Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues
1c Ultramarine (246). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered, long and full perforations, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.F. certificate
1c Blue (247). Mint N.H. with selvage at left, rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Pink, Ty. I (248). Mint N.H. with plate no. 5 at left, vivid color, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate for strip
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., deep rich color, wide margins, post-office fresh, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 2002 P.F. certificate for block
2c Scarlet, Ty. I (250b). Mint N.H. with plate no. 124 with wide selvage at top, radiant color, Jumbo margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H. with part imprint in full top selvage, radiant color on bright white paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT TYPE II 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2003 P.S.E. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, choice centering, brilliant color, minor gum soaks in perfs at top right, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate for block
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, interesting plate scratch across head, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate for block
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H. with part imprint and extra wide selvage at top, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2000 P.F. certificate
5c Chocolate (255). Mint N.H., radiant color, long and full perforations all around, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2000 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 6-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Ex Odeneal. With 1995 and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,500.00). Only three have graded higher and only five others share this grade. An example graded 98 realized $16,000 hammer in our sale of the Scarsdale Collection, and examples graded 95 realized $5,750 hammer in our December 2005 auction (Sale 904) and Odeneal collection (Sale 941, this stamp).
8c Violet Brown (257). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green (258). Mint N.H., bright shade and crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2001 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $1,000.00)
15c Dark Blue (259). Mint N.H., rich color and crisp impression, Very Fine, ex Silver Lake, with 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H., vibrant color, crisp impression, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1977 and 2004 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Black (261). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, well-balanced and enormous margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE I UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A STAMP OF TRULY MASSIVE DIMENSIONS.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1999 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $9,500.00 as 90, $26,200.00 as 95). This is the only Scott 261 to achieve a P.S.E. XF 90J grade (only one stamp is graded higher)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression, three enormous marginsVERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
We have offered only ten other Mint N.H. examples in the past 14 years.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Mint N.H. with part imprint at bottom, deep rich color and proof-like impression, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
We have only sold six others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records. Of these, at least two only rated the grade of Fine. This value is often overlooked by collectors seeking the $5.00 of the series in Mint N.H. condition, and it deserves greater prominence in any rarity scale for the issue in Mint N.H. condition. The imprint selvage adds an additional element of desirability.
With 2004 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, lightly hinged, part imprint at bottom, two enormous margins, deep rich color and proof-like impressionFRESH AND FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE WITH PART IMPRINT.
This is the first example (single or multiple) with part of the imprint that we have offered since keeping computerized records, which includes all of our Rarities sales.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. I (265). Mint N.H., vibrant color, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1998 P.F. certificate
3c Purple (268). Mint N.H., detailed impression, well-proprtioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
4c Dark Brown (269). Mint N.H. with part imprint in full top selvage, rich color, perfectly centered with even margins, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H., intense shade, long and full perforations all around, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2002 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown (271). Mint N.H., proof-like impression on bright paper, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,400.00)
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H., deep rich color, detailed impression, unusually wide margins, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2002 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $770.00)
10c Dark Green (273). Mint N.H., bright shade, crisp paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1997 and 2005 .fs
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H., deep dark shade on radiant white paper, beautifully centered with nicely proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (275). Mint N.H., vivid color on bright paper, crisp impression, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, small disturbance spot at top, with part arrow selvage at left, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 and 2003 P.F. certificates as Mint N.H.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Mint N.H., proof-like impression, well-centeredVERY FINE. A CHOICE AND VERY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED $1.00 TYPE II 1895 ISSUE.
With 1978 and 2000 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Mint N.H. with part imprint and wide selvage at top, intense shade but clearly the Bright Blue color, proof-like impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE BRIGHT BLUE COLOR.
As an indication of rarity, we have offered only eight of this shade and five of the Dark Blue shade in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, barest trace of mount disturbance at top right corner (accompanying certificate states Mint N.H.), wide selvage with part arrow at leftVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE WITH PART ARROW SELVAGE.
With 2005 P.F. certificate stating Mint N.H.
5c Dark Blue (281). Mint N.H. with plate no. in wide bottom selvage, dark color on bright paper, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.F. certificate for plate strip of three
6c Lake (282). Mint N.H., brilliant color, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Very Fine, a pretty stamp, with copy of 2003 P.F. certificate for pair
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Mint N.H., rich color and crisp impression on brilliant paper, Very Fine and choice, a very rare and elusive stamp in Mint N.H. condition, with copy of 1990 P.F. certificate for block
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283). Mint N.H., well-centered, bright color, post-office fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates
15c Olive Green (284). Mint N.H., radiant color, extra wide margins, Very Fine and choice, scarce with such wide margins, with 2001 P.F. certificate