Superb and Rare United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 3-CENT IS POSSIBLY THE RAREST OF THE POSTAGE DUE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.

Although 436 copies were reported sold, it is believed that 100 copies were destroyed in the Calman lot. A thorough search of the marketplace, combined with conversations with dealers and collectors, has confirmed the extreme rarity of this stamp.

This is only the fourth example we have sold in the last five years. The other three are the Zoellner copy (original gum, inclusion, poorly centered), the Drucker copy (no gum, poorly centered), and a third copy (original gum, reperfed at top). This is the only sound copy we have offered with any amount of original gum.

With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE POSTAGE DUE ISSUE.

With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. IN OUR OPINION, AND SUBSTANTIATED BY OUR EXTENSIVE AUCTION RECORDS, THIS IS THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 50-CENT 1894 UNWATERMARKED BUREAU POSTAGE DUE ISSUE. NOT ONLY ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING POSTAGE DUE STAMPS IN EXISTENCE, BUT ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL BUREAU ISSUES.

The 50c 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Postage Due Issue is notorious for its typically poor centering. Only a tiny fraction of the total population exists with centering that could be compared with this example, and it is unlikely that any other has the margin width of this stamp or Mint N.H. gum. For the record, we have offered three Mint N.H. singles, none with margins and centering equal to the stamp offered here.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE HIGH-GRADE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1914 3-CENT PERF 10 POSTAGE DUE, SCOTT J54.

With 2005 P.F. certificate (Image)