6c Dull Brown (256). Mint N.H., brilliant color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 6-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.

The First Bureau Issue of 1894 was a rough start for the government printers given the task of producing postage stamps after the American Bank Note Company contract expired. After quickly altering the 1890 Issue dies by adding triangles, the Bureau started printing stamps on unwatermarked paper. The quality controls for perforating stamps were obviously not in place for the Bureau's first issue, and the stamps released are notorious among collectors for poor centering and unpunched perf holes.

Although the demand for other values was far greater, the 6c was actually the first value released by the Post Office Department (announced for July 1894; EDU 8/11/1894). Other values followed, beginning in September to as late as March 1895 (the 8c). Reviewing auction records of Scott 256, it is obvious that even when judged against normal standards, this stamp is exceptionally choice. Judged by the standards of the 1894 Issue, it is nothing less than a miraculous and fortuitous fluke of quality. We could find only one other (Sale 872, lot 706) that rivals this Gem.

With 2002 P.F. certificate

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