Sale 941 — The John F. Odeneal Collection of Superb Mint U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 3 October, 2007
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues
1c Ultramarine (246). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, light natural gum wrinkle at top right, Extremely Fine, with 1988 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $380.00 as 90, $1,250.00 as 95), this surely would have graded much higher were it not for the natural gum wrinkle
1c Blue (247). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, huge margins, light corner perf crease at top left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, with 1989 A.P.S. certificate
2c Pink, Ty. I (248). Mint N.H., dazzling color on crisp paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1989 P.F. certificate for block of four
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., deep rich color nicely complemented by bright paper, Very Fine and choice
2c Carmine, Ty. I (250). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, choice centering with Jumbo margins, single tiny natural perf disc on gum at bottom (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Extremely Fine , with 1990 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Original gum which appears to be Mint N.H. except for small diagonal line on gum, vibrant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H., lively color on bright paper, detailed impression, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine, a gorgeous stamp, with 2004 P.F. certificate
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, proof-like impression, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins all around, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 4-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E..
With 1998 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,300.00). Only two have graded higher, and only four others share this high grade. An example graded 95J realized $6,750 hammer in our sale of the Scarsdale Collection.
5c Chocolate (255). Original gum, barest trace of what may be hinging, exceptional color which "pops" off the paper, wide margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 6-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1995 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,500.00). Only three have graded higher and only five others share this grade. An example graded 98 realized $16,000 hammer in our sale of the Scarsdale Collection, and an example graded 95 realized $5,750 hammer in our December 2005 auction (Sale 904).
8c Violet Brown (257). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1996 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green (258). Original gum, barely hinged, bright color, single perf tip expertly added at bottom center (not mentioned on accompanying certificate), Very Fine appearance, with copy of 1984 P.F. certificate for block of four
15c Dark Blue (259). Mint N.H., powerful color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 and 2001 P.F. certificates
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed, choice centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1996 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Of the eight other Mint N.H. examples we have sold since keeping computerized records, very few have the size of margins of the example offered here.
With 1991 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 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 issue is often overlooked by collectors seeking the $5.00 of the series in Mint N.H. condition, and deserves greater prominence in any rarity scale for the issue in Mint N.H. condition.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
1c Blue (264). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on brilliant paper, choice centering with Jumbo margins, light horizontal gum crease in bottom margin, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $80.00 as 90, $340.00 as 95), this surely would have graded higher were it not for the slight natural gum crease
2c Carmine, Ty. II (266). Mint N.H., radiant color on post office-fresh paper, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $420.00)
3c Purple (268). Mint N.H., perfectly centered, intense shade and impression, bright fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1895 BUREAU ON WATERMARKED PAPER.
With 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00). Only one has graded higher to date and only three others share this grade
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H., pretty shade, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (271). Mint N.H., pretty color in a bright shade on post office-fresh paper, long and full perforations all around, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp which is difficult to find in such choice condition, with 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ 1,300.00), only six have graded higher to date
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 8-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE, AND THIS STAMP IS ONE OF ONLY TWO TO ACHIEVE THIS LOFTY GRADE.
With 1987 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,450.00 as 95, $8,350.00 as 98). The other example realized $3,250 hammer in our December 2005 Sale 904, almost two years ago.
10c Dark Green (273). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper which gives this a stunning appearance, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 10-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE WITH P.S.E. GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION AND A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
With 1996 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,600.00 as 95, $12,100.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve this grade to date, and only one has graded higher.
15c Dark Blue (274). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, unusually deep color which stands out from the bright white paper, beautiful centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, a superb stamp, with 1984 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (275). Mint N.H., vivid color, enormous margins at top and bottom, Very Fine and choice, with 1991 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Mint N.H., deep shade, remarkably detailed impression on bright paper, light natural gum bend, natural single perf disc indentation at topVERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE I WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1990 P.F. certificate which states that "it is genuine"
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Mint N.H., intense shade and detailed impression, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY 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 four other Mint N.H. examples of the 1895 $1.00 Type II since keeping computerized records. Of those, only two could be considered to have Extremely Fine centering.
With 1992 and 2007 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Mint N.H., deep rich color in the true Dark Blue shade, post office-fresh paper, wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 DARK BLUE WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN SOUND AND CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
As an indication of rarity, we have only offered two other Mint N.H. examples of this issue in the past fourteen years. This is easily the finest of the three.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
4c Lilac Brown (280a). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1995 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $340.00), only one has graded higher and only two others share this grade
5c Dark Blue (281). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, detailed impression, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1992 P.F. certificate
6c Lake (282). Mint N.H., pretty shade, crisp impression, Very Fine and choice
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 10-CENT BROWN TYPE I.
With copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for block of four
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
15c Olive Green (284). Mint N.H., warm color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, an attractive stamp, with 1990 P.F. certificate