Sale 1062 — The Golden Oak Collection of Superb United States
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 17-18 December, 2013
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 246-263)
2c Pink, Ty. I (248). Mint N.H., radiant color on fresh paper, beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, according to Brookman the color of this issue (like the 1c, Scott 246) proved unsatisfactory and so it was in production for only a few months before the color was changed, ex Whitman, with 1995 P.F. certificate, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $950.00 as 95, $3,000.00 as 98), only two 95J's and three 98's listed in P.S.E. Population Report, a statistic that has not changed since 2009
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H., brilliant color on crisp paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H., brilliant color, unusually choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 2-CENT TYPE III UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE CARMINE COLOR. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN GIVEN THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Ex Merlin. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,900.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98) and two others share this grade.
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H. with right part imprint selvage, brilliant color, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine Gem
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 3-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2004 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,400.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98) and seven others share this grade, a statistic that has not changed in over a year.
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H. rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
5c Chocolate (255). Mint N.H., pretty shade on bright paper, unusually wide and balanced margins, single tiny natural gum skip, Extremely Fine Gem, a huge stamp, with 1989 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, long and full perforations, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem
8c Violet Brown (257). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, most recent P.S.E. certificate notes a shorter perf at bottom right which is beyond trivial, Extremely Fine Gem, a phenomenal stamp, with 1986 P.F. certificate as block, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00 as 90, $3,400.00 as 95), no doubt this was lowered at least a grade for the trivial perf call
10c Dark Green (258). Mint N.H., pretty color and detailed impression on bright paper, beautiful centering with wide margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 10-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. THE 10-CENT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DENOMINATIONS OF THE SET TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- IT IS THE HIGHEST GRADE WE HAVE OFFERED IN ONE OF OUR AUCTIONS.
A review of our past computerized records confirms that this is the finest example we have offered.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1989 and 2000 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,350.00). Only three have graded higher (two 95J and one 98).
15c Dark Blue (259). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, Jumbo margins which are unusually wide and balancedEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 15-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (260). Original gum, lightly hinged, vivid color, gorgeous centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1996 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade and detailed impression on bright paper, unusually wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, scarce with such wide margins, with 1992 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., deep shade, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION WITH DECENT CENTERING.
Collectors of this issue know that it is extremely difficult to find the first Bureau issue in centered, Mint Never-Hinged condition, particularly the higher denominations. This is mostly due to production problems as the Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed responsibility for stamp production after the American Bank Note contract expired. We have offered just over a dozen Mint N.H. examples of Scott 261A in the past 19 years, and this is one of the finest.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Rich color on bright paper, unusually choice centering with wide margins, bold strike of New York City oval registry cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $2.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
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. No covers are known. Given Brookman's comments on centering, the existence of this superb stamp is a true anomaly.
With 1985 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, Jumbo margins, unobtrusive cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, AND EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Brookman notes "The $5 is the scarcest stamp in the 1894 series as the total issue of the stamp consisted of 6,251 stamps. It is probable that more of these stamps might have been sold were it not for the fact that speculators were dumping $5 Columbians at a discount to face because the rise they had anticipated had failed to materialize." Very few were used. A review of Power Search and P.S.E'.s Population Report found very few used and centered copies of this issue.
With 1985 P.F. certificate. Acquired by the owner in 1988 and offered to the market for the first time in 25 years.