Sale 1240 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 20-21 July, 2021
Category — 1894-97 Bureau Issues (Scott 246-284)
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 131 strip of three, radiant color, well-centered, light fingerprint on gum of two stamps as well as small backstamp on right stamp, Very Fine, a scarce plate number multiple of the 1894 unwatermarked 2c Ty. II, ex Cleland, with 2014 P.F. certificate
3c Purple, Imperforate (253a). Bottom imprint and plate no. 47 block of six, disturbed original gum, h.r., large margins and brilliant color, left pair light vertical crease, small thin spot between pos. 2 and 3VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1894 3-CENT IMPERFORATE UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Full imperforate sheets of 400 of the 3c, 4c, 5c and 10c values were removed from the Bureau and became available to collectors. They were not gummed when they came from the Bureau, but were later unofficially gummed.
Ex "Whitpain". With 2009 P.F. certificate as "original gum, previously hinged". Scott value $7,500.00
5c Chocolate, Imperforate (255a). Block of four with Ty. I imprint bottom sheet margin, original gum, bottom stamps Mint N.H., few h.r. at top, large margins, Very Fine and choice, full imperforate sheets of 400 of the 3c, 4c, 5c and 10c values were removed from the Bureau and became available to collectors, they were not gummed when they came from the Bureau, but were later unofficially gummed, ex "Whitpain", Scott value for normal block without the imprint
8c Violet Brown (257). Bottom imprint and plate no. 58 block of six, original gum, bottom stamps Mint N.H., top stamps lightly hinged, natural gum crease bottom right stamp, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine, plate 58 was the only one used to print Scott 257, ex Cleland, with 2018 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 75 strip of three, perfectly centered with vivid color, small natural inclusion in right margin is inconsequential but mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST 50-CENT 1894 BUREAU PLATE STRIPS OF THREE KNOWN. PARTICULARLY RARE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
The 1894 Issue was the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's first effort at regular stamp production, and they experienced difficulty in applying perforations. This problem, coupled with the fact that only small quantities of high values were printed before watermarked paper was introduced (only 175,000 of the 50c), accounts for the rarity of 50c and dollar-value 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau stamps in choice condition. Plate number multiples are exponentially rarer, and this is perhaps the finest 50c 1894 we have handled. Using Power Search, we located two other Mint N.H. strips, both from the bottom position, including one with perfs touching the design.
Ex Diamond. With 2021 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, lightly hinged, crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine
$1.00 Black (261). Intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cancel, 2021 P.S.E. certificate notes reperfed at left, 2004 and 2021 P.F. certificate do not mention reperfing, we leave it to the market to decide (we think not), Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, ex Hall and Myerson, with 2004, 2021 P.F. and 2021 P.S.E. certificates
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Right selvage block of four, original gum, h.r., intense shade and impression, top left stamp just a hint of a faint thin spot in margin, few irregular perfs at bottom left, natural gum wrinkle bottom pair, few minor perf separationsFINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
According to Brookman, the Type II stamps, with circles complete around the bottom left denomination, were not discovered until several years after the stamp was issued. Its discoverer was the custodian of the National stamp collection, who determined that the Type II stamps are found on only five rows of the plate. Brookman estimated that only 8,762 were distributed.
Scott value $9,000.00
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERKARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2006 and 2021 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, F-VF 75; SMQ $3,000.00)
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Deep rich color, oval registry cancels, Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (271). Mint N.H. top and bottom imprint and plate no. strips of three, including wide top plate no. 184, lightly hinged only at very top of ungummed salvage, bottom plate no. 451, fresh and Very Fine pair of position strips
6c Dull Brown, USIR Watermark (271a). Showing clear "R" of watermark reading up, rich color, duplex cancel, centered to top, almost Fine example of this rare paper variety, with 1984 and 2021 P.F. certificates
8c Violet Brown (272). Top imprint and plate no. 249 block of six, original gum, top center stamp h.r. and small thin spot, radiant color, few expertly rejoined perf separations, Very Fine appearance, ex "Whitpain"
8c Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a). Horizontal pair with full imprint at top, unused (no gum), "I" of watermark in selvage and "R" of watermark split between stamps -- both clearly visible without the aid of fluid, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, some light staining along perfs at top and between two perfs at middleFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE "IR" POSITION PAIR OF THE 8-CENT 1895 ISSUE WITH "USIR" WATERMARK.
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. Of the small population known unused, many are either off-center or have flaws. This position multiple is very desirable.
Ex Curtis. With 1975 P.F. certificate. Scott value as two singles without premium for the imprint
8c Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a). Attractively centered with light target cancel, clear "R" watermark, light creases, Fine appearance
10c Dark Green (273). Left imprint and plate no. 303 block of 12, original gum, most are lightly hinged and pos. 11 Mint N.H., attractive color and centering throughout, top left stamp thin spot, Very Fine appearance, ex "Whitpain", with 2018 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged plate block, five hinged singles and one Mint N.H. single
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Wide and beautifully balanced margins, deep rich color, Philadelphia circular datestamp cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1980 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Deep rich color, well-centered, oval registry cancel, Very Fine
4c Rose Brown (280). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 1103 block of six, radiant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A VERY SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THIS ISSUE.
This is the first Mint N.H. wide top plate block of Scott 280 we have offered since before 1993
6c Lake (282). Mint N.H. wide bottom imprint and plate no. 924 block of six, pretty color, Very Fine, very rare in Mint N.H. condition, we have offered only one other since before 1993, the size of the selvage here is amazing
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Mint N.H., warm color, choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine