Sale 1374 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 April, 2026
Category — 1894-98 Issue, Trans-Mississippi Issue
1c Ultramarine (246). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and mathematically perfect centering, beautiful fresh color and paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING MINT NEVER-HINGED JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE — AWARDED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE P.S.E. GRADE OF GEM 100J. NO OTHER EXAMPLE GRADES ABOVE 98J.
Since P.S.E. grading began more than 20 years ago, more than 100 unused Scott 246 stamps have been submitted, including 67 Mint N.H.. This is the first Mint N.H. stamp awarded a grade in the Gem 100 category—and this is graded Gem 100 Jumbo. Six have reached Superb 98 Jumbo, but none before this have cracked the top tier Gem 100 category. This is truly a stamp for the most condition conscious collector.
With 2026 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100 Jumbo; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98J, SMQ is $3,750 for 98J). This is the highest grade possible and the only example of Scott 246 in the Gem 100 category. By way of comparison, we offered a Gem 100 Jumbo 1c watermarked stamp, Scott 264, in our 2025 sale of the "Vaquero" collection. While the 100J grade is also unique to that stamp, Scott 264 is overall a much more common stamp. It realized $6,250 hammer.
