Sale 1150 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 1 March, 2017
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 246-263)
1c-$5.00 1894-1895 Bureau Issues, Imperforate (253a-258a, 264a-278a). Complete sets of 3c-5c and 10c pairs of the unwatermarked issue (only these four exist imperforate) and 13 pairs of the watermarked issue, original gum, some h.r. or slight disturbance, large margins including three with sheet margin, rich colors, a couple small flaws including 4c unwatermarked with slight wrinkling, 10c watermarked small edge thin, $2.00 small thinVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE COMPLETE SETS OF IMPERFORATE PAIRS OF BOTH THE 1894 UNWATERMARKED AND 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUES.
Full sheets of 400 of the 3c, 4c, 5c and 10c unwatermarked 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. These are the only four denominations that exist imperforate for the 1894 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. Although the Scott Catalogue at first did not recognize the imperforates, from 1916 they inserted a statement "All denominations of this issue exist imperforate but they were not regularly issued in that condition".
$2.00 and $5.00 with P.F. certificates
3c-10c 1894 Bureau Issue, Imperforate (253a, 254a, 255b, 258a). Complete set of horizontal pairs, original gum, h.r., large margins, each with crease, appear Very Fine, only these four denominations of the unwatermarked set are known imperforate, 10c with 1968 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine (246). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, enormous Jumbo margins all around, Extremely Fine, ex Zoellner
2c Carmine, Ty. I (250). Mint N.H. with wide right plate no. 4 selvage, rich color, unusually wide and balanced margins, tiny corner crease at bottom left mentioned only on most recent certificate, still Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), with 2016 P.S.E. certificate mentioning the tiny corner crease (XF 90; SMQ $325.00)
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 158 strip of three, brilliant color, fresh and Fine
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1988 and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former as a block
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, proof-like impression, absolutely enormous margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 4-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A STUNNING STAMP, NOTEWORTHY FOR THE IMPOSING SIZE OF ITS MARGINS, PRISTINE GUM, LONG PERFORATIONS AND INTENSE COLOR.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 1984 and 1999 P.F. certificates. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $5,750.00). Only two have graded higher (at 98J)
5c Chocolate (255). Mint N.H., lovely warm shade, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 5-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1991 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,900.00). Only three have graded higher (highest is a 98).
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, ex "Golden Oak", with 1986 P.F. certificate as a block, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,800.00), no doubt this was lowered at least a grade for the trivial perf call
15c Dark Blue (259). Original gum, barely hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (260). Original gum, lightly hinged, perfectly centered, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I, II (261-261A). Original gum, Ty. II narrow h.r., intense shades, Ty. I minute margin tear, appears Extremely Fine, Ty. II fresh and Fine, with 1976 A.P.S. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, intense shade on bright paper, Jumbo margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $1,500.00)
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, intense shade, two small thin spots, Fine appearance
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED TYPE II BUREAU ISSUE. ONE OF THE FINEST COPIES IN EXISTENCE.
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.
With 1998 (for a pair) and 2006 P.F. certificates
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep dark color on fresh white paper, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, h.r., deep shade, wide margins, natural gum crease at left, thinned from partial hinge removal, Very Fine appearance
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Unused (regummed), beautifully balanced margins, intense impression on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, ex Floyd, with 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates as "previously hinged" and 2016 P.S.E. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, h.r., rich color, few faults including creases and reperfed, appears Fine
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Unused (regummed), bright and fresh, almost perfectly centered, Extremely Fine unused example of this challenging issue, with 2002 A.P.S. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, single hinge mark at top, extra wide top and bottom margins, intense shade on bright white paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2016 P.F. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85)
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, brilliant color, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND FRESH ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1973 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, pretty shade, reperfed at right, appears Fine
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Unused (no gum), brilliant color on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate