Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 246-263)
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 80 block of six, vibrant color, slightly short gumming at top of top rowFINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP PLATE BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE LAKE 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
A Power Search review reveals the rarity of this issue in the wide top plate block format. Since our Sale 814 in 1999 we have offered only two other Mint N.H. top plate blocks of Scott 249 and only one of those was a wide top.
With 2019 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, the Carmine Lake Ty. I is rarely found in this choice condition, ex "Hampshire", with 2003 P.F. certificate
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H. right imprint and plate no. 51 strip of three, deep rich color and wide margins, tiny natural gum wrinkle in middle stamp, Very Fine and choice
10c Green, Imperforate (258a). Block of eight from the top left corner of the right pane, showing top sheet margin and interpane margin with guide arrow at left, original gum, small thin spot at top of position 2, scissors-cut in margin at right, light vertical crease at left, small toned spot far from the design above position 1, Very Fine appearance, full imperforate sheets of 400 of the 3c, 4c, 5c and 10c 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, Scott value as two blocks of four, without premium for the position
50c Orange (260). Block of four, attractive margins and centering, bright color with just a hint of oxidation at top, light duplex cancel, Very Fine, used blocks of the 1894 Unwatermarked 30c are rare in any condition, Power Search contains only one other, which has a sealed tear, this sound block is very desirable, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H. with right part arrow selvage, intense shade and impression on bright paper, choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE PART ARROW MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 UNWATERMARKED TYPE II BUREAU ISSUE.
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 Co. contract expired. Examples with selvage are particularly desirable as the lack of watermark is far more obvious. We have not offered another Mint N.H. example graded 90 or higher since 2009.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $14,500.00). Only two Mint N.H. examples grade higher (at 95 and 95J) and only two others share this grade -- a statistic which has not changed since at least 2009
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, small h.r., intense shade and impression, fresh and Very Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, intense shade and proof-like impression, natural gum crease not mentioned on certificate, Very Fine, with 1981 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $2.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Mint N.H., deep rich color, attractive centering and margins with perfs clear of design at left and bottom, tiny coal speck inclusion is visible only on the back and not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Without question, the $5.00 is the rarest of the 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue in sound, Mint Never-Hinged condition. It is unlikely that more than three or four Extremely Fine Mint N.H. examples exist.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, unusually wide margins, light vertical gum bend not mentioned on any certificatesVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL WIDE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1976, 1984 and 2000 P.F. certificates
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, fresh and Fine, with 2015 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, F 70; SMQ $2,000.00)
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Slightly disturbed original gum, rich color, small pencil notation on gum, Fine, ex Golin
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, small narrow thin spot and reperfed at left, otherwise Fine
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum with multiple h.r. reinforcements of perf separations, rich color, few small thin spotsFINE APPEARING AND RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1894 $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Scott value $20,000.00