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PSE Set Registry - Awards

PSE SET REGISTRY SM AWARDS 2011

HALL OF FAME
2012 Awards
2010 Winners
2009 Winners
2008 Winners
2007 Winners
2006 Winners
2005 Winners
2004 Winners

Expert Comments:
2011 was an active year for the PSE Set Registry. We brought our Commemorative Year Sets up to 1955, added a Junior Duck set, an Official Specimen set and a few other requested sets. There was much activity this year with a couple top sets being blown away by some new competition. With the increase in completion requirement to 90% to be eligible for an award, the competition still remained fierce. All of the top award winners are 100% complete and many were comprised completely of top pop stamps making judging difficult. We wish to thank all PSE Set Registrants. Whether you won an award this year or not, your participation in the Registry and your enthusiasm is very much appreciated.

Scott Murphy, USN, Ret.
Professional Stamp Experts
Finalizer, SMQ Editor
(949) 567-1346

Best Overall Set of 2011

West Coast - 1913 Parcel Post (NH)
A wonderful series, beautifully engraved. Just incredible – every stamp is top of the pop and 59% jumbo to boot! A magnificent achievement that just speaks for itself.

Best 19th Century Regular Issue Set of 2011

Nick Kirke Collection - 1873-75 Continental Bank Notes (Used)
The “Bank Note” issues defined U.S. postage stamps for almost 25 years – from 1870 to 1895, and while some find them a bit monotonous, advanced collectors know what a challenge a great set is, and a complete set is a delight to the eye, colorful and majestic in their design. All the large bank note series are difficult, but to achieve this level takes perseverance and tenacity. This set has been quietly creeping along over the years and has finally reached maturity. What an amazing display.



Nick Kirke Collection - 1895 First Bureau Issues (Used)
For a fourth year in a row this set has quietly topped its competition and even though only 19% are jumbos, only four stamps fall short of top of the pop and each of those with but a single stamp grading higher. A set certainly worthy of recognition and simply stunning.

Best 19th Century Commemorative Set of 2011

Nick Kirke Collection - 1893 Columbian (Used)
A fantastic set that has led the way in this category for the last four years. Fully 50% are jumbos and many top pops. This set is a real delight to the eye.

Flying High Again - 1898 Trans-Mississippi (NH)
Although a relatively new set, it is quite an achievement to reach this level with so few places for improvement. Just incredible eye appeal here.

Best 20th Century Regular Issue Set of 2011

Flying High Again - 1902-03 Regular Issues (NH)
The first set of the 20th century; these stamps have great eye appeal. To assemble a set like this take patience. What a treat!

Avenbury Lakes Pairs - 1914 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (NH)
Coils were first issued by the government in the 20th century. Not initially appreciated because collectors wanted fully perforated stamps, these coils flat plate printed coils can be amazingly difficult. Coil stamps can be notoriously difficult to find well centered. With only a single stamp available to improve this set, this award is truly well earned.

Brian M. DeBroff (Brian and Brian Stamps) - 1918-20 Washington Franklin Issues Offset Imperforates (NH)
The toughest 20th century imperforate set with all but one stamp grading 100J – and that one at the top of the pop.





Brian M. DeBroff (Brian and Brian Stamps) - 1923-26 Imperf (NH)
There can be no doubt that a complete set graded Gem 100J deserves recognition.

Randy Henson - 1923-26 Imperf (NH)
There can be no doubt that a complete set graded Gem 100J deserves recognition.

Randy Henson - 1923-26 Imperf, Singles (NH)
There can be no doubt that a complete set graded Gem 100J deserves recognition.

Avenbury Lakes Pairs - 1923-29 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (NH)
The rotary press stamps of the fourth Bureau issue are extremely challenging because of their tiny margins. Coils for this issue are amazingly difficult and every stamp in this set is top of the pop. To achieve this level with line pairs is astounding.

Avenbury Lakes Pairs - 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (NH)
These rotary press stamps are extremely challenging because of their tiny margins. A small set, but still quite difficult with every stamp at the top of the pop.

Best 20th Century Commemorative Set of 2011

Nick Kirke Collection - 1907 Jamestown (Used)
A small set but arguably one of the most difficult to assemble at this level. Every stamp is top of the pop and 2/3 of them are jumbos. A pleasure to view.

Flying High Again - 1909 Commemoratives (NH)
Any set with a rating above 100 has to be incredible. A small early set, it is currently the finest possible with each stamp at the top of the pop.

Flying High Again - 1923 Harding Memorial Issues (NH)
Any set with a rating above 100 has to be incredible. A small but important set it is currently the finest possible with each stamp at the top of the pop.

Randy Henson - 1938-44 3c Violet Commemoratives (NH)
A fairly large set of 25 stamps, this set has 84% at the top of the pop, 19 graded Gem 100 and one graded Gem 100J – the rest graded 98. Modern, yes, but still impressive.

Charles Fricke (ChazTheBear) - Farley National Parks Imperfs Type Set (NGAI)
There can be no doubt that a complete set graded Gem 100J deserves recognition.







Flying High Again - Early 1950s Commemoratives (NH)
What a challenge – 43 stamps and over 88% are top of the pop with 36 graded Gem 100 and the rest graded 98. Simply an amazing accomplishment.

Randy Henson - Farley National Parks Imperfs Type Set (NGAI)
There can be no doubt that a complete set graded Gem 100J deserves recognition.

Best Back of the Book Set of 2011

West Coast - 1913 Parcel Post (NH)
A wonderful series, beautifully engraved. Just incredible – every stamp is top of the pop and 59% jumbo to boot! A magnificent achievement that just speaks for itself.

Flying High Again - Early Airmail Issues C1-C19 (NH)
Any set with a rating above 100 has to be incredible and this set is no exception with but three stamps that could improve it - just marvelous viewing.

Flying High Again - Special Delivery Issues (NH)
New this year, this set has surpassed the top sets from the last six years. With a set of 23 stamps spanning 86 years this is not easy to do. Ten top pops, six Gem 100s and one Gem 100J get the job done. Outstanding.

Best Federal Duck Set of 2011

Lifemates - Federal Duck Stamps RW1-78 (NH)
Since the inception of the Set Registry eight years ago, the most popular set has always been the Federal ducks. The current champion, as well as the All-Time Finest set, is the Lifemates collection which stole the crown from long time champion Blind Hog in 2008. In 2008 Lifemates was inducted into the PSE Hall of Fame. The set continues to dominate in the category with an average set rating of 99.18, up slightly from last year.

WDO - Federal Duck Souvenir Sheets (NH)
Federal Duck souvenir sheets are a recent addition to collecting being introduced in 2005 in limited quantities, but they are already popular. All graded Gem 100 and all top of the pop, this is the finest possible set.

Best of the Registry Certificate Winners of 2011

(#1 set in each category with at least 90% completion, 4/6/12 2:00pm EST)

19th Century Regular Issues
wmerlin collections 1847-55 Regular Issues Complete Set (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1847-55 Regular Issues Type Set (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1857-61 Regular Issues Type Set (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1857-61 Regular Issues (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1861-66 Regular Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1867 Grills (Used)
wmerlin collections 1869 Pictorials (Used)
Nicke Kirke Collection 1869 Pictorials with Varieties (Used)
wmerlin collections 1870 National Bank Notes with Grill (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1870 National Bank Notes without Grill (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1875 Reissues of 1869 Pictorials (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1879 American Bank Notes (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1881-89 American Bank Notes (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1890 Small Bank Notes (Used)
Flying High Again 1890 Small Bank Notes (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1894 First Bureau Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1894 First Bureau Issues (OG)
wmerlin collections 1895 First Bureau Issues (OG)
Nick Kirke Collection 1895 First Bureau Issues with Varieties (Used)
William B. Whiston 1898 Regular Issues (Used)
ChazTheBear 1898 Regular Issues (OG)
wmerlin collections 1898 Regular Issues (NH)
19th Century Commemoratives
wmerlin collections 1893 Columbian (OG)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1893 Columbian (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1893 Columbian with Varieties (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1893 Columbian with Varieties (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1893 Columbian Short Set (Used)
urw1411 Columbians OG Short Set 1893 Columbian Short Set (OG)
Flying High Again 1893 Columbian Short Set (NH)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1893 Columbian Short Set with Varieties (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1898 Trans-Mississippi (Used)
wmerlin Collections 1898 Trans-Mississippi (OG)
Nick Kirke Collection 1898 Trans-Mississippi Short Set (Used)
ChazTheBear 1898 Trans-Mississippi Short Set (OG)
Flying High Again 1898 Trans-Mississippi Short Set (NH)
20th Century Regular Issues
Nick Kirke Collection 1902-03 Regular Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1902-03 Regular Issues (OG)
Nick Kirke Collection 1908-09 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1908-09 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Avenbury Lakes -singles 1908-12 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Singles 2 1908-12 Regular Issues - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH PR -2 1908-12 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1908-17 Regular Issues - Imperforates (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1908-17 Regular Issues - Imperforates (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1910-11 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1910-11 Washington Franklin Issues (OG)
The Golden State Collection 1910-11 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1912-14 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1912-14 Washington Franklin Issues (OG)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1912-14 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1914 Regular Issues - Coils (Used)
Avenbury Lakes PRS 1914 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Singles -2 1914 Regular Issues - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Used Pairs -2 1914 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (Used)
Avenbury Lakes Used LPS -2 1914 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (Used)
Avenbury Lakes NH Line Pairs -2 1914 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1914-15 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
wmerlin collections 1914-15 Washington Franklin Issues (OG)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1914-15 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1915-16 Regular Issues - Coils (Used)
Avenbury Lakes-S 1915-16 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Singles-2 1915-16 Regular Issues - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Used Pairs-2 1915-16 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (Used)
Avenbury Lakes NH Pairs -2 1915-16 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Line Pairs -2 1915-16 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1916-17 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1916-17 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Singles -2 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Used PR-2 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (Used)
Avenbury Lakes NH Pairs -2 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Used Line Pairs -2 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (Used)
Avenbury Lakes Line Pairs -2 1916-19 Regular Issues - Coils, Line Pairs (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1917-19 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
The Golden State Collection 1917-19 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1917-19 Washington Franklin Issues with Varieties (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1917-19 Washington Franklin Issues with Varieties (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1918-20 Washington Franklin Issues (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1918-20 Washington Franklin Issues (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1918-20 Washington Franklin Issues Offset Imperforates (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1918-20 Offset Issues Complete Set (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1908-22 Washington Franklin Issues Complete Set (Used)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1908-22 Washington Franklin Issues Complete Set (NH)
Betsy's Stamps 1922-25 Regular Issues (OG)
West Coast 1922-25 Regular Issues (NH)
West Coast 1923-26 Perf. 10 (NH)
Avenbury Lakes-PR 1923-29 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Singles -2 1923-29 Regular Issues - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes NH Pairs-2 1923-29 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (NH)
West Coast 1926-28 Regular Issue Rotary (NH)
West Coast 1926-31 Regular Issue Rotary (NH)
West Coast 1931 Regular Issue Rotary (NH)
Flying High Again 1929 Kansas Nebraska Overprints (NH)
Avenbury Lakes used PR 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils (Used)
Avenbury Lakes _S 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes -PR 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Singles NH - 2 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Used Pairs - 2 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (Used)
Avenbury Lakes Pairs NH -2 1929-34 Regular Issues - Coils, Pairs (NH)
Shilohprexys 1938 Presidential Set (NH)
Fred Steinberg 1938 Presidential Set with Varieties (NH)
Jed Pairs 1939 Presidential Set - Coils (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Presidential NH Singles -2 1939 Presidential Set - Coils, Singles (NH)
Avenbury Lakes PR-2 1939 Presidential Set - Coils, Pairs (NH)
Avenbury Lakes Presidential NH Line Pairs -2 1939 Presidential Set - Coils, Line Pairs (NH)
20th Century Commemoratives
Stephen G. Gavula Collection 1901 Pan-American (Used)
Flying High Again 1901 Pan-American (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1904 Louisiana Purchase (Used)
West Coast 1904 Louisiana Purchase (OG)
Flying High Again 1904 Louisiana Purchase (NH)
wmerlin collections 1907 Jamestown (OG)
West Coast 1907 Jamestown (OG)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1907 Jamestown (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1909 Commemoratives (Used)
Nick Kirke Collection 1913 Panama-Pacific (Used)
ChazTheBear 1913 Panama-Pacific (OG)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1913 Panama-Pacific (NH)
Nick Kirke Collection 1913-15 Panama-Pacific (Used)
wmerlin collections 1913-15 Panama-Pacific (OG)
Brian and Brian Stamps 1913-15 Panama-Pacific (NH)
Flying High Again 1919-1937 Non-Red Commemoratives (NH)
Matt Todd's Philatelic Antiquities 1920s Commemoratives (Used)
Flying High Again 1920s Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1926-32 Commemorative 2c Reds (NH)
West Coast 1932 Washington Bicentennial (NH)
Henson - 1932-1937 3¢ Violet Commemoratives 1932-37 3c Violet Commemoratives (NH)
Henson - 1934 National Parks Issues 1934 National Parks Issues (NH)
Flying High Again 1936-37 Army Navy Issue (NH)
Henson - 1940 Famous Americans 1940 Famous Americans (NH)
Henson - 1940 National Defense 1940 National Defense (NH)
Henson - 1943-1944 Overrun Countries 1943 Overrun Countries (NH)
Betsy's Stamps 1943 Overrun Countries (NH)
Hunter Collection 1943 Overrun Countries (NH)
Henson - 2001 Pan American Invert Centennial Set 2001 Pan American Invert Stamps Centennial (NH)
Betsy's Stamps Farley Special Printing Issues 752-771 (NG)
Betsy's Stamps Postwar 1940s Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1920 Pilgrim Tercentenary Issue (NH)
Flying High Again 1924 Huguenot-Walloon Tercentenary Issue (NH)
Betsy's Stamps 1925 Lexington-Concord Issue (NH)
Commemorative Year Sets
Flying High Again 1926 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1927 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1930 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1931 Commemoratives (NH)
Henson - 1933 Commemoratives 1933 Commemoratives (NH)
Henson - 1934 Commemoratives 1934 Commemoratives (NH)
Stamp Dude 1941 1941 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1946 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1948 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1949 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1950 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1951 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1952 Commemoratives (NH)
Flying High Again 1953 Commemoratives (NH)
The '54 Collection 1954 Commemoratives (NH)
Shanghai Overprint Issues
Blue Angel Collection 1919 Shanghai Overprint Issues (OG)
The Golden State Collection 1919 Shanghai Overprint Issues (NH)
Airmails
Leon McKee's First Airmail Issues (Used) First Airmail Issues (Used)
Blue Angel Collection First Airmail Issues (OG)
Flying High Again First Airmail Issues (NH)
Leon McKee's Graf Zeppelin Issues (Used) Graf Zeppelin Issues (Used)
ChazTheBear Graf Zeppelin Issues (OG)
Flying High Again Graf Zeppelin Issues (NH)
Leon McKee's Early Airmail Issues C1-C19 (Used) Early Airmail Issues C1-C19 (Used)
ChazTheBear Early Airmail Issues C1-C19 (OG)
Marcello Michel Early Airmail Issues with Varieties C1-C19 (NH)
The Trooper Collection Pre-War Airmail Set C20-C24 (NH)
Flying High Again Mid-Century Airmail Set C20-C76 (NH)
T.F. Schaub, Jr. Late-Century Airmail Set C77-C138 (NH)
Henson - Airmail Special Delivery Airmail Special Delivery (NH)
Special Delivery Issues
ChazTheBear Special Delivery Issues (OG)
ChazTheBear Special Delivery Issues with Varieties (OG)
ChazTheBear Special Delivery Issues Short Set E1-E14 (OG)
Henson - Special Delivery Late Issues Short Set Special Delivery Issues Short Set E15-E23 (NH)
West Coast Special Handling (NH)
Parcel Post Issues
William B. Whiston 1913 Parcel Post (Used)
West Coast 1913 Parcel Post (OG)
West Coast 1913 Parcel Post Postage Due (NH)
Official Stamps
Nick Kirke Collection Departmental Officials-Hard Paper (Used)
Federal Duck Stamps  
Blue Dog - VLH Set - Federal Ducks RW1-78 (OG)
WDO - Ducks EXP Federal Duck Stamps Expanded RW1-78A (NH)
WDO - Duck S/Sheets - EXP Federal Duck Souvenir Sheets Expanded (NH)
WDO - Ducks P/S Federal Ducks PSA RW65A-78A (NH)
U.S. Design Number Sets
Schuetz Collection - 2008 thru 2009 Panama-Pacific Issues USD #159-162 (Used)
Henson - 1934 US Design National Parks National Park Issues USD #268-277 (NH)
Henson - 1940 US Design Commemoratives Commemorative Issues USD #382-387 (NH)
Henson - 1943-1944 US Design Overrun Countries Commemoratives Overrun Countries Issues USD #397-409 (NH)
Henson - 1944 US Design Commemoratives Commemorative Issues USD #410-414 (NH)