EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM TOP IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF SIX OF THE $2.00 1895 WATERMARKED BUREAU ISSUE IN THE DARK BLUE SHADE.

This issue was printed from only one printing plate -- Plate 84. Lewis Kaufman's records contain only five plate blocks of this issue -- all are described as the Dark Blue shade: 1) top plate block of six, from our 1986 Rarities sale and offered here, 2) the plate block offered in the following lot, from our 1985 Rarities sale and ex Wampler, 3) top plate block of six, offered in our 1967 Rarities sale and illustrated in Durland book, 4) top plate block, regummed, ex Simon (1975 Siegel sale), and 5) top plate block, selvage partly separated and rejoined, offered in Oct. 1974 Siegel sale and more recently in the Newport collection.

With 1971 P.F. certificate

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT.

The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Estimates of surviving examples range from an early count (1945) of 55 unused and 2-3 used to the 1998 Datz estimate of 150 unused, 3-5 used and a block of four intact. Our Levi records contain the intact block (4), reconstructed block (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left. This Extremely Fine sound stamp with original gum is among the finest known examples.

Ex Drucker. With 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates. Scott footnote states "Almost all unused copies of No. 295a have partial or disturbed gum. Values are for examples with full original gum that is slightly disturbed." The stamp offered here has fresh lightly-hinged gum.

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. THIS MARVELOUS STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF XF 90 BY P.S.E.

The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known. Estimates of surviving examples range from an early count (1945) of 55 unused and 2-3 used to the 1998 Datz estimate of 150 unused, 3-5 used and a block of four intact. Our Levi records contain the intact block offered in this sale (4), a reconstructed block offered in our Zoellner sale (4), 64 unused singles and 6 used singles, for a total of 72 unused and 6 used. Many of the unused singles have disturbed gum or no gum, and/or are off center to top or top left.

With 1976 and 1993 P.F. certificates and 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF 90). The Scott Catalogue value is for a stamp with slightly disturbed gum.

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. THE 90-CENT IS THE THIRD MOST DIFFICULT OF THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue. As a point of reference, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only two OG examples: one Mint N.H. stamp at VF 80 and one OGph stamp at 20(!).

Ex Argentum (where it realized $32,500 hammer in our 1999 auction). With 1984 and 1999 P.F. certificates

VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN INVERT. SCARCE IN SUCH PRISTINE CONDITION.

The 4c Pan-American Invert was a special printing and not regularly issued. Examples were distributed through two official channels, and the gum on the majority of stamps without "Specimen" overprint was disturbed. In fact, because the stamps were removed from mounting paper, they are generally thinned or have seriously disturbed gum.

With 2005 P.S.E. certificate

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our recently updated census of Scott 197 contains only 30 examples certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. Of these, seven have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (some have not been examined in many years).

With 1954, 1992 and 2004 P.F. certificates

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 4-CENT MARTHA WASHINGTON IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL PERF 10 AT ONE SIDE STAMPS. THE EXAMPLE OFFERED HERE IS PROBABLY THE BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLE IN EXISTENCE.

Our records of Scott 556b contain only four used examples. Of these, three have precancels, and one shows transitional perfs at top.

With 1993 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates

FINE. THE 1857 5-CENT RED BROWN IS AN EXTREMELY RARE STAMP WITH ORIGINAL GUM. THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND SINGLE WITH ORIGINAL GUM WE HAVE OFFERED IN OVER TEN YEARS OF AUCTIONS. ONE OF THE GREATEST UNHERALDED ORIGINAL-GUM RARITIES OF CLASSIC UNITED STATES PHILATELY. The perforated 5c 1856” Red Brown (Scott 28) stamps were made from the stock of imperforate stamps on hand in 1857 when perforations were introduced. Since these were the first 5c stamps to be put through the perforating machine, they were the first to be used, and very few unused examples survive, especially with original gum.

In the past ten years we have offered over 120,000 auction lots of primarily U.S. stamps. During that time, we have offered only one other single with original gum and the block in the following lot. In our opinion, the Scott Catalogue value for Scott 28 with original gum is far too low. The number of original-gum Scott 28 singles falls somewhere between the numbers for the Brick Red (Scott 27) and the Indian Red (Scott 28A), which catalogue $80,000.00 and $175,000.00, respectively. However, since so few have traded hands in the past ten years and since collectors are generally unaware of how rare this issue is with original gum, the catalogue value has remained largely unchanged. Ex Golin. With 1999 and 2008 P.F. certificate.

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE. NO MORE THAN THREE EXAMPLES OF THE ONE-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL WITHOUT GRILL ARE KNOWN, ACCORDING TO THE ROSE BOOK. We have offered only two since our 1997 Rose sale -- one other and this copy, which appeared in our sale of the Coulter collection in 2006. Ex Coulter. With 2006 P.F. certificate