Costs of US Stamps Scott Cat. #517 – 1917 50c Benjamin Franklin Perf 11. Page 3

50c Red Violet (Scott 517). Bottom plate no. 7042 block of six, four stamps Mint N.H., top left and top right stamps h.r., rich color, pencil notation on back of selvage, fresh and Fine, scarce plate block

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2013, Sale 1050, Lot 622

United States 1910-30 Issues 1917 50c red violet, top plate no. block of six, l.h. in selvage, stamps n.h., one stamp with gum skip, fine-v.f.

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2013, Sale 201307, Lot 137

517, 1917 50c Red violet,top block of four with plate no. 7042, well centered, NH, fresh and Very Fine (Scott value $460)

H.R. Harmer, Jun 2013, Sale 3003, Lot 1365

50c Red Violet (Scott 517). Mint N.H., brilliant color, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $575.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2013, Sale 1040, Lot 1907

1917, 50¢ red violet (Scott 517), o.g., never hinged, wonderfully fresh copy with dazzling color, very pretty, Very Fine to Extremely Fine. Scott $120. Estimate $100 – 150.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2012, Sale 633, Lot 894

1917, 50¢ red violet (Scott 517), o.g., never hinged, excellent example with impressive wide margins, and bright vivid color, Extremely Fine. Scott $120. Estimate $150 – 200.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Dec 2012, Sale 633, Lot 893

50c Red Violet (Scott 517). Mint N.H., brilliant color, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ price $575.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1037, Lot 2091

50c Red Violet (Scott 517). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with choice margins, lovely pastel color and clear impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1997 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Gem 100, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ value $1,250.00 as 98), one of only four to have been awarded this prestigious grade (plus one 100J)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2012, Sale 1034, Lot 467

United States 1910-30 Issues 1917 50c red violet, left margin plate number block of six, well centered, n.h. and post office fresh, v.f., with 2009 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 201210, Lot 146

50c Red Violet (Scott 517). Perfect centering with wide margins, fresh color, light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98, SMQ value $350.00), only one example has achieved this grade with only one higher (at 98J)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3604

1917, 50¢ red violet (Scott 517), pristine mint example with prooflike color and impression, o.g., never hinged, Extremely Fine. Scott $120. Estimate $100 – 150.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Oct 2012, Sale 632, Lot 1391

50c Red Violet (Scott 517). Perfectly centered with Jumbo margins all around, rich color on bright paper, neat strike of New York roller cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp in every respect, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ price $350.00 as 98), this is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2012, Sale 1028, Lot 439

50c Red Violet, Perf 10 at Top (517c). Beautiful centering, deep rich color on bright paper, bold strike of oval registry cancel VERY FINE AND CHOICE. OF THE TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 50-CENT PERF 10 AT TOP OR BOTTOM VARIETY. THIS IS THE ONLY ONE WITH A REGULAR CANCEL AND THE ONLY SOUND COPY — NONE IS KNOWN UNUSED. THIS IS PERHAPS THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 ON ONE SIDE VARIETIES. 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 517c, illustrated below and available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/517c/517c.pdf , contains only two certified examples of this rarity. The other example has a precancel and a small fault. The example offered here is the only regularly-cancelled copy of this rarity, and the only example in sound condition. Census No. 517c-CAN-01. Ex Twigg-Smith. With 1991 A.P.S. and 2002 P.F. certificates. Scott Catalogue value is outdated — the stamp offered here was the last to be offered to the market, in 2001, when it realized $15,500 hammer.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2012, Sale 1028, Lot 438

1917, 50¢ red violet (517), nearly perfectly centered with brilliant color and flawless, never hinged original gum; Extremely Fine to Superb. SMQ value $575. Scott $120 Expertization: 1999 PF and 2009 PSE Certificates, the latter graded XF-Sup 95.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 346, Lot 861

1917, 50¢ red violet (517), choice centering with large balanced margins and vibrant color, original gum, never hinged, Extremely Fine to Superb. SSV $600. Scott value $120 Expertization: 2006 PF Certificate graded XF-S 95.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 346, Lot 860