Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — Columbian Issue thru Trans-Mississippi Issue
1c-$2.00 Columbian (230-242). All values up to the $2.00, each tied by "New York N.Y. Reg'y Div. 4-5 1893" double-oval cancels on oversize registered cover to Crefeld, Prussia, red N.Y. registry label, J. R. Campbell oval handstamp at top, Crefeld arrival backstamp (Apr. 14), cover with small tear at top and clipped corner at top left, file folds, some ink smearing at top in docketing, a couple very minor stamp faults and $1.00 crease at left from file fold, the stamps are overall in quite good condition for such a cover, Very Fine appearance and scarce use of Columbian high values
4c Blue, Columbian, Error of Color (233a). Original gum, lightly hinged, the more intense of the two error shades, variety with third leaf in oval surrounding right "4", fresh and bright paper
VERY FINE AND BRILLIANT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ERROR OF COLOR. ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN WITH THE "THIRD LEAF" VARIETY.
The 4c Columbian color error was caused by the use of a wrong batch of ink, and spectrographic analysis has shown that the blue inks of the 4c error and 1c Columbian have the same components. Stamps from at least two panes reached collectors, and the few cancelled examples indicate that stamps used by the public came from additional panes. It is likely that a number of full sheets were printed using the wrong ink, and most of the stamps have simply been lost to philately.
Ex Hansen. With 1979 and 2000 P.F. certificates. Scott value with no premium for the variety.
8c Magenta, Columbian (236). Mint N.H., deep rich color and detailed impression, wonderful centering with Jumbo margins, long and full perforations all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT COLUMBIAN, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
Ex Merlin. With 2001 P.F. and 2007 and 2022 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98 Jumbo). Only two grade higher (at 100 and 100J) and none share this grade. These are very small population numbers for such a popular stamp.
$2.00 Brown Red, Columbian (242). Original gum, lightly hinged, magnificent margins and centering, rich color with a beautiful detailed impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A WONDERFUL HIGH-QUALITY, LIGHTLY HINGED $2.00 COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The $2.00 Columbian Issue is notorious for being one of the most difficult denominations to obtain with choice centering or with wide margins.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only four examples grade higher.
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243a). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issue
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN IN THE DISTINCTIVE OLIVE GREEN SHADE.
Ex Hoffman. With 1975, 2001 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
$3.00 Olive Green, Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually wide and beautifully balanced margins, intense color in a dark shade and detailed impression, long and full perforations all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ESPECIALLY EYE-APPEALING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, WITH STRONG COLOR, IMPRESSION, CENTERING AND FULL PERFORATIONS.
The $3.00 Columbian is one of the most difficult of the dollar values to obtain in such choice condition. Only 24,713 were issued, which is approximately half the number of the $1.00 and $2.00. The margins are generally narrow on this denomination and the color and impression are often much softer than the extremely sharp appearance of this example.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF 90 XQ). The "XQ" denotes extraordinary quality.
$4.00 Crimson Lake, Columbian (244). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, choice centering, long and full perforations
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN.
Ex Hoffman. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85). Only ten grade higher (six at 90 and four at 95) and one other shares this grade.
$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Mint N.H., crisp impression, well-balanced margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE CENTERED MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN..
The population of Very Fine or Extremely Fine Mint Never-Hinged $5.00 Columbian stamps is very small. Only 25 Mint N.H. stamps are listed in the P.S.E. Population Report at all grades, and of those, only nine grade 80 or better.
With 2002 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80). SCV $9,750.
3c Purple (253). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, wonderfully well-centered
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 3-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only two grade higher (at 95J and 98, we recently sold the 98 in our "Vaquero" sale for $26,000). Six others share this desirable grade.
50c Orange (260). Mint N.H., vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed, bright paper, beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95. ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER AND ONE OTHER SHARES THIS DESIRABLE GRADE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only one grades higher (at 98J, recently realized $50,000 in our "Vaquero" auction). Only one other shares this grade — we have never offered the other.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression on bright paper, almost perfect centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 UNWATERMARKED TYPE II BUREAU ISSUE.
Collectors of this issue know that it is extremely difficult to find the First Bureau issue in centered, Mint Never-Hinged condition, particularly the higher denominations. This is mostly due to production problems as the Bureau of Engraving and Printing assumed responsibility for stamp production after the American Bank Note Co. contract expired.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only two grade higher (at 95 and 95J, we recently sold the 95 for $29,000 in the “Vaquero” sale) and only four others share this grade.
15c Dark Blue (274). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, long and full perforations all around, unusually choice centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 15-CENT WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only three grade higher (two at 95J, one at 100). Only four others share this grade. This is the first in this grade we have offered since 2019.
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1895 $1.00 TYPE I WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SUCH SUPERB CONDITION.
With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90). Only one grades higher (at 95, realized $37,500 in our recent "Vaquero" sale), and only two others share this grade. These are extremely low population numbers.
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Full top "Bureau, Engraving & Printing" imprint and plate no. 84 block of six, original gum, bottom side stamps hinge remnants, tiny hinge slivers are barely noticeable and placed as a preventive measure, rich color, unusually choice centering throughout
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE FINEST IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED.
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, ex "MLG" and Gross, the block offered here
2) Bottom plate block of 6, 1985 Rarities of the World sale, ex Wampler and "MLG"
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)
In addition to the plate blocks of the $2.00 on watermarked paper (Scott 277/277a), there is one recorded plate block on unwatermarked paper (Scott 262). It has Very Good centering and was offered in our "MLG" sale (Sale 971, lot 1176).
With copy of 1971 P.F. certificate. With 2022 P.F. certificate graded XF 90. The most recent P.F. certificate calls the shade "Bright Blue" (the main listing for Scott 277). Whether it is in fact Dark Blue or Bright Blue is immaterial, and we are calling it Dark Blue here to maintain consistency with previous descriptions. SCV $90,000.
5c Dark Blue (281). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, perfectly centered with beautifully proportioned margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 5-CENT BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2016 and 2019 P.S.E. certificates, the former showing top part imprint selvage (Superb 98). Only one grades higher (at 98J, realized $16,000 in our recent "Vaquero" sale) and only four others share this grade.
2c Copper Red, Trans-Mississippi (286). Mint N.H. with bottom imprint selvage, lovely color and mathematically perfect centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING STAMP IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Our review of the Trans-Mississippi Issue in the P.S.E. Population Report revealed just how rare this stamp is in the top grades. For the 2c, only one grades higher (recently realized $30,000 in our "Vaquero" sale) and none share this grade. Across all Trans-Mississippi denominations, for Mint N.H. stamps the 1c has one at 100J and none at 100, the 5c has two at 100 and the 8c has two at 100. That's it. These are extremely low numbers for such a popular series.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). Only one grades higher and none share this perfect grade.