US Stamp Price Scott Catalog #279B: 2c 1897 George Washington Bureau. Page 3

279Bc, 1899 2c Rose carmine, Type IV, rich color, NH, Fine (Scott value $850)

H.R. Harmer, Nov 2013, Sale 3004, Lot 1198

2c Rose Carmine, Ty. IV (Scott 279Bc). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, crisp paper, perfectly centered with unusually wide margins all around, long and full perforations EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 2-CENT TYPE IV ROSE CARMINE HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT AND WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. The Rose Carmine shade (offered here) should not be confused with its more common brethren in the more readily available shades. According to Brookman, “The really scarce shade of the 1898 2c is the Rose Carmine. It is a shade not too unlike the Pink of the 1861 Series except that it is considerably darker.” Ex Merlin. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ price $22,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 868

2c Pink, Ty. IV (Scott 279Bg). Tied by well-struck “Exposition Sta., Omaha, Nebr., Jun. 9 6PM 98” duplex datestamp on illustrated Trans-Mississippi Exposition Nebraska Commission corner card cover to the Blind Institute in Nebraska City Nebr., receiving backstamp, Very Fine, the Exposition opened to the public on June 1 but the stamps were not ready until June 17, this was used in the period before the Trans-Mississippi stamps were available

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1056, Lot 368

1898, 2¢ orange red, type IV (279Bd), top plate block of 6, o.g., lightly hinged (5 stamps never hinged), astounding TOP QUALITY example of this rarely offered and ridiculously undervalued plate block, a fantastic wide top with dynamite color, worthy of bids in multiples of it’s modest catalog value, Very Fine, 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott $220. Estimate $200 – 300.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Sep 2013, Sale 639, Lot 3372

1898, 2¢ rose carmine, type IV (Scott 279Bc), left margin single with part imprint, o.g., never hinged, impressive never hinged example of this scarce rose carmine shade, with lively color and razor sharp impression, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $850. Estimate $500 – 750.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2013, Sale 636, Lot 227

1898, 2¢ red, type IV (Scott 279B), left plate block of 6, o.g., never hinged, desirable high quality left sheet margin multiple with fabulous color, much nicer than normally encountered and ridiculously undervalued in Scott, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $360. Estimate value $200 – 300.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2013, Sale 636, Lot 228

1898, 2¢ red, type IV (Scott 279Bj), booklet pane of 6, o.g., lightly hinged, sharp example with clear impression, good strong perforations all around, a trivial pencil notation in top selvage, Fine. Scott $500. Estimate $200 – 300.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Apr 2013, Sale 636, Lot 229

2c Red, Ty. IV, Booklet Pane of Six, Vertical Wmk. (Scott 279Bk). Position E, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, Fine-Very Fine

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2013, Sale 1040, Lot 2187

2c Red, Ty. IV, Booklet Pane of Six, Horizontal Wmk. (Scott 279Bj). Radiant color, missing top tab, bold strikes of “Allegheny Pa.” registry oval cancels, center pair with thins, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a rare used booklet pane, our census of this issue in used condition, available at http://siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/279Bj/279Bj.pdf , contains only five used panes, of which only two retain their tabs, with 2007 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2013, Sale 1040, Lot 2186

1898, 2¢ red, type IV (Scott 279B), top plate block of 6, o.g., very lightly hinged, extremely intense color, a handsome example of this difficult plate, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $200. Estimate price $150 – 200.

Daniel Kelleher Auctions, Mar 2013, Sale 635, Lot 396

2c Rose Carmine, Ty. IV (Scott 279Bc). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, vibrant color, choice centering, Extremely Fine, scarce shade, with 1997 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1037, Lot 1902

2c Rose Carmine, Ty. IV (Scott 279Bc). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed, crisp paper, perfectly centered with unusually wide margins all around, long and full perforations EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS MAGNIFICENT MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1898 2-CENT TYPE IV ROSE CARMINE HAS BEEN GRADED GEM 100 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS BY FAR THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT AND WITHOUT QUESTION THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. The Rose Carmine shade (offered here) should not be confused with its more common brethren in the more readily available shades. According to Brookman, “The really scarce shade of the 1898 2c is the Rose Carmine. It is a shade not too unlike the Pink of the 1861 Series except that it is considerably darker.” With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (Gem 100, unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 98, SMQ $22,000.00 as 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve this grade.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2012, Sale 1034, Lot 262

2c Red, Ty. IV (279B). Bright color, wide margins with perfect centering, face-free cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98, SMQ value $475.00), this is sole example graded 98 and the highest graded stamp for Scott 279B in any condition category

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3401

2c Carmine, Ty. IV (279Bf). Bright color, wide margins with almost mathematically perfect centering, neat machine cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 2011 P.F. (as Scott 279Bf var. Reddish Carmine) and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (Superb 98, SMQ price $575.00), this is sole example graded 98 and the highest graded stamp for Scott 279Bf in any condition category

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1032, Lot 3402

2c Orange Red, Ty. IV, Horizontal Wmk., Booklet Pane of Six (279Bj). Position A, choice centering for this difficult issue, radiant color, each stamp with neat strike of Washington D.C. oval registry cancel, top pair light diagonal crease VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED INTACT USED PANES WITH THE TAB. THE 1900 2-CENT WASHINGTON IS THE FIRST BOOKLET ISSUED BY THE UNITED STATES. A PHENOMENAL RARITY. According to U.S. Booklets and Booklet Panes, 1900-1978, the first country to issue booklets was Luxembourg in 1895, followed by the United States and Canada in 1900. They were placed on sale in Washington D.C. on April 18, 1900, and proved to be very popular — by noon the supply was exhausted. The booklets were first printed on plates of 360 subjects. These panes all had the horizontal watermark orientation. The large size caused excessive waste due to uneven shrinkage of the paper, and so production was shifted to plates of 180 subjects. These smaller plates all had a vertical watermark orientation. Up until 2006 Scott Catalogue did not list these separately, and the booklets were designated Scott 279Be. Starting in 2007 the 279Be listing was changed, and the booklets became listed by the watermarks, as Scott 279Bj (horizontal watermark) and 279Bk (vertical watermark). Our census of Scott 279B booklets, incorporating the listings for the old 279Be and the two new Scott numbers, is shown below and available at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/279Be/279Be.pdf . We record only five used panes, one of which is on cover. None is completely sound, and only two are intact panes with the tab. No full panes are known on cover. None is certified as used with the vertical watermark. Census No. 279Bj-CAN-01. With 1997 P.F. certificate as 279Be. In our opinion this is severely undercatalogued in Scott — its rarity is similar to that of Scott 300b booklet pane, which catalogues $12,500.00 in used condition.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2012, Sale 1027, Lot 160