US Stamps Prices Scott Cat. 277: 1895 US$2.00 James Madison Bureau. Page 4

$2.00 Dark Blue (Scott 277a). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and detailed impression on bright paper, well-balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF 80; SMQ $950.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3628

$2.00 Bright Blue (277). Perfectly centered with wide margins, magnificent color on bright paper which is nicely contrasted by double oval registry and red cancels EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1895 $2.00 WATERMARKED ISSUE. The $2.00 Watermarked issue (Scott 277) was issued in significantly greater quantities than its unwatermarked counterpart (10,027 of Scott 262 versus 31,720 of Scott 277). However, the watermarked $2.00 is almost as difficult to find in superbly centered used condition with an attractive cancel. The P.S.E. Population Report lists seven examples graded XF-90 or above of No. 262 and only eight of No. 277. Ex Natalee Grace, With 1999 P.F. and 2010 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,650.00). Only one has graded higher (at 98) and only four others share this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3629

$2.00 Bright Blue (Scott 277). Bright shade, wide margins, neat strike of oval registry cancel, fresh and Very Fine, with 2000 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2014, Sale 1084, Lot 3630

277, 1895 $2 Bright blue,double oval registry cancel, deep rich color, 2013 PF Graded VF 80 certificate (Scott price $450) 

H.R. Harmer, Oct 2014, Sale 3006, Lot 1292

$2.00 Bright Blue (Scott 277). Original gum, rich color on bright paper, natural gum crease at left, Very Fine appearance

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 407

$2.00 Bright Blue (Scott 277). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, wide margins, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 406

$2.00 Dark Blue (Scott 277a). Original gum, h.r., deep rich color, Very Fine and choice

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 409

$2.00 Bright Blue (Scott 277). Original gum, single hinge mark, intense shade and impression, single bent perf at bottom center, Very Fine appearance

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2014, Sale 1078, Lot 408

U.S. General Issues, 1895, $2 Bright Blue, #277, o.g. (h.r.), Fine to Very Fine, PSAG (2014) cert. Scott $900. Estimate value $300-350.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2014, Sale 102, Lot 1915

U.S. General Issues, 1895, $2 Bright Blue, #277, dist. o.g., “short perfs at the top and two gum soaked perfs at the right”, Fine to Very Fine appearance, PSE (2005) cert. Scott $900. Estimate value $150-180.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Aug 2014, Sale 102, Lot 1916

$2.00 Bright Blue (Scott 277). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, pretty color, face-free duplex cancel, Very Fine and choice

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jul 2014, Sale 1077, Lot 199

1895, $2 dark blue (Scott 277a), o.g., lightly hinged, a sensational example with astounding deep rich color and extremely large margins, a beautiful stamp that would please the most quality conscious collector, Extremely Fine, 2004 P.S.E. certificate graded XF-90 describing this stamp as Scott #277, the bright blue shade which it clearly is not. SMQ $1,500 in the grade of XF-90. Scott $950. Estimate $1,000 – 1,500.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, May 2014, Sale 653, Lot 2192

277, 1895 $2 Bright blue, light non-obtrusive cancel, fresh impression, Very Fine (Scott price $450)

H.R. Harmer, May 2014, Sale 3005, Lot 1205

277, 1895 $2 Bright blue, bright and attractive, o.g., tiny inclusion on lip, nearly Very Fine (Scott price $950)

H.R. Harmer, May 2014, Sale 3005, Lot 1204

Scott #277a, $2.00 Dark blue, an incredibly well centered mint single, o.g., l.h., fabulous proof-like impression, perfs. at bottom show traces of guide line, extremely fine.

Spink Shreves Galleries, May 2014, Sale 148, Lot 229