish paper, there are only 80-90 examples of the 8¢ extant.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 336, Lot 1272

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). Lightly hinged, deep rich color on nicely blued paper, wide margins for this difficult issue VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A FRESH AND SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT 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. Ex Vineyard and Hansen. With 2004 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2010, Sale 997, Lot 5919

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). Deep rich color on clearly blued paper, faintly hinged, right perfs close but clear FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish paper stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5750

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). H.r., rich color on nicely blued paper VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT ON BLUISH PAPER. According to Johl (Vol. 1, page 175), the only source of the 4c and 8c Bluish paper stamps was the archives of the Post Office Department. Approximately 80 of each were traded for rare stamps missing from the archives. With 1980 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1949

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). Lightly hinged, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, intense color on deeply blued paper EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT WASHINGTON ON BLUISH PAPER. RARE IN SUCH WONDERFUL CONDITION. 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. Our Levi records show perhaps three Mint N.H. examples, all of which are off center. With 1964 and 1990 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1948

8c Olive Green, Bluish (Scott 363). With sheet selvage and part imprint at left, barest trace of hinging, beautiful color on deeply blued paper FRESH AND FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 8-CENT WASHINGTON 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. With 1983 and 1997 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 968B, Lot 469