The 11-13th April sale of outstanding United States stamps by Robert A. Siegal, New York achieved a total realisation of US$2.4m on an estimate of about US$2m.

The honour of top grossing item went to a block of six of the $5 Columbian (345) with bottom margin imprint and plate number (see below). Described as perfectly centered with well-balanced margins, but with a barely visible small tear at the top left stamp, it still managed to realise US$150,000.

Only four plate blocks of this issue have been recorded.



The big surprise was a $5.00 Dark Green (263) MNH (see right) with a pre-sale estimate of US$9,000, which was hammered down at US$40,000. It was described as having "choice centering and unusually wide margins, beautiful deep rich color and incredibly detailed impression showing all of the fine engraving lines in the background, bright and fresh paper".

This $5.00 stamp is believed to be the rarest of the 1894 Unwatermarked Bureau Issue in mint never hinged condition and is unlikely that more than four or five copies exist in such fine example.