Sale 1007 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 March, 2011
Category — 1895 Watermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 268-284)
3c Purple (268). Mint N.H. block of four, perfectly centered, bright and crisp, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
4c Dark Brown, 5c Chocolate (269-270). Blocks of four, original gum, barely hinged, three 4c Mint N.H., nicely centered, fresh and bright, Fine-Very Fine
4c Dark Brown (269). Mint N.H., exceptionally wide margins and near perfect centering, dark shade and crisp impression, most recent certificate notes a tiny natural inclusion which is barely noticeable, fresh and Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 1995 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $375.00)
6c Dull Brown, USIR Watermark (271a). Original gum, clearly showing part of "R" of watermark, choice centering, small thin spotVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1895 ISSUE WITH "USIR" WATERMARK.
The "USIR" (United States Internal Revenue) watermark error occurred when a supply of paper reserved for revenue stamp production was used for printing the 6c and 8c postage stamps. The 6c "USIR" Watermark error is considerably rarer than the 8c, especially in original-gum condition. We record less than a dozen original-gum copies. However, we are not certain how many of the stamps in multiples have the "I" or "R" portion of the watermark.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown, USIR Watermark (271a). Showing clear "I" of watermark, original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, reperfed at leftFINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1895 ISSUE WITH "USIR" WATERMARK.
The "USIR" (United States Internal Revenue) watermark error occurred when a supply of paper reserved for revenue stamp production was used for printing the 6c and 8c postage stamps. The 6c "USIR" Watermark error is considerably rarer than the 8c, especially in original-gum condition. We record less than ten original-gum copies. However, we are not certain how many of the stamps in multiples have the "I" or "R" portion of the watermark.
With 2010 P.F. certificate
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H. with selvage at top, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression on crisp paper, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,550.00)
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, gorgeous centering, intense shade and detailed impression, Extremely Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Mint N.H. with part imprint selvage at bottom, intense shade and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1895 $1.00 TYPE II WATERMARKED ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND AND CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
As an indication of rarity, we have only offered four other Mint N.H. examples of the 1895 $1.00 Type II since keeping computerized records. Of those, only two could be considered to have Extremely Fine centering.
With 1989 and 2010 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95). As another indicator of rarity, the highest grade awarded to date by P.S.E. to a Mint N.H. stamp is a 90.
WITHDRAWN.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Original gum, wonderfully well-centered, fresh and bright, reperfed at bottom, Extremely Fine appearance, with 2006 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Original gum, beautiful centering and fresh color, Extremely Fine, with 1991 and 2001 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Pretty shade, bold strike of oval registry cancel, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $600.00)
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, lightly hinged, fresh color and detailed impression on bright paper, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum with bottom part imprint selvage, lightly hinged, deep shade, Very Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Well-centered with wide margins, rich color, bold oval registry cancel, red registry crayon mark at top right, Very Fine
6c Lake (282). Mint N.H. wide bottom imprint and plate no. 922 strip of three, bright and crisp, lovely color, beautifully centered, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Mint N.H., rich color and proof-like impression, most recent certificate (P.S.E.) opines reperfed at bottom but we think the holes at top and bottom match precisely, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1988 and 1996 P.F. certificates as sound, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate as reperfed
10c Brown, Ty. I (282C). Original gum, single hinge mark, rich color and proof-like impression, unusually choice centering with balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $720.00)
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283). Most recent certificate (P.S.E.) opines hinged and reperfed at left and bottom, previous certificates (P.F.) state Mint N.H. and sound, bright shade, perfectly centered, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1983 and 2000 P.F. certificates, plus the killer 2009 P.S.E. certificate
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II (283). Top imprint and plate no. 1339 block of six, unused (no gum), bright color and Extremely Fine, last sold 12 years ago in Sale 818, and still the only plate block of Scott 283 we have offered since keeping computerized records, very scarce, Scott Retail as original gum
10c Orange Brown, Ty. II, Vertical Watermark (283a). Mint N.H., radiant color, fresh and Fine example of this scarce watermark variety, with copy of 2010 P.S.E. certificate for block
15c Olive Green (284). Mint N.H. with bottom sheet selvage, fresh and crisp, Very Fine, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate
15c Olive Green (284). Bottom imprint and plate no. 264 block of six, original gum, light gum disturbance, Fine