Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — 1895 Watermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 264-278)
1c Blue (264). Mint N.H., beautiful balanced margins, strong color with clean impression, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $340.00)
4c Dark Brown (269). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at bottom, pretty shade, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $530.00)
4c Dark Brown (269). Wide top imprint and plate no. 197 strip of thee, Mint N.H., fresh and crisp, rich color, Fine-Very Fine
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H., wide selvage with part imprint at top, unusually choice centering with Jumbo margins, gorgeous colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,300.00 as 95, $4,300.00 as 98). Only two have graded higher to date and only four others share this grade.
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at bottom, gorgeous color on crisp and bright paper, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00)
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H. with part top imprint selvage, essentially precise centering, fresh and crisp, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1986 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $420.00)
5c Chocolate (270). Mint N.H., beautiful margins and attractive centering, incredibly fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 2003 P.F. certificate for block and 2005 P.F. certificate as this single (VF-XF 85; SMQ $210.00)
6c Dull Brown (271). Mint N.H., rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 6-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1998 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,550.00). Only one has graded higher to date.
6c Dull Brown, USIR Watermark (271a). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear "R" of watermark, rich color on bright white paperFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1895 ISSUE WITH USIR WATERMARK.
The 6c USIR Watermark is considerably rarer than the 8c, especially in original-gum condition. We record approximately 13 original-gum copies: six singles, four stamps in two pairs and three stamps in a strip of three. However, we are not certain if all of the stamps in the multiples have the "I" or "R" portion of the watermark. The P.F. records contain only four singles and a pair. Of the singles, one has perfs touching the design at top, and one is also very close on one side. The pair with original gum in the P.F. records is a top sheet margin horizontal pair, with part of the imprint above the left stamp. There was also a pair centered to top with a straight edge at left in the Lilly collection, as well as a strip of three centered to top in the Col. Green collection (from which this stamp originated).
Ex Col. Green. With copy of 1984 P.F. certificate for strip of three.
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H., deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on bright paper, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1895 8-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, SCOTT 272, THAT WE HAVE EVER HANDLED.
With 2003 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,450.00 as 95, $8,350.00 as 98). Only one has graded higher to date (98J) and only one other shares this grade.
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H., near perfect centering, strong color and sharp impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H., nearly flawless centering, intense color and clear impression, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (274). Jumbo margins, very strong dark color, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $400.00 as 95, $1,800.00 as 98), this is the only used example thus far to achieve this grade, with only one graded higher
15c Dark Blue (274). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example of this issue, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $400.00), only two have graded higher to date
50c Orange (275). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 75 block of six with wide selvage, brilliant color, unusually choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1895 50-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. WITH ITS SUPERIOR CENTERING, POST-OFFICE FRESH GUM AND COLOR AND WIDE SELVAGE AT TOP, THIS PLATE BLOCK IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST 50-CENT 1895 PLATE BLOCK IN EXISTENCE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate.
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, single hinge mark, proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Uncharacteristically wide margins, well-centered, grid duplex cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Bold numeral grid cancel, wide margins, dark shade, Very Fine and choice, with 2002 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, lightly hinged, with top right corner selvage, intense shade and impression, choice centering, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT POSITION PIECE OF THE 1895 $5.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1995 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,450.00)
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, proof-like impression, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $5.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A STAMP OF TREMENDOUS VISUAL APPEAL.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $4,800.00)
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Almost perfectly centered, attractive color, light registry oval cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Deep rich color, bold registry oval cancel, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate