Newly acquired items worthy of your attention. These may or may not be described with quite as much detail as usual, however, as always, your satisfaction is guaranteed. All are available for approval viewing. Scott numbers have been used unless otherwise mentioned.
9 [Roulette III] Used F-VF+ appearance (couple short teeth) with extremely light town cancel and near "3" manuscript digit (karta number; not often offered). Very fresh and attractive.
9b, Facit #8v2C1 [20 p Roulette I] Used VF+ with FULL TEETH, wonderful color, nice centering for the issue, and light, neat postmark. This has to be the nicest looking example of this stamp that I have had in 35 years!
200.00
223408
10 [Roulette III] Stamp Type II [large opening at right side of base of crown]. Used F-VF; VF appearance but with couple minor usual tooth faults. The stamp is in excellent condition with neat and interesting pen cancellation. The Type II is unusually clearly seen on this example. Facit 2007 indicates a 3x premium for Stamp Type II examples (equals SEK 525 = $73).
44.00
231365
10 [40 penni, Roulette III] Used F-VF+ (2 teeth missing but looks VF) with Superb NYSTAD high-box cancel. An outstanding example
Scott #10f variety, Facit 9IIv1C4a Carmine [40 pen ROULETTE IV, STAMP TYPE II] Used with VF+ appearance and nearly FULL TEETH; only a couple of tooth tips missing. Examples of Roulette IV are rare; examples with completely perfect teeth may not be known (Finnish expert Kaj Hellman once commented that this example may be the nicest in existence): Facit prices full teeth, but Norma does not. However, this example is STAMP TYPE II (cut in right side of bottom of crown; see Facit) which makes it a major rarity; both Facit and Norma indicate that the price of a Stamp Type II example (of even the most common roulette) should be tripled! In addition to the overall excellent quality, it has a full NYSLOTT June 1867 cancellation. Accompanied by a 1991 Mikko Ossa certificate stating, in his typical extremely strict and blunt fashion, that "The stamp has short teeth and some teeth have breaks [i.e. creases on teeth]. The stamp is not repaired." However, it is obvious from the appearance of the stamp that the quality is much nicer than that description suggests. The stamp was in the "Michigan" collection built by an American who lived in Finland in the 1950s-60s; he obtained many of his stamps from such eminent Finnish philatelists as E.A. Hellman. I acquired the stamp in 1991 and have since sold it twice and then repurchased the entire collections of the clients to whom I sold it. Also accompanied by a 2006 Jay Smith photo certificate with lifetime guarantee.
5000.00
231809
11a [1 mark Roulette II] Used Fine+ with the typical missing teeth, but NO other defects! A very scarce stamp missing from almost all collections! Scott 2008 value $1550!
625.00
231371
18, Facit #13Sf [1875 5 penni perf 11] Brilliant Brownish Orange 4-block with 14 April 1880 Helsingfors cancels. Centering within the block ranges from F-VF to Superb. This printing is one of the scarcer colors (Facit SEK 350 = $55 per stamp). Used blocks are very scarce; Facit indicates values from SEK 3000 = $450 for the most common colors, while Norma indicates a multiplier of 20x the singles price which is approximately 700 Euro = $980! A handsome and scarce block!
675.00
221911
18 Yellow Orange, Facit #13SC1a. Used VF+ with neat, light 1876 cancellation. Beautiful example; this first color is seldom seen so nice.
19, Facit #14Sd Dark (Bluish) Green on Thick Paper [1875 8 penni 4-Numeral; 1877 printing] Used VF with unusually light cancellation. Excellent centering, perforations, and very crisp impression. Unusually nice example.
70.00
221913
19 Light Bluish Green, Facit #14Sa. Used F-VF+ with neat, light cancellation. Beautiful example of this very scarce color; this first color is rarely seen so nice.
95.00
221915
19 Light Bluish Green, Facit #14Sa. Used VF+ with neat, light cancellation. Beautiful example of this very scarce color; this first color is rarely seen so nice, especially not so well centered.
125.00
231366
19 Dark Green Blue, Used with Superb centering, but tiny tear between two perfs. Very neat low-box ULEAB(ORG) cancel. Otherwise $90+!
29.00
221914
19a Moss Green, Facit #14Sbb. Used Fine with neat, light cancellation. Beautiful example of this scarcest 8 p color: dark, clear, and intense. Very fresh.
(21b), Facit #16SC1a "Prussian Blue" Used VF with neat, light, blue town cancellation. A very distinctive and scarce color in especially nice quality!
60.00
231811
(21b), Facit #16SC1aa "Azure Blue" Used VF+ with unusually large margins and light cancellation. A very distinctive and scarce color in especially nice quality!
90.00
215034
23 Used Superb with Superb 7-bar carved cancellation Laitinen #80 from Björnborg. Outstanding quality! Rarity Factor on 32p 1875 stamp was R4 (6-12 known).
90.00
231376
23 Light Carmine [1875 32 penni perf 11] Used VF with VF JOROIS 12 December 1876 "arc" cancellation in BLUE. Quite scarce and attractive; outstanding quality.
69.00
231379
23 Carmine [1875 32 penni perf 11] Used with VF+ centering, but thinned corner perf. Superb SWEDISH 24 June 1876 "STOCKHOLM KE." incoming ship mail cancellation. If not for the thinned corner perf, this would sell for at least four times as much! Wonderful appearance that would be welcome in any collection.
75.00
231380
24 Lilac [1875 1 mark perf 11] Used F-VF with Superb CORK CANCEL used at JOENSUU (Laitinen #172) with rarity R4 on this stamp. A particularly nice example of this cancel; this cancel is scarce on this stamp; and nice examples this stamp are simply quite scarce!
190.00
231372
30, Facit #19LC2a, Norma #27LBaz [1882 1 mark perf 12.5] Reddish Lilac 4-block with 3 March 1882 Helsingfors cancels. This cancellation date absolutely confirms the printing identification. Centering uniformly VF; some separation down the middle as is typical for perf 12.5 blocks, sensibly reinforced. Used blocks are extremely scarce; Facit indicates values from SEK 15,000 = $2250 for the most common printing, while Norma indicates a multiplier of 35x the singles price which is approximately 1645 Euro = $2300! A handsome and scarce block! Few examples exist.
31, Facit #20c, Norma #28c [1885 5 penni 4-Numeral] Light Green 4-block with two very neat 19 November 1885 KUPIO "arc" cancels. Centering VF/F-VF and with strong perforations. Used blocks of this issue are scarce; Norma indicates a multiplier of 30x the singles price! Particularly nicely canceled.
59.00
231377
32a Pink [1885 10 penni 4-Numeral] Used Fine with F-VF PIELISJARVI "arc" cancellation. Attractive and unusual.
25.00
231378
33 Yellow Orange [1885 20 penni 4-Numeral] Used F-VF with VF RIIHIMÄKI "arc" cancellation in BLUE and without dates! Attractive and unusual. Quite scarce; Norma 40x scarcer than Helsingfors!
65.00
231382
42, Facit #31C1ff. The extremely scarce "Indigo" printing (Facit 2007 SEK 2200 = $330). Used VF. Seldom offered.
44 [1890 5 mark 3-Numeral] Used VF with neat cancellation. Bright color.
75.00
231383
44 [1890 5 mark 3-Numeral] Used Superb with Superb TAMMERFORS / TAMPERE tri-lingual cancellation. An incredible example!
225.00
231812
56 [1891 1 rubel with rings] Mint Hinged with VF+ centering and fresh, bright color. A very attractive example!
100.00
231813
56 [1891 1 rubel with rings] Used VF+ with wonderful well-centered TERIJOKI 1906 bilingual cancellation. This is a LOST TERRITORY Karelian town is now Zelenogorsk, in Russia!
120.00
231375
(65) Emergency Printing, Facit #48 [1901 5 penni Letterpress / Typography Emergency Issue] Used VF/F-VF 4-block with 20 April 1901 JUUKA Russian-text bilingual cancellation. Even singles of this stamp are very hard to find; blocks are quite scarce.
195.00
231398
68 [January 1901 1 mark, Type I] Mint Fine (for this issue) with greatly shifted green center. This is not a proof; it is an issued, perforated stamp with a production "error" and as such is extremely scarce. Even normal mint examples of this stamp are scarce.
395.00
231814
106 [1921 3 mk, without watermark, M-17 Saarinen Lion] NH VF+ brilliant and fresh example.
106 [1921 3 mk, without watermark, M-17 Saarinen Lion] NH VF+ brilliant and fresh example.
120.00
231384
130 [1925 30 penni Yellow Green, swastika watermark] NH VF with full, strong offset impression on reverse.
14.00
231816
178 [1930 10 mk Lake Saimaa; first type, Facit #160I] Mint Superb, lightly hinged. Wonderful example of a stamp that is scarce in nice quality.
90.00
231817
178 [1930 10 mk Lake Saimaa; first type, Facit #160I] Mint VF+. Attractive example of a stamp that is scarce in nice quality.
75.00
221926
196 Type I, Facit #175v1 [1931 1.25/0.50 surcharge M-30 Lion] Used VF/F-VF 4-block with central HUHMOINEN 1932 cancellation. Scarce as used block.
13.00
221927
196 Type II, Facit #175v2 [1931 (1932 Type II) 1.25/0.50 surcharge M-30 Lion] Used VF 4-block with HANGO / HANKO (Russian text removed type) 1933 cancellation. Scarce even as single stamps (this quality sells for $75 each), but very rare in used blocks. The only used block I have had in 33 years.
231, Facit #256vm1/vm2 [1941 3.50 mk Mannerheim] Vertical pair of the "regular" watermark with COMBINATION of narrowly and widely spaced rose watermarks. Such combinations are only possible on vertical pairs and are not listed or priced in any catalog; they are very uncommon. NH VF.
14.00
231387
231, Facit #256vm1/vm2 [1941 3.50 mk Mannerheim] Vertical pair of the "regular" watermark with COMBINATION of narrowly and widely spaced rose watermarks. Such combinations are only possible on vertical pairs and are not listed or priced in any catalog; they are very uncommon. NH F-VF.
10.00
221929
M8, Facit #F8 [1963 Military] NH VF. Soldiers were allocated only 5 stamps each for use during the training maneuvers for which these stamps were issued; the stamps were apparently supplied to the soldiers in advance and then could be used by family members, etc., to send letters to the soldiers. Pristine and bright.
160.00
221930
M8, Facit #F8 [1963 Military] NH Superb. Soldiers were allocated only 5 stamps each for use during the training maneuvers for which these stamps were issued; the stamps were apparently supplied to the soldiers in advance and then could be used by family members, etc., to send letters to the soldiers. While this stamp is usually found with VF centering, perfectly centered examples such as this are quite scarce.
M8, Facit #F8 [1963 Military] NH Superb vertical 8-block, right margin with printing registration guidelines. Soldiers were allocated only 5 stamps each for use during the training maneuvers for which these stamps were issued; the stamps were apparently supplied to the soldiers in advance and then could be used by family members, etc., to send letters to the soldiers. Thus there should be no units larger than 5 stamps. Multiples are scarce, but 5-strips and occasionally a 4-block are seen. However, units larger than 5 are rare and should not exist in private hands. I first obtained a unit larger than 5 stamps in 2000 or 37 years after their issuance! A wonderful block! The break-up value of this Superb block is $1480, however, this item is much scarcer than that!
1395.00
221932
M9 (M8 with 1983 overprint), Facit #F9 [1983 Military overprint] VF on attractive cover with 22 April 1983 proper cancellations (the stamp was valid from 20 April) and with proper military receiving cancellation on reverse. M9 covers are often on larger envelopes or are not attractive; this example is especially nice.
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