Sale 904 — Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Saturday, 10 December, 2005
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues










EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE LAKE TYPE I UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)








EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF SCOTT 252 WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. A REMARKABLE STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2002 P.F. certificate


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WE FEEL CONFIDENT IN STATING THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 3-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
With 1984 and 2002 P.F. certificates


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2003 and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95)




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




EXTREMELY FINE GEM. WITHOUT QUESTION THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.
In our description of lot 203 in this sale, the 1890 counterpart to the 15c 1894 Issue offered here, we pointed out the extraordinary beauty of this issue's design and deep blue color. The same comments apply to this First Bureau issue, with the added footnote regarding the notoriously poor quality of the Bureau's early effort in perforating stamps. This stamp stands out as one of the finest 15c 1894's in Mint N.H. condition.
With 1999 and 2004 P.F. certificates and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A FANTASTIC STAMP.
The stamp offered here has huge margins and centering comparable to the example offered in our Sale 829 (lot 582). That stamp, which was in Mint N.H. condition, realized $17,000 hammer.
With 2000 P.F. certificate and 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE I 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1984 and 2005 P.F. certificates and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)


EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE II 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1995 and 2001 P.F. certificates


EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2000 P.S.E. certificate


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT STAMPS OF THE SERIES TO OBTAIN IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
Ex Floyd. With 1982 and 2002 P.F. certificates.


EXTREMELY FINE. 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



















EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1894 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1895 8-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, SCOTT 272, THAT WE HAVE EVER HANDLED.
With 2003 P.F. certificate and 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo)






EXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 15-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate


EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 15-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 50-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. certificate



EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM COMBINATION PAIR OF THE TYPE I AND TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A HIGHLY DESIRABLE POSITION PIECE.
The plate of the $1.00 1894 Bureau Issue consisted of fifteen vertical rows of Type I and five vertical rows of Type II, which accounts for the scarcity of Type II compared with Type I. There are only ten positions on the plate which yield combination pairs. This pair, with the full imprint at bottom, is particularly desirable.
With 2002 P.F. certificate




EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $2.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE DARK BLUE SHADE.
With 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former describing it as Bright Blue and with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)




EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1997 P.F. certificate















EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED WIDE TOP-MARGIN PLATE BLOCK OF THE 5-CENT 1898 ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. certificate






EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT TYPE II 1898 BUREAU ISSUE.
Many stamps with selvage tend to be slightly off to the other side, so that the selvage will compensate for centering. This is not the case with the stamp offered here. Even if the selvage were removed, this stamp would maintain its appearance of perfect centering.
With 2000 P.F. certificate


EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF TH 15-CENT 1898 BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1996 P.F. certificate