10c Orange Brown, Ty. II, Vertical Wmk. (283a). Mint N.H., radiant color, outstanding centering and margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TYPE II 1898 BUREAU ISSUE WITH VERTICAL WATERMARK, SCOTT 283a.

According to Brookman, the 10c Type II has the same die type characteristics as the 1890 American Bank Note Company Issue (with the tips of the foliate ornaments impinging on the curved line below "Ten"). He surmised that this means it was likely made prior to Type I (Scott 282C), which shows an altered die in the area of that circle (with foliate tips that do not impinge). In the 2007 Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, the listings for Type II were clarified to include both the horizontal (283) and vertical (283a) watermarks. In an article in the 2007 Scott U.S. Specialized, author Kenneth E. Diehl notes that the 10c stamps with vertical watermarks were printed from plates of 200 subjects, and were put on the presses in early 1902. The horizontal watermarked stamps (Scott 283) were printed from sheets of 400 stamps and were printed first.

It is curious to note that the vertical watermarked issue, Scott 283a, was printed after the 10c Trans-Mississippi and 10c Pan-American Issues, and only a short time before the 10c 1902 Issue, Scott 307, was printed (EDU March 12, 1903). We must therefore conclude that this issue was printed in limited quantities.

With 2006 P.F. certificate not specifying the watermark orientation (issued before listings were supplemented so certified as Scott 283, XF-Superb 95). With 2007 P.S.E. certificate as Scott 283a (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $5,000.00). Only two examples grade higher (highest is 100) and one other shares this grade

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