Sale 1251 — The John B. Field Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 2-3 March, 2022
Category — 1895 Watermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 264-278)
1c-10c 1895-98 Bureau Issue (264-273). 24 stamps, all but four Mint N.H., an excellent shade study showing distinct differences in the same Scott number, including Nos. 264 (3), 265 (3), 266, 267 (3), 268 (2), 269 (2), 270 (3), 271, 272 (3) and 273 (3), eight with imprint or plate no. selvage, one each of Nos. 269 and 270 and two of 273 lightly hinged, others Mint N.H., centering much better than normally seen, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott Catalogue lists sub-shades for most Scott numbers (such as Blue, Dark Blue and Pale Blue for No. 264), this group does an admirable job of demonstrating the various shades and would be difficult to duplicate, two with P.F. certificates
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1c Blue (264). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 439 block of six, rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful Mint N.H. plate block, ex "Whitpain"
2c Carmine, Ty. II-III (266-267). Block of four, left stamps Type II, right stamps Ty. III, bottom pair Mint N.H., top pair h.r., bright color, natural gum wrinkle affects top pair and bottom left stamp, Very Fine, an unusual and desirable multiple combining Types II and III, only Plate 170 yields a combination of the two types, Scott value as two pairs
2c Carmine, Ty. II-III (266-267). Mint N.H. pair, left stamp Type II, radiant color, phenomenal centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED COMBINATION PAIR OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE 1895 ISSUE.
Of the six plates used to print the Type II stamp (Scott 266), only one, plate 170, contained a combination of both Types II and III. Only three rows from one pane were Type II, leaving a total of ten positions out of the plate that can yield this combination of types.
With copy of 2005 P.F. certificate for block
2c Carmine, Ty. III (267). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 170 block of six with wide selvage, radiant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate
3c Purple (268). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2022 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00), only two grade higher (at 98)
3 Purple (268). Mint N.H. full top imprint and plate no. 448 block of six, choice centering throughout, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright white paperVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1895 WATERMARKED 3-CENT BUREAU ISSUE.
Ex Cheyney and Gross.
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H., warm shade on bright paper, long and full perforations, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,450.00), only six grade higher (all at 98)
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H. full top imprint and plate no. 390 block of six, radiant color, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful Mint N.H. plate block, ex Curtis, with 2004 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (271). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, Very Fine and choice
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H. with wide top part imprint selvage, h.r. at top of selvage, wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 1993 P.F. certificate
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 249 strip of three, beautiful centering on bright paper, Extremely Fine, ex Cleland
10c Dark Green (273). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, choice centering, Extremely Fine, an attractive stamp, with 1988 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine
15c Dark Blue (274). Bottom imprint and plate no. 52 block of six, original gum, very lightly hinged, deep rich color on fresh paper, gorgeous centering with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1895 15-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE -- AMONG THE FINEST KNOWN.
The 15c was printed from two plates -- numbers 52 and 264. The latter has a different style of imprint. Plate blocks are very scarce and the example offered here is a true condition rarity -- combining color, centering and freshness.
Ex Nicholas Weil and Dobkin.
50c Red Orange (275a). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color with a hint of oxidation at top, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1983 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Mint N.H. with bottom plate no. 76 selvage, intense shade and impression on bright paper, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $1.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE WITH PLATE NUMBER SELVAGE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, lightly hinged, with bottom plate no. 76 selvage, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $1,100.00), only five grade higher (four at 95, one at 98)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Mint N.H., bright shade and detailed impression, perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $1.00 TYPE II WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN THIS REMARKABLE POST-OFFICE FRESH CONDITION.
As an indication of rarity, we have only offered perhaps a half dozen other Mint N.H. examples of this issue since keeping computerized records. Of those, only one could be considered to have Extremely Fine centering.
Ex "Scarsdale" and Merlin. With 2003 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $9,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. stamp, and this is the only example to achieve this grade.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Original gum, lightly hinged, with bottom part imprint selvage, intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $1.00 TYPE II.
With 1989 and 2010 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). By way of comparison, P.S.E. has only graded three at 95, which is the highest grade they have awarded. For Mint N.H., their highest grade is one at 90 (offered in the previous lot).
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Mint N.H., wide margins and choice centering, rich color and proof-like impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only about 15-20 Mint N.H. examples of this issue since keeping computerized records more than 25 years ago. Few qualify as Extremely Fine.
With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $7,500.00). Only two grade higher (at 95) and none share this desirable grade.
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex "Westchester" and Merlin. With 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $5,000.00). Only four grade higher and none share this grade. By way of comparison, for Mint N.H. only one grades higher than 85.