Lot 9 Germany MI#934bbHAN (SC# 553) 75pf Lively Lilac Ultramarine 1946 Numerals Issue, Plate 4027.46-1, Same Under UV, A VFNH Plate Pair, Click on Listing to See ALL Pictures, Estimated Value $25

A VFNH plate pair of the 75pf lively lilac ultramarine from the 1946 Numerals Issue, plate 4027.46-1, same under uv. 20 euro for the basic shade. This is one of the premium shades that lists for 20x the basic ultramarine. 2023 Michel cat.€28. Our estimate of the value based on the condition is $25.

Although inexpensive and innocuous in Scott, this spendid definitive issue, which was in use for just under two years during the period after the Second World war while the Allies occupied Germany, is ideal for the shade enthusiast, due to the very large number of shade variations that can be collected, combined with the fact that they are generrally quite easy to see. This is mainly because of the way the design is printed, as well as the simplicity of the designs themselves. Being surface printed, there is very little variation in the intensity of the inks on the stamps, with very large, solid areas of colour throughout the designs. The next 92 lots illustrate a second aspect that can be collected: the plate number pairs. These pairs are found once on each sheet, in the bottom selvedge, between rows 5 and 6. As a result, intact NH pairs showing the full plate number are quite scarce, even though the single mint stamps are not. This week's offering covers the values to the end of the 50pf, while next week covers the balace of the set to the 1 mark. Taken together, these lots represent about 75-85% of all the plate number conbinbations listed in Michel for this issue.

A note about grading and estimated values is in order. We use estimated values rather than catalogue values where the grade of the stamp is other than that contemplated by the catalogue, or there is an unlisted variety. In deriving the estimates we divide catalogue values by 2 for examples without gum, unless Scott gives a separate no gum value, and also by 2 for each grade that is below the catalogue standard of VF for Scott or fine for Unitrade. So, for example a stamp cataloguing $300 in Scott that is in VG condition will be estimated at $75, if it has OG, or at $37 if it is unused. If it is a split grade, then I take the midpoint between the two grades, so that for example a VG-F stamp is about 1/3rd of the value of a VF example.