Sale 1260 — 2022 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 28 June, 2022
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Full top "Bureau, Engraving & Printing" imprint and plate no. 84 block of six, original gum, bottom side stamps hinge remnants, tiny hinge slivers are barely noticeable and placed as a preventive measure, rich color, unusually choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE FINEST IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED.
The $2.00 regular issue designed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1894 was the first stamp to depict this Founding Father and the nation's fourth president, James Madison, whose diminutive stature earned him the unflattering nickname "Little Jemmy." This was also the first $2.00 regular issue (preceded by the Columbian $2.00 stamp).
The die was engraved by Lyman F. Ellis and George F. C. Smillie. It was printed from one printing plate--Plate 84. Lewis Kaufman's records contain five plate blocks of this stamp (all described as the Dark Blue shade), but only three are free of serious condition problems, which are noted below:
1) Full top plate block of 6, 1986 Rarities of the World sale, ex "MLG" and Gross, the block offered here
2) Bottom plate block of 6, 1985 Rarities of the World sale, ex Wampler and "MLG"
3) Wide top plate block of 6, 1967 Rarities of the World sale, illustrated in Durland book
4) Top plate block of 6, regummed, ex Simon (1975 Siegel sale)
5) Full top plate block of 6, selvage partly separated and rejoined, October 1974 Siegel sale and more recently in the 2008 "Newport" sale (Weiss)
In addition to the plate blocks of the $2.00 on watermarked paper (Scott 277/277a), there is one recorded plate block on unwatermarked paper (Scott 262). It has Very Good centering and was offered in our "MLG" sale (Sale 971, lot 1176).
With copy of 1971 P.F. certificate. With 2022 P.F. certificate graded XF 90. The most recent P.F. certificate calls the shade "Bright Blue" (the main listing for Scott 277). Whether it is in fact Dark Blue or Bright Blue is immaterial on this rarity and we are calling it Dark Blue here to maintain consistency with how it has been offered in the past.
