Sale 904 — Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Saturday, 10 December, 2005
Category — 1890-93 Issue
1c Dull Blue (219). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, Jumbo margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1999 P.F. certificate
2c Lake (219D). Mint N.H., deep rich color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE HIGH-GRADE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1890 ISSUE IN THE LAKE COLOR.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Lake (219D). Original gum, barely hinged, intense shade and impression, extra wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1990 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
2c Carmine (220). Mint N.H., brilliant color, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate for block of four
2c Dark Carmine (220 var). Mint N.H., rich color, choice centering, tiny natural inclusion, Extremely Fine example of this shade variety, with 2001 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85)
2c Dark Carmine (220). Mint N.H., fabulous wide margins, deep rich color on fresh crisp paper, Extremely Fine
2c Carmine, Cap on Left "2" (220a). Original gum, very lightly hinged, marvelous centering and wide margins, vivid color, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Cap on Both "2"'s (220c). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression clearly showing the cap on both "2"'s, almost perfectly centered with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1890 ISSUE WITH A CAP ON BOTH "2"s THAT WE HAVE EVER OFFERED. AN EXTREMELY RARE STAMP IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Only a small percentage of 2c 1890's were printed from Plates 245 and 246, which contained the Cap on Both 2's variety. Examples in Mint N.H. condition are rare, and of those surviving Mint N.H. stamps, only a handful are in high grades (VF 80 or better). The current P.S.E. Population Report shows only two Mint N.H. examples of No. 220c (VF 80 is the higher grade).
With 1997 and 2004 P.F. certificates
3c Purple (221). Mint N.H., rich color, almost perfectly centered with extra wide margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1998 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 -- this deserves a 95 grade in our opinion)
3c Purple (221). Mint N.H., pretty pastel color on bright paper, wide margins, post-office fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1999 and 2005 P.F. certificates
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H., rich color, post-office fresh and Extremely Fine, a scarce stamp with such wide margins and in this superior grade, with 1995 and 2003 P.F. certificates
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, choice centering with well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H., deep rich color and detailed impression, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
6c Brown Red (224). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide equal margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1890 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 -- we can confidently grade this Superb 98 by all standards)
6c Brown Red (224). Mint N.H., pretty pastel shade, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates
8c Lilac (225). Mint N.H. with part plate no. and part letter at top, rich color, perfectly centered with wide margins on all sidesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 8-CENT 1890 ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
8c Lilac (225). Mint N.H., sharp impression on bright paper, Extremely Fine, with photocopy of 2001 P.F. certificate for block of four, this being the top right stamp
10c Green (226). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate
10c Green, Imperforate (226a). Mint N.H. pair, huge margins, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
15c Indigo (227). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
The 15c 1890 stamp is, in our opinion, one of the most striking designs of the Gilded Age regular issues. Its distinctive three-quarter portrait of Henry Clay is elegantly framed and printed in an extraordinarily deep shade of Indigo Blue. The beauty of the issue is enhanced in examples such as this stamp, which provides a balanced frame of white margins around the design. Further endowed with Mint N.H. gum and unusual freshness, this stamp ranks among the very finest we have offered.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
30c Black (228). Mint N.H., crisp impression on bright paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
30c Black (228). Mint N.H., crisp impression and bright shade, choice centering, post-office freshEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1890 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
90c Orange (229). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
With 2004 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
90c Orange (229). Original gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate