Sale 1197 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 14-15 March, 2019
Category — 1894-1903 Bureau Issues (Scott 246-284)
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H., brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine
1c-15c 1894-98 Issue (255/279). Eleven used stamps, mostly graded by both expertizers including several graded XF-Superb 95 (Nos. 255, 256, 265), XF 90 (267, 268, 270, 273, 279), VF-XF 85 (Nos. 248 and 258), No. 259 is ungraded but Extremely Fine, range of cancels, Very Fine-Extremely Fine group, SMQ value approximately
50c Orange (260, 275). Bright colors, choice centering, cork cancels, Extremely Fine, each with P.S.E. certificate (2006 and 2008) (XF 90; SMQ $700.00)
$1.00 Black (261). Wide margins and well-centered, intense shade, oval registry cancels and single stroke of blue crayon, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Perfectly centered with wide margins, intense shade and proof-like impression, neat strikes of New York circular datestamp cancelsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
The $1.00 Type II, which is defined as having the complete circle around the left "$1", occurred on only 50 of the 200 subjects of Plate 76. It is believed that only 8,762 were issued. This is a miniscule number when compared to the previous $1.00 stamp of the Columbian series (55,050 issued) and its watermarked counterpart (Scott 276A with 63,803 issued). 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. Linn's Stamp Facts estimates less than ten covers are known.
With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $14,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it has no equals
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Deep shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, bold strike of duplex cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,100.00), only three have graded higher and three others share this grade
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Well-centered with wide margins, intense shade, light oval cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Lovely color, wide margins, bold duplex cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (262 var). Rich intense color in the Dark Blue shade, oval registry cancels, Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Rich color, attractive margins, New York oval registry cancel, Very Fine, ex Kirke, with 2003 and 2006 P.F. certificates (F-VF 75)
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Deep shade, unobtrusive cancel, Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
8c Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a). Showing clear "R" of watermark, intense shade, well-balanced margins, neat cancel, tiny tear at bottom, appears Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate
8c Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a). Showing clear "I" of watermark, rich color, neat cancel, fresh and Fine
50c-$5.00 1895 Issue (275-278). including extra 276A and also a 261, better centering than normally seen in a group, neat cancels, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, six with certificates
15c-$5.00 1895 Bureau Issue, Imperforate (274a-278a). Set of five pairs representing the top values of the series, original gum, margins all around throughout with some large, 50c with top part arrow sheet margin, deep rich colors, 50c with slight thin in selvage onlyVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE SET OF IMPERFORATE PAIRS OF THE HIGH-VALUE 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
In Brookman Volume III, pages 128-129, a complete account of the origin of the 1895 Imperforates is quoted from a column by George B. Sloane. We provide excerpts: "At the time they appeared, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing had, but a short time previously, taken over the stamp printing contract from the American Bank Note Co. and were unfamiliar with and inexperienced in quantity production of postage stamps. Gilbert E. Jones, one of the owners of the New York Times, had rendered the Bureau invaluable technical advice and assistance in the organization of their facilities, and the Bureau desired to reward him in some way for his services. Mr. Jones was well-known collector, interested only in stamps in imperforate pairs, and when the subject was broached he suggested that, while he desired no recompense, if the Bureau could give him an imperforate pair or block of each of the stamps then in current use, for his collection, he would feel more than amply repaid."
Sloane then explains that the Bureau was restricted from presenting him with stamps from stock, but did allow him to buy regular perforated stamps on sale at the post office and exchange them for imperforates. Although the Scott Catalogue at first did not recognize the imperforates as regularly-issued stamps, from 1916 they inserted a statement "All denominations of this issue exist imperforate but they were not regularly issued in that condition".
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, essentially perfect centering, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1976 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Deep shade and detailed impression, wide and essentially perfectly balanced margins, neat oval grid cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $1.00 TYPE II WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED IN ANY CATEGORY.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 95, SMQ $1,400.00 as 95). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others in any condition (used or unused). To extrapolate a potential SMQ value for this issue in the grade of 98, we looked at the other dollar value 1894-95 Bureaus in used condition. Six of the seven other dollar values are priced in SMQ in used condition at both 95 and 98. The average premium for a 98 is 2.55-times the price of a 95, meaning the potential SMQ value of this stamp is $3,500.00 (without taking into account that this is a population of one)
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). With top plate no. 84 selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, Very Fine
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, well-balanced margins, reperfed at bottom (not noted on certificate), looks Fine, with clear 1999 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Deep rich color, nice margins and centering, bold duplex cancel, Very Fine
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Mint N.H. with top part imprint selvage, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2018 P.F. certificate
15c Olive Green (284). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, Fine-Very Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate
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, few stamps s.e., 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.