Sale 1017 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 December, 2011
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 248-263)
2c Pink, Ty. I (248). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, huge perfectly balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $120.00 as 95, $250.00 as 98), while not a high-priced stamp in SMQ, this is scarce in the higher grades, with only two hinged examples grading higher
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I (249). Mint N.H., vivid color, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1991 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine, Ty. II (251). Mint N.H., gorgeous color, balanced margins on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, an exceedingly difficult stamp to find centered in Mint N.H. condition, with 1991 P.F. (for block) and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,700.00), only four Mint N.H. examples have graded higher to date (highest is 95)
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (252b). Right imprint and plate no. 153 strip of three, original gum, h.r. between bottom stamps where perf separations sensibly reinforced, brilliant color, perfs trimmed at bottom, small natural paper wrinkle mostly in selvage at centerVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS RIGHT IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THREE OF THE 1894 2-CENT CARMINE TYPE III IMPERFORATE VERTICALLY IS UNIQUE.
Ex Hind. The only other example of this rare variety we have offered since keeping computerized records is the top imprint and plate number strip of three sold in our 2009 Whitpain sale.
3c Purple (253). Top imprint and plate no. 95 strip of three with wide selvage, stamps Mint N.H., lightly hinged in selvage, rich color on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H., deep rich color, nicely balanced margins, Very Fine, with copy of 1993 P.F. certificate for block
4c Dark Brown (254). Mint N.H. right imprint and plate no. 51 strip of three, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, the top stamp is especially nice
5c Chocolate (255). Mint N.H., lovely rich color, choice balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1993 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80; SMQ $290.00)
5c Chocolate (255). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 251 strip of three with wide selvage, intact perfs at bottom, crisp impression on bright paper, trivial natural inclusion in selvage only, fresh and Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
5c Chocolate (255). Top imprint and plate no. 162 strip of three, stamps Mint N.H., small h.r. in selvage, right stamp few tiny natural gum skips, radiant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., radiant color on crisp paper, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2011 P.S.E. certificate for block
6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., warm color on fresh paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Brown, Vertical Pair, Imperforate Horizontally (256a). Bottom imprint and plate no. 28 block of six, original gum, few h.r., brilliant color, some perf separations expertly reinforced, top right stamp small crease at topFINE. THE UNIQUE BOTTOM IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1894 6-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF THE ISSUE.
Brookman notes that the source of this error is likely a western post office. A block of fifteen from the lower right corner of the sheet is also known. The unique top plate block of nine was offered in our 2009 auction of the Whitpain collection.
8c Violet Brown (257). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1990 P.F. certificate
10c Dark Green (258). Mint N.H., gorgeous color, nicely balanced margins, fresh and Very Fine, with 1993 P.S.E. certificate
10c Dark Green (258). Right imprint and plate no. 55 strip of three, bottom two stamps Mint N.H., h.r. at top, rich color and detailed impression, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
15c Dark Blue (259). Original gum, beautiful dark shade on bright paper, wide margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, with 1987 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (259). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 52 strip of three, deep dark color and proof-like impression on bright paper, faint natural gum bend at bottom of left stamp, right stamp with perf disc indentation, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H., vibrant color, attractive margins, Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
50c Orange (260). Wide top imprint and plate no. 75 strip of three, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color with some traces of oxidation, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
50c Orange (260). Bottom imprint and plate no. 75 strip of three, side stamps Mint N.H., center stamp h.r., vibrant color, few natural paper creases, Very Fine, Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Black (261). Bottom imprint and plate no. 76 strip of three, side stamps Mint N.H., center stamp h.r., detailed impression, small thin spot at center, Fine appearance, a scarce strip, especially desirable with two Mint N.H. stamps, the $1.00 with plate number only exists from the bottom position, Scott Retail as singles
$1.00 Black, Types I-II-II (261-261A-261A). Bottom imprint and plate no. 76 strip of three, original gum, h.r., intense shade on bright paper, few minor perf separations at right sensibly reinforcedFINE-VERY FINE. A RARE COMBINATION IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THREE OF THE 1894 UNWATERMARKED $1.00 ISSUE, COMPRISING TWO TYPE II STAMPS AT RIGHT AND ONE TYPE I STAMP AT LEFT.
The $1.00 1894-95 plate -- comprising 200 subjects arranged in two panes of 100 -- included five vertical columns of Type II (50 subjects). The left half of one pane was made up of Type I stamps, and the right half of the same pane comprised Type II stamps. The other pane was entirely Type I. Therefore, where the plate number appears to the right of the imprint, the two stamps at right are Type II, and the one stamp at left is Type I. Combination pairs and strips, which exist only between fifth and sixth columns, are extremely rare and desirable.
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Bottom imprint and plate no. 84 strip of three, unused (regummed), bright color, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, Fine appearance, a scarce position multiple -- the full plate block catalogues $45,000.00 -- Scott Retail as with original gum
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Bottom imprint and plate no. 85 strip of three, side stamps Mint N.H., center stamp lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression and bright paper, few natural gum bendsFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THREE OF THE $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, WITH TWO STAMPS IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. THIS ISSUE IS NOT KNOWN AS A FULL PLATE BLOCK -- AN IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP IS THE ONLY MULTIPLE TO COME CLOSE (ASIDE FROM A BLOCK OF FOUR WITH IMPRINT ONLY).
The dollar values of the unwatermarked Bureau issues had the top selvage cut to accommodate the available perforating machine. Therefore, no top plate numbers exist for the dollar values in any form. We have offered only one other imprint and plate no. strip of three since keeping computerized records.
Scott Retail as singles