Sale 1359 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 22-24 July, 2025
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issues
3c Purple, 4c Dark Brown (253-254). Top imprint and plate no. blocks of six, 3c No. 95 and 4c No. 45, original gum., 3c lightly hinged and Fine-Very Fine, 4c h.r. and Fine
50c Orange (260). Original gum, single narrow hinge mark at top, brilliant color, Jumbo margins and choice centering, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 2007 P.F. and 2014 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF 90 Jumbo), only eight grade higher and two share this grade, SCV $475
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Mint N.H., deep rich color, attractive centering and margins with perfs clear of design at left and bottom, tiny coal speck inclusion is visible only on the back and not mentioned on accompanying certificate
FINE AND RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Without question, the $5.00 is the rarest of the 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue in sound, well-centered Mint Never-Hinged condition. It is unlikely that more than three or four Extremely Fine Mint N.H. examples exist. We have offered only seven unduplicated Mint N.H. singles since 1994. Of these, one is reperfed and three are Fine.
With 2018 P.S.E. certificate.
1c-$5.00 1895 Bureau Issue, Imperforate (264a-278a). Complete set of thirteen pairs, original gum, large margins incl. six with sheet margin, rich colors
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE COMPLETE SET OF IMPERFORATE PAIRS OF THE 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Full ungummed sheets of 400 of the 3c, 4c, 5c and 10c 1894 Unwatermarked values were removed from the Bureau of Engraving & Printing around the time of issue. These four are the only denominations of the 1894 Unwatermarked Issue that exist imperforate. They were gummed, divided and sold to collectors.
George B. Sloane's account of the origin of the 1895 Watermarked Bureau Imperforate stamps is quoted in Brookman (Vol. III, pp. 128-129). Gilbert E. Jones, one of the owners of The New York Times, was allowed to exchange sheets of perforated stamps he bought at the post office for a set of imperforate sheets. Although the Scott Catalogue at first did not recognize the imperforate varieties, in 1916 they inserted a statement "All denominations of this issue exist imperforate but they were not regularly issued in that condition". The imperforate stamps are now listed with plate proofs.
Ex Hansen. The four high values with 2001 or 2005 P.F. certificates.
1c-10c 1895 Bureau Issue, Imperforate (264P5/273P5, formerly 264a/273a). Seven pairs and two blocks of four, pairs of Nos. 264P5, 267P5, 269P5, 270P5, 271P5 and 273P5, blocks of four of 264P5 and 270P5, all have large margins to full, original gum, some h.r., few slightly disturbed, few small thin spots, overall a Fine-Very Fine group
1c Blue (264). Mint N.H., choice centering with wide margins, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate for a pair (Superb 98), pair grades do not translate to single stamps so there is no guarantee how this will grade on its own
4c Dark Brown (269). Mint N.H., deep rich color, gorgeous centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only five grade higher
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Deep rich color in the true Dark Blue shade on bright paper, neat strike of registry oval cancel, well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. and 2021 P.F. certificates (both VF-XF 85)
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, attractive margins and centering, marvelous depth of color and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 1986 P.F. and 2021 P.S.A.G. certificate, a 2010 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85) no longer accompanies
1c Deep Green (279). Mint N.H., radiant color and precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98)
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Used with every denomination of the issue, some are from change of color such as 1c Green and 5c Blue, one $1.00 (Type I), tied by "Hoboken N.J. Jun. 24, 1898" circular datestamps, light strike of purple "Registered Jun. 24, 1898, Hoboken N.J." three-line datestamp, on registered cover to William Keller in Ober-Leutensdorf, Austria, back with return address of "Mr. Keller, Meyers Hotel", New York registry label also ties three stamps, New York and receiving backstamps, $5.00 faint corner crease at top right and short perf at top
VERY FINE. AN INCREDIBLY RARE "COMPLETE SET" COVER WITH ALL THIRTEEN DENOMINATIONS OF THE 1894-98 BUREAU ISSUE USED TO AUSTRIA. WE HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER COVER LIKE THIS.
Covers with the higher denominations of this series on cover are very rare. Only one other is recorded for the $5.00 and it is a single franking to Czechoslovakia; it was last offered in the 1990 Lynne Warm-Griffiths auction where it realized $21,000 hammer. After that sale it received a P.F. certificate noting the stamp was reperfed at left. The cover offered here is the only other example known on cover. It is especially desirable as part of this “set” of all denominations.
Backstamped with "H/SC/NY" (the same handstamp on the 24c Inverted Jenny Princeton block) and "Hartmann". Scott value for the $5.00 Scott 278 on cover is $10,000. The value for the $2.00 on cover is $3,500 and for the $1.00 is $2,250.