Sale 1362 — The El Dorado Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 7-9 October, 2025
Category — 1893 Columbian Issue (Scott 230-245)
1c Deep Blue, Columbian (230). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, essentially perfectly centered, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only ten grade higher
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1c Deep Blue, Columbian (230). Rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, perfectly centered with Jumbo margins, "Trenton N.J. Aug. 17, 1894" machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb used example of the 1c Columbian, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo), only two grade higher and three others share this grade
(Image Magnifier)2c Brown Violet, Columbian (231). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, mathematically perfect centering with wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER AND ONLY ONE OTHER SHARES THIS PERFECT GRADE.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100). Only one grades higher and one other shares this desirable grade.
(Image Magnifier)2c Brown Violet, Columbian, Broken Hat (231 var). Mint N.H., rich color on bright paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins all around, Extremely Fine Gem, easily one of the finest Mint N.H. examples of this variety in existence, with 1984 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98), the Population Report does not list this variety separately but we inquired to P.S.E. and this is one of four examples of this variety at this grade with one higher (at 98J), SMQ value without premium for the variety
(Image Magnifier)2c Brown Violet, Columbian (231). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, near-perfect centering with wide margins, machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2010 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only four grade higher (at 98J)
(Image Magnifier)3c Green, Columbian (232). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2011 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo). Only four grade higher (two each at 100 and 100J) and five others share it.
(Image Magnifier)4c Ultramarine, Columbian (233). Mint N.H., brilliant color on bright paper, beautifully centered with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only three grade higher (one each at the three higher grades).
(Image Magnifier)4c Ultramarine, Columbian (233). Beautiful centering with Jumbo margins, radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, long and even perforations, clear strike of duplex cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp in every respect, ex "Natalee Grace", with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98 Jumbo), this is the highest grade awarded and one of only five to achieve this grade
(Image Magnifier)5c Chocolate, Columbian (234). Mint N.H., gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins, rich color on fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT COLUMBIAN, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 1996 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). Only eleven grade higher.
(Image Magnifier)5c Chocolate, Columbian (234). Deep rich color on bright paper, unusually wide and balanced margins, clear strike of registry oval cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2012 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98), only three grade higher (two at 98J, one at 100)
(Image Magnifier)6c Purple, Columbian (235). Mint N.H., intense shade and proof-like impression on bright paper, essentially perfect centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A PHENOMENAL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT COLUMBIAN, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
With 2002 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98). Only three grade higher (two at 98J and one at 100) and only six others share this desirable grade.
(Image Magnifier)8c Magenta, Columbian (236). Mint N.H., brilliant color and detailed impression on bright paper, Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 8-CENT COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only ten grade higher.
(Image Magnifier)8c Magenta, Columbian (236). Rich color, clear strike of New York registry oval cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
(Image Magnifier)10c Black Brown, Columbian (237). Mint N.H., intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). Only twelve grade higher (nine at 98, three at 98J) and only five others share this high grade.
(Image Magnifier)15c Dark Green, Columbian (238). Crisp impression on bright paper, clear strike of oval duplex cancel, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2014 P.S.A.G. certificate (XF-Superb 95), Scott value $90
(Image Magnifier)30c Orange Brown, Columbian (239). Mint N.H., almost perfectly balanced margins, fresh and bright
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED 30-CENT COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
(Image Magnifier)50c Slate Blue, Columbian (240). Mint N.H., magnificent centering, wide margins and intense shade
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MARVELOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. ONLY THREE GRADE HIGHER.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Only three grade higher (one each at 95J, 98 and 100) and only eight others share this high grade. We have offered only two others at this grade since 2010.
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$1.00 Salmon, Columbian (241). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, choice centering with wide and well-proportioned margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A GORGEOUS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1993 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only four hinged examples have graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (no Mint N.H. are graded higher).
(Image Magnifier)$1.00 Salmon, Columbian (241). Brilliant color, unusually clear strike of "U.S. German Sea P.O. Sep. 16 4AM 93" circular datestamp, well-balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
(Image Magnifier)$2.00 Brown Red, Columbian (242). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, far better centering than normally seen on this difficult issue
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF 90 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Typically, when a collector assembles an Extremely Fine, Mint Never-Hinged set of Columbians, the $2.00 space remains empty to the very end due to the low supply and high demand. It is simply one of the rarest stamps of the set in Mint N.H. condition with decent centering.
With 2009 and 2013 P.F. certificates (both XF 90). By way of comparison only six grade higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (five are graded 95). This is an affordable alternative to one graded 95 — the last two we sold at that grade brought $57,500 and $50,000. Scott value $3,600.
(Image Magnifier)$2.00 Brown Red, Columbian (242). Deep rich color on bright paper, clear strike of New York registry oval cancel, far better centering than normall seen on this issue
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE.
The $2.00 is one of the most difficult of all dollar-value Columbian stamps to obtain in such superb condition.
With 2013 P.S.A.G. certificate (Superb 98). Scott value $550.
(Image Magnifier)$3.00 Yellow Green, Columbian (243). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, perfectly centered with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A DAZZLING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.
Ex Curtis. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98). Only two grade higher (at 98J) and four others share this grade.
(Image Magnifier)$3.00 Yellow Green, Columbian (243). Intense shade and impression, beautiful centering, lightly struck rim of cancel at right
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING LIGHTLY CANCELLED AND CENTERED USED EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2001 and 2009 P.F. certificates as 243a, the Olive Green shade. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate as Yellow Green Scott 243 (XF-Superb 95).
(Image Magnifier)$4.00 Crimson Lake, Columbian (244). Mint N.H., beautiful shade on fresh paper, well-centered
VERY FINE. A SCARCE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $4.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED VF 80 BY THE P.F.
With 1997 and 2011 P.F. certificates (VF 80). By way of comparison, the P.S.E. Population report for Scott 244 and 244a shows a combined total of 17 examples in Mint N.H. condition graded 80 and higher.
(Image Magnifier)$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Original gum, single hinge mark, with left sheet selvage, intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95). The $5.00 Columbian is deceptively difficult to obtain in higher grades. For Mint N.H. the highest grade is a 95, and one of the two at that grade recently brought $80,000 hammer in our "Vaquero" sale. For hinged the highest grade is 98 but we have not offered one since our 2009 "Beverly Hills" sale. There are eight hinged graded 95J, and we have only sold two of them since 2014. There are 16 others graded 95, but they also do not come up very often — the last we offered was in our 2020 Morton auction.
(Image Magnifier)$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Exceptional centering with wide and balanced margins, intense shade on bright paper, cancelled by lightly struck "Mount Savage (Md.)" circular datestamp
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING USED EXAMPLE OF THE $5.00 COLUMBIAN, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
The dollar-value Columbian issues are extremely difficult to obtain in superb used condition. None of the denominations were issued to pay any actual postage rate, and collectors protested the high cost. Only 21,844 of the $5.00 were sold, and a small percentage of those were used, either on philatelic covers or on heavy registered parcels. The stamps on parcels or registered mail were frequently heavily cancelled, and the large package wrappers were susceptible to damage. The stamp offered here is a notable exception. It has a lightly struck datestamp cancel and beautifully balanced margins.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Scott value $1,250.
(Image Magnifier)$5.00 Black, Columbian (245). Intense shade, clear strike of "Washington D.C. Aug. 16 4-30P 1895" circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80)
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