2003 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE PAIR OF THE RARE UNWATERMARKED 5-CENT 1894 ISSUE IMPERFORATE HORIZONTALLY.

It is believed that most examples of this error originate from a part sheet purchased by a collector at the Richmond Va. post office. The unique unused block of nine with imprint and plate number, ex Col. Green collection, also originated from this find.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED 1894 ISSUE.

The production problems experienced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in printing and perforating the first Bureau issues resulted in generally poor examples. The stamp offered here is a remarkable exception, with nearly-perfect centering and well-formed perforations. It is also the unwatermarked Type II variety, which is the rarest of the four $1.00 1894-95 Bureau issues.

With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION AND WITH SUCH OUTSTANDING CENTERING.

The higher values of the 1894 unwatermarked Bureau Issue can be difficult to find in well-centered and sound condition, due to production problems. Examples such as the stamp offered here should be considered condition rarities.

With 1995 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS A RARE STAMP THAT IS SELDOM SEEN WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS AND CHOICE CENTERING.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 UNWATERMARKED 1894 BUREAU ISSUE.

This stamp is exceedingly rare with such enormous margins, With 2002 P.F. certificate for block of four. (Image)

FINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE "IR" POSITION PAIR OF THE 8-CENT 1895 ISSUE WITH "U S I R" WATERMARK.

Our records of unused Scott 272a contain four singles, two imprint and plate no. strips of three, and the pair offered here. We do not know if more than one stamp in the other two multiples have the watermark variety.

With 1975 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as two singles. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONLY FIFTEEN USED COPIES OF THE 6-CENT 1895 USIR WATERMARK STAMP HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

Unlike its more common 8c counterpart, the 6c is an extremely rare stamp (only seventeen known). Of the fifteen used copies certified by the Philatelic Foundation, eight have perfs either close or touching the design (including both stamps in the only known pair), and one has a straight edge. The stamp offered here is one of the finest extant.

With 1986 and 2002 P.F. certificates (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $2.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A REMARKABLE STAMP.

An exceedingly rare stamp in sound superb Mint N.H. condition (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 10c BROWN TY. I IS VERY RARE IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION -- FAR MORE ELUSIVE THAN MOST COLLECTORS REALIZE.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)