2015 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF THE UNWATERMARKED 2-CENT TYPE I 1894 ISSUE IN THE CARMINE LAKE SHADE. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- ONLY TWO HAVE GRADED HIGHER AND NONE SHARE THIS GRADE.

As collectors of the First Bureau Issue know, great difficulty was experienced in perforating the stamps, either due to poor equipment or improper operation. Choppy, ragged perfs and poor centering are so common on this issue that it is often possible to separate the 1894 unwatermarked stamps from the 1895 watermarked stamps by the appearance of the perforations alone. This example, with precise centering, Jumbo margins and perfectly formed perforations is an extreme condition rarity.

With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $15,000.00). Only two have graded higher and none share this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE I UNWATERMARKED.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAY WELL BE THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 TYPE II UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES TO OBTAIN WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.

The $1.00 Type II, which is defined as having the complete circle around the left "$1", occurred on only 50 of the 200 subjects of Plate 76. It is believed that only 8,762 were issued. This is a miniscule number when compared to the previous $1.00 stamp of the Columbian series (55,050 issued) and its watermarked counterpart (Scott 276A with 63,803 issued). They were mostly used on parcels or other oversize or heavy mailings. The stamps on these mailings tend to be damaged from use or were discarded, resulting in a small population of sound used stamps. Linn's Stamp Facts estimates less than ten covers are known.

With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $20,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade. (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE INTACT BOOKLET, WITH PRISTINE COVERS.

While Scott lists the cover shades for BK1 and BK2 as Cream and Buff respectively, this can much more easily be distinguished from BK1 by the thick yellowish waxed paper interleaving. (Image)

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AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE COMBINATION PAIR OF THE 1899 10-CENT CHANGE OF COLORS, WITH THE LEFT STAMP TYPE II AND THE RIGHT STAMP TYPE I. THIS IS THE FIRST SUCH COMBINATION PAIR WE HAVE OFFERED IN ALL OF OUR RARITIES SALES OR AUCTIONS SINCE 1994. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.

The Type II design, with the tips of the ornaments breaking into the curved line at left, is the same die used on the earlier 1890 Issue without corner ornaments. Type I must have been made from an altered die. According to Brookman, Plate 932 contained seven positions entered using the Type II design. The remaining 393 positions were Type I. These must have been reentered using the wrong transfer roll after the original Type I entries were found to be deficient in some way. Brookman notes "These items are rare, particularly in used condition", an observation we can confirm as this is the only we have offered since keeping computerized records.

With 2014 Weiss and 2015 P.F. certificates. Unlisted as used in Scott. Scott Retail as unused $15,000.00 (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING AND VERY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY MAJOR ERROR OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

Datz states that 25 pairs are known (including blocks).

Ex "Laila". With 2000 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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FRESH AND FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 50-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

Plate number 603 is the only plate number recorded for this issue. Ex MLG. With 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail with no premium for the two Mint N.H. stamps (Image)

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VERY FINE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER PAIR OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE-VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE $1.00 TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.

This has been called the most beautiful design in U.S. philately. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN TRIAL COLOR SMALL DIE PROOF ON WOVE PAPER MAY WELL BE UNIQUE.

This is the only Trial Color proof listed in Scott Catalogue for the Pan-American issue. With 1986 and 2014 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY FRESH AND BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 1c Pan-American Inverts were found in at least four different post offices around the country, soon after release of the issue in May 1901.

Ex "Millwood" and Dr. Morris. With 1992 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $20,000.00) (Image)

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