10c Orange Brown, Ty. II, Vertical Watermark (283a). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed on crisp paper, phenomenal centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 283a IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP IS GRADED SUPERB 98 P.S.E. — THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE AND ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER.

According to Brookman, the 10-cent Type II has the same type characteristics as the 1890 Issue, and so was likely made prior to Type I, which shows an altered die in the area of the circle surrounding the left denomination. In the 2007 Scott Specialized, the listings were clarified to include both the horizontal and vertical watermarks. In an article in the 2007 Scott Specialized, author Kenneth E. Diehl notes that the 10c stamps with vertical watermarks were printed from plates of 200 subjects, and were put on the presses in early 1902. The horizontal watermarked stamps (Scott 283) were printed from sheets of 400 stamps and were printed first.

It is curious to note that the vertical watermarked issue, Scott 283a, was printed after the 10c Trans-Mississippi and 10c Pan-American Issues, and only a short time before the 10c 1902 Issue, Scott 307, was printed (EDU March 12, 1903). We must therefore conclude that this issue was printed in limited quantities. The existence of this example in Superb 98 grade is truly remarkable.

With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). Only one grades higher (at 100, last offered by us in our 2012 Merlin sale) and no others share this grade. Below this there are two graded 95.

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