Sale 1033 — The Cloudrest Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 25 October, 2012
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues (Scott 249-283)
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., deep rich color, wide margins, post-office fresh, Very Fine and choice, ex Hoffman, with copy of 2002 P.F. certificate for block
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H., brilliant color, well-balanced margins, natural perf disc inclusion not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H. with wide selvage at top, radiant color, detailed impression, trivial natural inclusion not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for pair
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H. with plate no. 142 selvage at top, bright color, some overall toning not mentioned on accompanying certificate, otherwise Extremely Fine, with 2006 A.P.S. certificate
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H. with plate no. 91 selvage at top, rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1991 P.F. certificate for strip
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H. with part imprint and extra wide selvage at top, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, ex Hoffman, with 2000 P.F. certificate
5c Chocolate (255). Mint N.H., radiant color, long and full perforations all around, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Hoffman, with 2000 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
8c Violet Brown (257). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, extra wide margins, Very Fine
10c Dark Green (258). Mint N.H. with plate no. 55 selvage at top, brilliant color, Very Fine, with 1995 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (259). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H., vivid color as fresh as the day it was printed, minor natural gum wrinkles, Very Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Mint N.H., detailed impression on bright paper, fresh and Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., intense shade, proof-like impression showing every little detail of the engraving, choice centering with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Collectors of this issue know that it is extremely difficult to find the first Bureau issue in centered, Mint Never-Hinged condition, particularly the higher denominations. This is mostly due to production problems as the Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed responsibility for stamp production after the American Bank Note contract expired.
With 1999 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Mint N.H., bright color, detailed impression, wide marginsVERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
We have only sold five others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records. Of these, at least two only rated the grade of Fine. This value is often overlooked by collectors seeking the $5.00 of the series in Mint N.H. condition.
Ex Odeneal. With 1991 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Mint N.H., with wide selvage at left, choice centering and balanced margins, beautiful deep rich color and incredibly detailed impression showing all of the finely-engraved lines in the background, bright and fresh paper, slight wrinkle in selvage onlyVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Without question, the $5.00 is the rarest of the 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue in sound, well-centered Mint Never-Hinged condition. It is unlikely that more than three or four Extremely Fine Mint N.H. examples exist.
Ex Whitman. Ward handstamp in selvage. With copy of 1993 P.F. certificate for block and 1999 P.F. certificate for single
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Imperforate (267a). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at top, brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine
10c Dark Green (273). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at bottom, pretty shade, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H., intense color and impression on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1985 P.F. certificate for strip
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, fresh and Fine, scarce in Mint N.H. condition, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Mint N.H. bottom margin part imprint single, deep rich color on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE DARK BLUE SHADE.
With 2001 P.S.E. certificate incorrectly describing color as Bright Blue.
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $5.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $9,200.00). Only two have graded higher to date.
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283). Mint N.H., pretty shade, well-balanced margins, short corner perf, otherwise Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1990 P.F. certificate for block