Sale 930 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 February, 2007
Category — 1890-93 Issue (Scott 219-229)
1c Dull Blue (219). Mint N.H., choice margins and beautifully centered, lovely color and impression, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90: SMQ $300.00)
1c-8c 1890-93 Issue (219-221, 225). Blocks of four, original gum, most h.r., rich colors, No. 219D bottom right stamp corner crease, appear Fine-Very Fine
2c Lake (219D). Mint N.H., beautiful margins and very well-centered, lovely color, Extremely Fine, an exceptional example of this surprisingly difficult 1890 Issue low value
2c Lake (219D). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, fresh and Fine-Very Fine
2c Lake, Imperforate (219DPe). Top imprint and plate no. 1 block of twelve, original gum, large margins, pencil on back "from pane approved for color by P.M.G. 140", thins where partly stuck down, appears Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for the position
2c Carmine, Cap on Left "2" (220a). Mint N.H. with letter of imprint at bottom with wide selvage, deep rich color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS UNQUESTIONABLY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT 1890 ISSUE WITH CAP ON THE LEFT "2" IN EXISTENCE.
With 1998 and 2005 P.F. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,500.00)
2c Carmine, Cap on Both "2"'s (220c). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression clearly showing the cap on both "2"'s, almost perfectly centered with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1890 ISSUE WITH A CAP ON BOTH "2"s THAT WE HAVE EVER OFFERED. AN EXTREMELY RARE STAMP IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.
Only a small percentage of 2c 1890's were printed from Plates 245 and 246, which contained the Cap on Both 2's variety. Examples in Mint N.H. condition are rare, and of those surviving Mint N.H. stamps, only a handful are in high grades (VF 80 or better). The current P.S.E. Population Report shows only four Mint N.H. examples of No. 220c (VF 80 and VF-XF 85 are the two highest grades to date).
With 1997 and 2004 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine, Cap on Both "2"'s (220c). Block of four, all four stamps the variety, original gum, small h.r., radiant color, fresh and Fine, scarce multiple, Scott Retail as singles
3c Purple (221). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H., lovely margins and almost perfectly centered, deep rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1986 and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $1,050.00)
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H., rich color, post-office fresh and Extremely Fine, a scarce stamp with such wide margins and in this superior grade, with 1995 and 2003 P.F. certificates
4c Dark Brown (222). Mint N.H., remarkably intense shade, beautifully centered, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
5c Chocolate (223). Original gum, beautifully balanced margins, fresh, rich color, Extremely Fine, lovely example
5c Chocolate, Yellow Brown, Imperforate (223a, 223a var). Block of four in Chocolate and pair in Yellow Brown, original gum, block h.r., large margins, Very Fine, the Chocolate is unlisted in Scott
6c Brown Red (224). Mint N.H. with selvage at right, rich color, enormous marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS PHENOMENAL STAMP PRESENTS A RARE COMBINATION OF MINT NEVER-HINGED GUM, EXTRA WIDE MARGINS, FRESHNESS AND PERFECT CENTERING.
With 1999 P.S.E. and 2005 P.F. certificates (PF XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,650.00)
6c Brown Red (224). Mint N.H., extra wide margins and choice centering, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1987 and 2005 P.F. certificates
8c Lilac (225). Mint N.H. top imprint, "ZZ" and plate no. 267 strip of six, deep rich color, well-centered, right stamp couple short perfs (does not affect the value of the collectible strip of five), otherwise Very Fine and still quite attractive, Scott Retail as six Mint N.H. singles
10c Green (226). Original gum, barest trace of what may be hinging, pretty shade, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 1983, 1990 (as N.H.) and 2006 P.F. certificates (last graded XF-Superb 95; SMQ $810.00)
10c Green (226). Bottom imprint and plate no. 29 strip of five, original gum, deep rich color, left stamp small thin spot and toned spot, appears Fine
15c Indigo (227). Mint N.H., incredibly deep rich color, perfectly centered with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
In our opinion this stamp easily deserves an XF-Superb 95 grade. With 1989 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $2,550.00)
15c Indigo (227). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, unusually wide margins, fresh and Very Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
15c Indigo (227). Block of four, original gum, h.r., deep rich color, Fine-Very Fine, attractive block
30c Black (228). Mint N.H., wide margins and attractively centered, intense color on crisp white paper, natural fiber inclusion at top, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
30c Black (228). Original gum, intense shade, Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
30c Black (228). Block of four, original gum, h.r., intense shade and impression, Fine-Very Fine, scarce block
90c Orange (229). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, deep rich color, Very Fine and choice