Sale 1096 — The Robert R. Hall Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 28-30 April, 2015
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 246-263)
1c-15c 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (246/259). 12 stamps, both 1c colors, five 2c incl. No. 248, also Nos. 253, 255-257, 259, 8c regummed, 3c and 15c with Mint N.H. 1996 P.F. certificates but lightly hinged, nice centering, Very Fine group
1c-10c 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (246-248, 250, 253, 255-258). Ten blocks of four, incl. two 5c (different shades, one is a block of six), Nos. 246 and 250 Mint N.H., few stamps h.r., few Mint N.H., bright colors, Fine-Very Fine
1c Ultramarine, 2c Pink (246, 248). Imprint and plate no. blocks of six, 1c right, 2c top, lightly hinged, 1c small scuff causing thin at top right and bottom right, 2c natural gum bend at bottom, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., top left stamp small glazed spot, intense shade and impression, superb centering and well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, a wonderful block of this scarce Bureau stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as singles
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Bottom imprint and plate no. 97 block of six, slightly disturbed original gum, rich color, Fine
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H. block of four, brilliant color, fresh and Fine, extremely scarce, Scott Retail as singles
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Bottom imprint and plate no.132 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, few trivial perf separations, Fine-Very Fine, a very scarce plate block -- we have offered only two others in the past ten years
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Mint N.H., bright color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate showing plate number selvage at left, which is included but detached
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Block of four, original gum, bottom stamps Mint N.H. but tiny gum skips, vibrant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as hinged block
2c Carmine, Ty. III (252). Bottom imprint and plate no. 151 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, Fine-Very Fine, an attractive and scarce plate block, none was offered in our recent sale of the Curtis collection
3c Purple (253). Bottom imprint and plate no. 103 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine plate block
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
4c Dark Brown (254). Top imprint and plate no. 51 block of six, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, Fine-Very Fine, a scarce plate block especially from the top position, we have offered only two other top plates -- one was Mint N.H. and the other was significantly off-center
5c Chocolate (255). Bottom imprint and plate no. 130 block of six, original gum, brilliant color, Fine-Very Fine and scarce, we have offered only four others since keeping computerized records
1c-10c 1894-95 Issue, Imperforate (255b, 258a, 264a, 272b). Horizontal pairs, original gum except 8c part gum, 5c h.r., ample to large margins, 10c thins and slightly clipped corner clear of design, Very Fine or appear so
6c Dull Brown (256). Bottom imprint and plate no. 28 block of six, original gum, stamps lightly hinged, h.r. in selvage, bright color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, a surprisingly scarce plate block
8c Violet Brown (257). Bottom imprint and plate no. 58 block of six, four stamp Mint N.H., top center and bottom right stamps single hinge mark, deep rich color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine, plate 58 was the only one used to print Scott 257 and 272
10c Dark Green (258). Mint N.H., well-proportioned margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (259). Block of four, original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, Very Fine
50c Orange (260). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, perfect centering, Extremely Fine
50c Orange (260). Block of four, bottom pair Mint N.H., top pair lightly hinged, vivid shade and impression, Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, lightly hinged, centered slightly to bottom left but well clear of perfs, Fine and attractive
$1.00 Black (261). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and proof-like impression, remarkably precise centering, which is unusual for a block of this scarce dollar-value unwatermarked Bureau issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE I UNWATERMARKED.
With 1997 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black (261). Intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2004 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I, II (261-261A). Mint N.H. block of four, left stamps Type I, right stamps Type II, bright shade and crisp impressionFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $1.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE SHOWING A COMBINATION OF TYPES I AND II.
The $1.00 1894-95 Issue was printed in a sheet of 200 comprised of two panes of 100. The left pane and left half of the right pane were Type I, while the right half of the right pane was Type II. Combination pairs and strips, which exist only between the fifth and sixth columns, are rare and desirable. According to Bartels and Brookman, only 8,762 of the Type II were issued in total, and of these only a small fraction (20%) come from the positions that could yield combination pairs.
With 2001 P.S.E. certificate. Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., intense shade on post office fresh paper, choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 UNWATERMARKED TYPE II BUREAU ISSUE.
Condition conscious collectors are well aware that it is extremely difficult to find First Bureau stamps 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 Co. contract expired.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Bottom selvage block of four, three stamps Mint N.H., bottom right stamp lightly hinged, intense shade and impression on bright paper, bottom stamps natural gum bendVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, WITH THREE STAMPS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
According to Brookman, the Type II stamps, with circles complete around the bottom left denomination, were not discovered until several years after the stamp was issued. Its discoverer was the custodian of the National stamp collection, who determined that the Type II stamps are found on only five rows of the plate. Brookman estimated that only 8,762 were distributed. We have offered two other blocks of four and a block of six since 1997. The two blocks of four did not contain any Mint N.H. stamps. Three stamps in the block of six are Mint N.H. Virtually all quality multiples have been broken to feed demand for singles. We are amazed this block has remained intact.
With 1992 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as singles
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, Jumbo marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A HUGE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $2.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1991 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Lovely intense shade on bright paper, bold strike of New York oval cancel, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color on bright paper, well-proportioned marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1993 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Rich color on bright paper, choice centering for this difficult issue, bold strikes of New York registry oval cancelsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Block of four, original gum, rich color on bright paper, few minor perf separations, top right stamp small thin spot at bottom right and small natural pre-printing paperfold at topFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Very few blocks remain intact, as most have been broken to feed collector demand for singles.