9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
12 Selected Lots, Page 1 of 2
General/Issue
Date
The finest imprint and plate number block of the $2.00 1895 Watermarked Bureau Issue, of which only five are recordedDESCRIPTION
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a), full top "BUREAU, ENGRAVING & PRINTING" imprint and plate number 84 block of six, bottom side stamps hinge remnants, tiny hinge slivers are barely noticeable and placed as a preventive measure, unusually choice centering throughout, rich color
PROVENANCE
Order of U.S. Trust Company, H. R. Harmer 1/19/1971, lot 306
Siegel Auction Galleries, 1986 Rarities of the World, 4/5/1986, lot 187
"MLG" collection, Siegel Auction Galleries, 4/21/2009, lot 1167, to William H. Gross
CERTIFICATION
The Philatelic Foundation (1971)
CONDITION NOTES
Extremely Fine
SCOTT CATALOGUE VALUE (2019)
$85,000.00
HISTORY AND COMMENTARY
A Gem Quality "Little Jemmy" Plate Block
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 and "MLG" collection, offered in this sale
2) Bottom plate block of 6, 1985 Rarities of the World sale, ex Wampler and "MLG" collection
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).
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Block of four with bottom imprint selvage, original gum, deep rich color and detailed impression, better centering than normally seenVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1895 $2.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE DARK BLUE SHADE.
With 1970 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Block of four, original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE DARK BLUE SHADE.
With 1968 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Top imprint and plate no. 84 block of six, original gum, bottom side stamps h.r., tiny hinge slivers are barely noticeable and placed as a preventive measure, rich color, unusually choice centering throughoutEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE DARK BLUE SHADE.
This issue was printed from only one printing plate -- Plate 84. Lewis Kaufman's records contain only five plate blocks of this issue -- all are described as the Dark Blue shade: 1) top plate block of six, from our 1986 Rarities sale and offered here; 2) the plate block offered in the following lot, from our 1985 Rarities sale and ex Wampler; 3) top plate block of six, offered in our 1967 Rarities sale and illustrated in Durland book; 4) top plate block, regummed, ex Simon (1975 Siegel sale); and 5) top plate block, selvage partly separated and rejoined, offered in Oct. 1974 Siegel sale and more recently in the Newport collection.
With 1971 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Bottom imprint and plate no. 84 block of six, original gum, described in our 1985 Rarities sale and in Wampler as having slight gum disturbance which is truly negligible, deep rich color, detailed impression, choice centering throughout, few trivial perf separationsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED, AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE FROM THE BOTTOM PLATE POSITION.
This issue was printed from only one printing plate -- Plate 84. Lewis Kaufman records contain only five plate blocks of this issue -- all are described as the Dark Blue shade: 1) the plate block offered here, from our 1985 Rarities sale and ex Wampler; 2) top plate block of six, from our 1986 Rarities sale and offered in the previous lot; 3) top plate block of six, offered in our 1967 Rarities sale and illustrated in Durland book; 4) top plate block, regummed, ex Simon (1975 Siegel sale); and 5) top plate block, selvage partly separated and rejoined, offered in Oct. 1974 Siegel sale and more recently in the Newport collection.
Ex Wampler. With 1970 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged once at center, deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, bottom stamps diagonal crease, appears Very Fine-Extremely Fine, scarce block
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, beautifully centered, dark shade and detailed impression on bright fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Given the demand for choice original-gum singles, very few Extremely Fine blocks of the Bureau Issue dollar values have survived. This $2.00 block is a remarkable survivor and one of the keys to completing a set of blocks.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on fresh paper, wonderful centeringEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL BLOCK OF THE $2.00 1895 BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Bottom Imprint and Plate Number 84 Block of Six, slight gum disturbance, few perf. separations, Very Fine Centering, A Very Rare Plate Number Block, with P.F. Certificate
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Block, Fresh, o.g., Bottom Pair Mint, one with natural paper wrinkle, Very Fine, with P.F. Certificate
12 Selected Lots , Page 1 of 2
Website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy