Sale 1249 — The Hope Collection of U.S. Newspapers & Periodicals Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 1 March, 2022
Category — 1895 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott PR102-PRR113)
1c, 2c Black, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR102-PR103). Original gum, 1c barely hinged and Extremely Fine, 2c lightly hinged and Very Fine and choice, with 2001 and 2003 P.F. certificates respectively
5c Black, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR104). Mint N.H. with top part imprint selvage, intense color and impression on bright white paper, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate for an imprint and plate number strip of three
5c Black, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR104). Original gum, lightly hinged, with top part imprint selvage, intense shade, wide margins and near perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Black, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR105). Original gum, deep shade, gorgeous balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,850.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
25c Carmine, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR106). Original gum, wide margins and bright color, fresh and Very Fine, ex Lessin, with 1989 P.F. certificate
50c Carmine, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR107). Original gum, brilliant color, choice centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1895 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU NEWSPAPER ISSUE.
Ex Lessin. With 1987 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 Scarlet, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR108). Original gum, vivid color and intense impression, gorgeous centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1895 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Ultramarine, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR109). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful powder blue shade on bright paper, wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1895 NEWSPAPER ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST REGULAR-ISSUE NEWSPAPER STAMPS IN SOUND, CENTERED, ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
From our 2002 Rarities sale. With 2002 P.F. certificate
$10.00 Green, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR110). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, well-balanced and wide margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE. POSSIBLY THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $10.00 1895 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
A Power Search review shows we have never offered a Mint N.H. example of Scott PR110 since keeping computerized records. None are contained in the online records of The Philatelic Foundation. It may not exist as a Mint N.H. stamp. Most hinged examples tend to have faults or are off-center. The stamp offered here, in lightly hinged condition with gum covering the entire back of the stamp, and with such choice centering, is truly remarkable.
Ex Inman. With 1989, 2004 and 2016 P.F. certificates (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" denotes "Extraordinary Quality". This is one of only two examples in the P.F. online records at this grade. By way of comparison, the P.S.E. Population Report contains no graded examples of this issue in the "og" category.
$20.00 Slate, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR111). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, outstanding centering with especially wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $20.00 1895 UNWATERMARKED NEWSPAPER ISSUE.
No examples of Scott PR111 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation in Mint N.H. condition and the Scott Catalogue has removed the Mint N.H. price. Therefore, collectors of Gem stamps seeking this issue would be wise to consider this superb hinged example, which has the widest margins and finest centering of any listed in Power Search.
With 2001 P.F. certificate.
$50.00 Dull Rose, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR112). Original gum, radiant color and detailed impression on bright paper, choice margins and centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $50.00 1895 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Ex Weisman. With 1992 P.F. certificate and 2008 P.S.E. certificates
$100.00 Purple, 1895 Unwatermarked Issue (PR113). Original gum, incredibly deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins and well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $100.00 1895 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
A Review of Power Search and the online records of The Philatelic Foundation did not find any in Mint N.H. condition, and the Scott Catalogue appropriately removed its price for Mint N.H. This is one of the finest we have ever encountered and has margins and centering similar to the example we offered in our 2016 sale of the Inman collection.
With 1990 and 2003 P.F. certificates