Sale 920 — United States Rarities
Sale Date — Tuesday, 17 October, 2006
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues
$1.00 Orange, Trial Color Large Die Proof on India (261TC1). Die sunk on 146 x 196mm card with full die sinkage, brilliant color as used on the issued 50c stamp, ms. along side reads "This stamp to be printed in black, Approved P.O.D. Wesley R. Davis, Aug. 30, '94", small card fault at left which is probably from archival bindingVERY FINE. THIS LARGE DIE TRIAL COLOR PROOF FOR THE $1.00 TYPE I 1894 BUREAU ISSUE, WITH MANUSCRIPT NOTATION REGARDING ISSUED COLOR, IS UNIQUE.
Scott Catalogue does not even list a trial color proof for the $1.00 Type I 1894 Bureau Issue.
Ex Finkelburg.
$2.00 Dark Blue, $5.00 Dark Green, Large Die Proofs on India (262P1 var, 263P1 var). Each on 50 x 112mm card and attached to 196 x 146mm card , bottom of large card with manuscript "Approved Sep. 29, 1894, P.O. Department, Wesley R. Davis", trace of what may be archival binding at top similar to that on previous lot, $5.00 with thins on India at topVERY FINE. THIS APPROVAL CARD FOR THE TWO HIGH VALUES OF THE 1894 BUREAU ISSUE IS UNIQUE. A WONDERFUL EXHIBITION ITEM.
The stamps were issued in December 1894, approximately two months after these large die proofs were approved.
Ex Finkelburg.
50c Orange (260). Block of four, original gum, bright shade and exceptionally choice centering, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate noting horizontal perfs are strengthened (of no significance since this is previously hinged), centered blocks of the Bureau issues are getting rarer every day
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, uncharacteristically wide margins and handsome centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE $1.00 1894 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Top imprint and plate no. 76 strip of three, Mint N.H., choice centering, light natural gum bend at top of left stampEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE 1895 $1.00 TYPE I WITH HUGE TOP SHEET MARGIN.
With 1996 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Top imprint and plate no. 85 strip of three, all three stamps Mint N.H., h.r. in selvage only, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, choice centering throughout and each stamp with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THREE OF THE WATERMARKED 1895 $5.00 BUREAU ISSUE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE AS ALL THREE STAMPS ARE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
With 1979 P.F. certificate. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail as three Mint N.H. singles