Sale 1245 — United States Stamps, featuring the Sacramento Collection
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 16-18 November, 2021
Category — 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 246-263)
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., brilliant color and proof-like impression showing every detail of the engraving, Jumbo margins and precise centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE UNWATERMARKED 1894 3-CENT BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
As collectors of the First Bureau Issue know, great difficulty was experienced in perforating the stamps, either due to poor equipment or improper operation. Choppy, ragged perfs and poor centering are so common on this issue that it is often possible to separate the 1894 unwatermarked stamps from the 1895 watermarked stamps by the appearance of the perforations alone. This example, with precise centering, Jumbo margins and perfectly formed perforations, is a true condition rarity.
With 1997 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $7,500.00). Only one stamp grades higher -- at 98 and offered in our Sale 1199 (realized $15,000 hammer) and no others share this grade.
