Sale 968A — The Alan B. Whitman Collection, Part Two: 1870-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 14-15 April, 2009
Category — 1895-98 Watermarked Bureau Issue (Scott 264-278)


EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN INCOMPARABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE TO DATE. A REMARKABLE STAMP THAT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPROVE UPON.
The $5.00 watermarked Bureau issue is an exceedingly rare stamp in sound, well-centered Mint N.H. condition. We have offered only four singles plus a plate number and imprint strip of three since keeping computerized records. This stamp is without question the finest Mint N.H. example extant.
With 1994 P.F. certificate for a strip of three, with 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). This is the highest graded example in the P.S.E. Population Report. The next highest grade for a Mint N.H. stamp is 85