Sale 1254 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 6-7 April, 2022
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issue
1c Blue (247). Mint N.H., rich color, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine
1c Blue (247). Mint N.H., with wide right selvage, rich color, light bend in selvage only, Extremely Fine
1c Blue (247). Rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00), only one grades higher and one other (ex Kirke) shares this desirable grade
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., bright color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 P.F. certificate
2c Rose, Ty. I (250a). Intense shade, bold strike of duplex cancel, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90), this is the highest grade and the only to achieve it
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H., brilliant color and paper, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1988 P.F. certificate for block of three
4c Dark Brown (254). Pair with top imprint selvage, stamps Mint N.H., h.r. in top right selvage, rich color, naturally crackly gum causing light natural gum creases, Very Fine, Scott value as singles
6c Dull Brown (256). Outstanding centering with balanced margins, rich color, light strike of violet cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp with a colored cancel, ex Myerson, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $550.00), only three grade higher
$1.00 Black (261). Uncharacteristically wide margins for this issue and perfectly centered, very light cancel, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A NOTEWORTHY USED STAMP, AS THE 1894 FIRST BUREAU ISSUE $1.00 STAMPS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING SMALL MARGINS AND POOR CENTERING, AS WELL AS HEAVY CANCELS. THIS REMARKABLE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The $1.00 Type I, which is defined as having an incomplete circle around the left "$1", occurred on 150 of the 200 subjects of Plate 76. However, the $1.00 unwatermarked stamps are notorious for having small margins. To date there are no stamps graded 100, only one has graded 98J, the example offered in the "Natalee Grace" collection (Sale 1027, lot 138), though it also has a heavier cancel. Only this example along with one other have graded 98. Far fewer of the unwatermarked stamps were issued compared to its watermarked counterpart -- 26,284 of Scott 261 were issued compared to 192,449 of the watermarked Scott 276. They were mostly used on parcels or other oversize or heavy mailings. The stamps on these mailings tend to be damaged from use or were discarded, resulting in a small population of sound used stamps.
With 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; SMQ $8,250.00).
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression on bright paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-DOLLAR TYPE II 1894 FIRST BUREAU ISSUEE.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $4,000.00). Only six grade higher
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Gorgeous centering and margins, rich color on wonderful bright paper, light strike of oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 $2.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP TO FIND WITH PERFECT CENTERING AND A LIGHT CANCEL.
Brookman notes "Only 10,027 of this stamp were issued and for some reason the centering on most of the copies we have seen is very poor." This amounts to just a bit more than 100 panes. Only a small number were used, mostly on parcels or other oversize or heavy mailings. The stamps on these mailings tend to be heavily cancelled and many were damaged from use or were discarded, resulting in a small population of sound used stamps. Given Brookman's comments on centering, the existence of this superb stamp is a true anomaly.
With 1979 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $10,000.00).
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, lightly hinged, dark color and detailed impression, well-centered, small diagonal crease at bottom right corner, Very Fine appearance, with 1987 and 2021 P.F. certificates, the former as sound
2c Carmine, Ty. III (267). Pretty shade, light machine cancel, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $425.00), only two grade higher (at 100)
2c Pink, Ty. III (267a). Mint N.H., radiant color, outstanding centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,250.00), only one Mint N.H. stamp grades higher (at 98) and only five others share this lofty grade
6c Dull Brown (271). Detailed impression on bright paper, registry oval cancel, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $375.00), only five grade higher
8c Violet Brown (272). Detailed impression on bright paper, light strike of purple cancel, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Myerson, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $525.00), only four grade higher
15c Dark Blue (274). Original gum, with part imprint top selvage, Jumbo margins and precise centering, wonderful depth of color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,200.00), only four grade higher and two others share this desirable grade
15c Dark Blue (274). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2021 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
15c Dark Blue (274). Phenomenal centering with Jumbo margins, deep rich color on bright paper, registry oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, small backstamp, with 2001 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $2,000.00), this is the highest grade awarded to a used copy and it is shared by only one other
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Original gum, small h.r., rich color, choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90; SMQ $1,500.00)
4c Rose Brown (280). Wide margins and precise centering, deep rich color, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Myerson, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $350.00), only one grades higher (at 98)
4c Orange Brown (280b). Pretty shade, gorgeous centering, neat machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.S.A.G. and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others
5c Dark Blue (281). Deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, exceptionally well-centered, faintly cancelled, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, ex Myerson, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $725.00), only one grades higher and three others share this grade