Sale 1310 — Outstanding United States Stamps, featuring The Dragonfly Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 27-28 February, 2024
Category — 1894-98 Issues (Scott 246-283)
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H., radiant color, wide and balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, ex "Hanover", with 2002 P.S.E. and 2018 P.F. certificates
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., deep rich color, well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 1993 and 2019 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, detailed impression, fresh and Very Fine, ex Henson, with 2018 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, rich color, well-centered with wide margins
very fine and choice original-gum example of the $2.00 unwatermarked 1894 bureau issue.
With 2018 P.F. certificate (VF 80).
4c Dark Brown, Diagonal Bisect (269 var). Two covers, first top left diagonal half, tied across the cut by bold strike of "Wadham's Mills N.Y. Apr. 1 12PM 1898" circular datestamp, second strike at left, on cover to West New Brighton N.Y., manuscript "out of 2's and 1's G.H.P." at bottom right where rest of stamp would have been, receiving backstamp, second with bottom right diagonal half with full selvage at bottom — the other half of the stamp affixed on the first cover, tied across the cut by bold strike of "Wadham's Mills N.Y. Apr. 1 12PM 1898" circular datestamp, second strike at left, on cover to West New Brighton N.Y., again with manuscript "out of 2's and 1's G.H.P." at top left where rest of stamp would have been, with original contents stating in part "I send you per this mail all the provisionals I can get or ever hope to get...", receiving backstamp
VERY FINE. A RARE matched pair of BISECT covers bearing the 1895 4-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. the bisect uses were APPARENTLY NECESSARY DUE TO A LACK OF ONE-CENT OR TWO-CENT STAMPS.
The notation was probably written by the postmaster as the return address and notation names are different.
Ex "Whitpain" and Bakwin. Second cover with 2003 A.P.S. certificate.
8c Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a). Showing clear bold "R" of watermark, visible even without fluid, outstanding centering with wide and balanced margins, deep rich color, very light cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 8-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE WITH "USIR" WATERMARK. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES EXTANT.
The "USIR" (United States Internal Revenue) watermark error occurred when a supply of paper reserved for revenue stamp production was used for printing the 6c and 8c postage stamps. There are approximately 75 known of the 8c, but many are either off-center or have flaws. Collectors prefer examples showing the "R" watermark, as this letter is unequivocally from "USIR", while a partial "P" (from "USPS") can sometimes fool collectors by appearing as an "I".
Ex "Alan". With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only two stamps grade higher (at 95J) and only one other shares this grade. The other example graded 95, while also showing the more desirable "R" watermark, has a much heavier cancel than the example offered here. At least one of the two examples graded 95J shows the "I" of the watermark. The combination of the "R" watermark and light cancel arguably makes this the most desirable P.S.E. graded Scott 272a.
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H., choice wide margins, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2017 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, beautifully balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $5.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1966 P.F. and 2018 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, XF 90).
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Mint N.H., rich color and crisp impression on brilliant paper, Very Fine and choice, an elusive stamp in Mint N.H. condition, ex "Silver Lake" and Hoffman, with copy of 1990 (for a block) and 2004 P.F. certificates
1897 Universal Postal Congress Specimens. 34 stamps and 59 entires or cards with "Universal Postal Congress" overprint, complete for all stamps and stationery or cards issued, postal stationery includes 11 of the 1c, 38 of the 2c, six of the 4c and four of the 5c, range of different sizes with no duplication, pristine condition, with original box labelled "One set of Specimens of Stamped Envelopes of the United States of the series in use June 1897, Prepared for presentation to members of the Universal Postal Congress of Washington, U.S.A., beginning May 5, 1897 and ending June 15, 1897", with the two original envelopes in which the stamps were distributed, the box with slight wear, attractively mounted in glassines in three leatherbound Oriel albums with slipcovers, a few stamps have straight edge, the $2.00 and $5.00 are Mint N.H.
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE COMPETE SET OF ALL 34 STAMPS AND ALL 59 POSTAL STATIONERY ENTIRES WITH "UNIVERSAL POSTAL CONGRESS" OVERPRINT. VERY FEW INTACT SETS ARE KNOWN, AND EVEN FEWER ARE KNOWN WITH THE ORIGINAL BOX AND ENVELOPES.
According to a note from Postmaster General Gary, "As a gesture to the delegates attending the Universal Postal Congress held in Washington, D.C., in 1897, the government overprinted the stamps of the current series of envelopes with the inscription "Universal Postal Congress". A complete set of these overprints consists of 59 envelopes and were originally presented to the delegates, and others, in a card board box covered with black paper..." The stamps consist of those current in 1897, including Nos. 264-278, E5, J38-J44 and PR114-PR125. A rare opportunity to acquire them all.