The Beverly Hills Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps continued...

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 6-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE. THIS REMARKABLE STAMP, WITH ITS PRISTINE GUM, BEAUTIFUL COLOR, POST-OFFICE FRESH PAPER AND PERFECT CENTERING, HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E.

Ex Scarsdale. 1988 and 2000 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98, SMQ $13,200.00). Only one other has achieved this exalted grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS STAMP, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E., IS WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN EXISTENCE.

The unwatermarked 1894 Issue was the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's first effort producing postage stamps. As collectors know only too well, the stamps are typically poorly centered with irregular perforations. Issued quantities of the higher values on unwatermarked paper were small -- only 175,330 of the 50c, compared to 244,110 of the 30c 1869 -- and collectors have hinged most of the supply in philatelic hands. This 50c stamp has margins and centering rarely seen on any copy, used or unused, and its Mint Never-Hinged condition elevates it to the top of its class.

In his three-volume work on 19th Century United States stamps, Lester G. Brookman wrote the following about the 50c 1894 Issue: "There are few, if any, of the 19th century U.S. stamps that are so difficult to find in superb used condition as is this stamp. The price for commercial copies of this stamp can well be multiplied by 10 and the buyer of a superb copy of this stamp at such a price can rejoice in the fact he has a bargain!" Brookman's comments apply equally to 50c stamps with original gum and actually understate the value of a Mint Never-Hinged example.

Ex Hewitt, Zoellner and Fox. 1998 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $31,700.00 as 98). This is the only stamp to have achieved this exalted grade in the P.S.E. Population Report. The next closest Mint N.H. examples are graded 95 (2). There are no other examples in any category graded above 95J. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SPECTACULAR MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 $1.00 TYPE I UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE -- WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.

As discussed in the previous lot, high-value unwatermarked 1894 Bureau Issues in Mint N.H. condition with exceptional centering are true rarities. This stamp is among the finest known.

P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, $39,300.00 as 98). Only one stamp has graded higher to date in the P.S.E. Population Report (Gem 100). The next highest grade in Mint N.H. condition after this stamp is 90J (from our Scarsdale and Hoffman sales). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 1894 UNWATERMARKED TYPE II BUREAU ISSUE. ONE OF THE FINEST COPIES IN EXISTENCE.

As discussed in the prior two lots, collectors of this issue know that it is extremely difficult to find the 1894 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 contract expired.

P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $34,700.00). Only one has graded higher to date (95J) in the P.S.E. Population Report and no other examples share this desirable grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1895 TY. II WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO HAVE ACHIEVED THIS EXALTED GRADE TO DATE.

P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98, SMQ $3,600.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date in the P.S.E. Population Report and no others share this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

1987 and 2000 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo, SMQ $2,900.00 as 95, $15,900.00 as 98). This is the only example thus far to achieve this grade. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $2.00 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE BRIGHT BLUE COLOR. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED AND CENTERED CONDITION. THIS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.

As an indication of rarity, we have offered only ten of this shade and three of the Dark Blue shade in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records.

P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $20,300.00). Only one other stamp shares this grade (from our Whitman sale, realized $23,000 hammer) and none graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1894 5-CENT UNWATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE.

P.S.E. encapsulated (Superb 98 Jumbo, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $2,850.00 as 98). This is the only example to have achieved this grade to date. An example graded Superb 98 realized $3,250 hammer in our Sale 976. (Image)

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