Sale 1227 — Outstanding United States Stamps and Gold Coins
Sale Date — Monday-Friday, 19-23 October, 2020
Category — 1895 Watermarked and 1897-1903 Change of Colors Bureau Issues (Scott 264-284)
2c Carmine, Ty. I (265). Mint N.H., essentially perfect centering, vivid color on post-office fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1895 TYPE I WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,000.00). Only one grades higher (at 100J, offered in our 2019 Gems sale) and only two others share this lofty grade
2c Carmine, Ty. II-III (266-267). Mint N.H. block of eight with left selvage, rightmost two stamps Type III, others Type II, rich color, Very Fine, attractive position piece, only Plate 170 yields a combination of the two types
2c Carmine, Ty. II (266). Mint N.H. left imprint and plate no. 170 block of six, brilliant color, fresh and Fine
6c Dull Brown (271). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage, gorgeous rich color and proof-like impression, outstanding centering with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB SHEET MARGIN MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST AWARDED.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $6,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a Mint N.H. Scott 271 and it is shared by only two others
8c Violet Brown (272). Mint N.H., intense shade, wide and beautifully balanced margins, post-office fresh in every respect, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1988 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,950.00), only seven grade higher
8c Violet Brown, USIR Watermark (272a). Showing bold "R" of watermark, deep rich color, choice centering, face-free cancel struck in corner, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful example, 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, there are approximately 75 known of the 8c, but many are either off-center or have flaws, collectors prefer examples showing the "R" watermark, as this letter is unquestionably from "USIR", with 1996 P.F. certificate
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 264 strip of three, wonderful depth of color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2019 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80)
50c Orange (275). Original gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep shade and strong impression, fresh, Very Fine and choice, with 1985 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, lightly hinged, Fine, with 2011 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Block of four, disturbed original gum, intense shade, well-centered, small thin spot straddles top pair at top, appears Very Fine
$1.00 Black Ty. I, Imperforate (276b). Horizontal pair, original gum, h.r., large to full margins, Very Fine
$1.00 Black, Ty. I-II (276-276A). Type I with bold cancel, well-balanced margins, Very Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate, Type II with three balanced margins and closer at top, essentially face-free cancel, a strong Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. I-II (276-276A). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 76 strip of three, left stamp Ty. I, middle and right stamps Ty. II, intense shade, choice margins and centering, fresh in every respectVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE 1895 $1.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, COMBINING TYPES I AND II.
The $1.00 1894-1895 Bureau Issue was printed in plates of 200 subjects. The plate consisted of fifteen vertical rows of Type I and five vertical rows of Type II, which accounts for the scarcity of Type II compared with Type I. There are only ten positions on the plate which yield combination pairs, and only two which yield imprint and plate number multiples. This Mint N.H. strip is an exceptional rarity and the first we have offered in at least 25 years. This strip was held for generations after being purchased from the post office in the 1890s.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate for a strip of ten. Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H. Scott value for three Mint N.H. singles, which does not convey the rarity of this piece
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Mint N.H. with extra wide top selvage, crisp impression, well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 2019 P.S.E. certificate for a plate strip of ten (this stamp Position 9)
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Mint N.H. with extra wide top selvage, intense shade, well-centered, natural gum wrinkle, fresh and Very Fine, with copy of 2019 P.S.E. certificate for a plate strip of ten (this stamp Position 3)
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Unused (regummed), intense shade and impression, Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate as original gum, which it clearly is not, Scott value as no gum
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, fresh and Fine, a scarce original-gum block of the 1895 $1.00 Type II Watermarked issue
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Block of four, original gum, multiple h.r., decent centering and margins, top stamps small faults including wrinkle and thin spots, bottom right stamp added perf tip, overall Fine-Very Fine appearance, a scarce block
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Block of four, crisp impression on fresh paper, well-centered, New York oval registry cancels, few minor perf separations at middle, Very Fine and choice, a very scarce used block, ex Twigg-Smith, with 1992 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Mint N.H. with wide top selvage, deep rich color and detailed impression, well-centeredVERY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $2.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE WITH WIDE TOP SELVAGE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
With copy of 2019 P.S.E. certificate for a plate strip of ten (this stamp Position 2).
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 84 strip of three, gorgeous color, attractive centering and margins, center and left stamps with very slight gum scratch at bottom not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
This issue was printed from only one printing plate -- Plate 84. This is only the second Mint N.H. imprint and plate number strip we have offered in more than 25 years. This strip was held for generations after being purchased from the post office in the 1890s. Lewis Kaufman records only five full plate blocks of this issue and all are hinged (the last we offered realized $160,000 hammer in our 2009 sale of the "MLG" collection). This is a rare opportunity to combine the desirable attributes of a scarce wide top position piece with Mint N.H. gum.
With clear 2019 P.S.E. certificate for a strip of ten. Unpriced in Scott as Mint N.H.. Scott value for three Mint N.H. singles, which does not convey the rarity of this piece
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Wide top imprint and plate no. 84 strip of three, original gum, stamps are not hinged but have some slight gum glazing, bright color and well-centeredVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM WIDE TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
This strip was held for generations after being purchased from the post office in the 1890s. Scott value for hinged imprint and plate number strip
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Block of four, original gum, multiple h.r., bright color and well-centered, top stamps thin spots including deep filled thin on top right stamp, appears Very Fine, a scarce original-gum block of this issue
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Original gum, pretty pastel shade, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1976 and 1997 P.F. certificates
$2.00 Bright Blue, $5.00 Dark Green (277-278). Rich colors, choice centering, $2.00 with wavy-line machine cancel, $5.00 with New York registry oval cancel, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, $2.00 with 1996 P.F. certificate, $5.00 with 2014 P.S.E. 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). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Disturbed original gum, rich color, reperfed at bottom, Very Fine appearance, with clear 1985 P.F. certificate
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Mint N.H. bottom imprint and plate no. 85 strip of three, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, right stamp small corner crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THREE OF THE $5.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
A Power Search review failed to find another completely Mint N.H. imprint and plate number strip of Scott 278. This is also an excellent alternative to a plate block, of which only one exists (and catalogues $200,000.00). This strip was held for generations after being purchased from the post office in the 1890s.
With 2019 P.S.E. certificate. Scott value for three Mint N.H. singles, which does not convey the rarity of this piece
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Wide margins and well-centered, rich color, face-free grid cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 1980 P.F. certificate, small collector backstamp
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Rich color on bright paper, wide margins, unobtrusive registry oval cancel, Very Fine and choice
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Block of four, rich color, detailed impression, bold strikes of oval registry cancels, few faint wrinkles and minor perf separations visible in fluid, appears Extremely Fine, a scarce and choice used block of the 1895 $5.00 Bureau issue, ex Twigg-Smith
2c Red, Ty. IV, Booklet Pane of Six, Vertical Wmk. (279Bk). Mint N.H., brilliant color, Very Fine and choice
5c Dark Blue (281). Bottom imprint and plate no. 1220 block of six, top center stamp hinged, others either Mint N.H. or faintest trace of hinging, deep rich color, Fine-Very Fine, ex Byers
15c Olive Green (284). Mint N.H., beautiful rich color, precise centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 15-CENT OLIVE GREEN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $4,500.00). Only one grades higher (at 98, realized $13,500 hammer in our Merlin sale) and only five others share this grade.