Sale 1376 — The Monterey Collection of Superb United States 19th and 20th Century Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday, 22 April, 2026
Category — 1894-98 Bureau Issue (Scott 261-281)
$1.00 Black (261). Original gum, lightly hinged, choice balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with copy of 1999 P.F. certificate for a block of four
$1.00 Black (261). Uncharacteristically wide margins for this issue and perfectly centered, very light cancel, bright and fresh
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A NOTEWORTHY USED STAMP, AS THE 1894 FIRST BUREAU ISSUE $1.00 STAMPS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING SMALL MARGINS AND POOR CENTERING, AS WELL AS HEAVY CANCELS. THIS REMARKABLE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE IS GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
The $1.00 Type I unwatermarked stamps are notorious for having small margins. To date there are no used stamps graded 100 (there is one Mint N.H. graded 100). Only one used grades 98J (ex “Natalee Grace”, Sale 1027, lot 138), but it has a heavier cancel. Only this used example and one other grade 98.
Ex Kirke. With 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). Just one used stamp grades higher and one shares this grade.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Original gum, intense shade and sharp impression, wide margins
VERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. certificate.
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (261A). Wide and balanced margins, bright shade and remarkably detailed impression, face-free circular datestamp confined to the lower left corner of the stamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STAMP TO FIND IN SUCH OUTSTANDING CONDITION.
Ex Hoffner, Rubin, Dr. Hinrichs and Drs. Dauer. With 1994 and 2004 P.F. certificates. With 1992 and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only one used stamp grades higher (at 98) and one shares this grade.
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Original gum, brilliant color, choice centering with balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
With 1998 P.S.E. and 2001 P.F. certificates.
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Gorgeous centering and margins, rich color on wonderful bright paper, light strike of oval registry cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE 1894 $2.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP TO FIND WITH PERFECT CENTERING AND A LIGHT CANCEL.
Brookman notes "Only 10,027 of this stamp were issued and for some reason the centering on most of the copies we have seen is very poor." This amounts to just a bit more than 100 panes. Only a small number were used, mostly on parcels or other oversize or heavy mailings. The stamps on these mailings tend to be heavily cancelled and many were damaged from use or were discarded, resulting in a small population of sound used stamps. Given Brookman's comments on centering, the existence of this superb stamp is a true anomaly.
Ex Kirke. With 1979 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only one used stamp grades higher (at 98) and two share this grade.
$2.00 Bright Blue (262). Warm color on bright paper, excellent centering and detailed impression, unobtrusive cancel at right is barely noticeable,
EXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Ex Drs. Dauer. With 1961, 1992 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90).
$5.00 Dark Green (263). Original gum, deep rich color and detailed impression showing all of the fine engraving lines in the background, exceptional centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
The 1894 Unwatermarked issue was the first U.S. postage issue to be printed by the Bureau of Engraving & Printing, after the contract with American Bank Note Co. expired. The first stamps printed by the Bureau are notoriously difficult to find well-centered, as production was marred by initial problems as they geared up to meet the needs of the public for stamps. The designs through the $1.00 were kept the same from the 1890 ABN Co. issue, with the addition of corner triangles to distinguish the printings. The use of the same designs is another indication of the time pressure that may have caused some of the initial production problems. The $5.00 is one of the two or three most difficult denominations to find in superb condition.
With 1984 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only seven grade higher and four share this grade. SCV $4,000.
3c Purple (268). Mint N.H. wide top imprint and plate no. 91 block of 14, brilliant color, well-centered, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, a fresh and choice large-size plate block, with 2008 P.F. certificate, SCV as plate block of six plus singles
$1.00 Black, Ty. I (276). Original gum, intense impression on bright paper, excellent centering with well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate
$1.00 Black, Ty. II (276A). Original gum, wide margins, sharp impression
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 TYPE II 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE.
Ex McNall, Zoellner and Dr. Puliafito. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Original gum, outstanding centering with wide margins all around, deep rich color on bright white paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IS RARELY FOUND WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.
Although the first Bureau Issue (1894 unwatermarked) is considered to be more difficult to obtain in superb condition, the second watermarked issue is also challenging. The $2.00 stamp offered here has extraordinarily wide and balanced margins.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.
$2.00 Dark Blue (277a). Precise centering, proof-like impression on bright white paper, deep rich color easily discernible from the standard Blue, neat oval registry cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90), only one used Scott 277a grades higher (at 98), this shade only comes on the watermarked issue
$5.00 Dark Green (278). Original gum, near perfect centering with well-proportioned margins, beautiful rich color on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $5.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2000 P.F. certificate.
5c Dark Blue (281). Mint N.H., lovely margins and flawless centering, beautiful rich color on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED 5-CENT 1898 BUREAU ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only one Mint N.H. example grades higher (at 98J).