Sale 1079 — The George A. Schwenk Collection of Newspapers & Periodicals
Sale Date — Thursday, 18 September, 2014
Category — 1875 Special Printing (Scott PR33-PR50)
2c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing, Horizontally Ribbed Paper (PR33a). Without gum as issued, bright shade, detailed impression, fresh and Fine, only the 2c, 3c and 4c are known on this paper, with 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR34). Without gum as issued, deep shade, Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate
3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing, Horizontally Ribbed Paper (PR34a). Without gum as issued, detailed impression, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, only the 2c, 3c and 4c are known on this paper, with 2007 P.F. certificate
3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing, Horizontally Ribbed Paper (PR34a). Without gum as issued, clear ribbed lines, bright shade and crisp impression, wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, only the 2c, 3c and 4c are known on this paper, ex Vineyard and Hoffman, with 2002 P.F. certificate
3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing, Horizontally Ribbed Paper (PR34a). Without gum as issued, proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, only the 2c, 3c and 4c are known on this paper, with 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing, Horizontally Ribbed Paper (PR34a). Without gum as issued, right selvage block of four, natural s.e. at top with part arrow, crisp impression, top left stamp small corner crease at top left, Fine appearance, only the 2c, 3c and 4c are known on this paper, with 2008 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as singles
4c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR35). Without gum as issued, intense shade, three wide margins, Very Fine, ex Vineyard, with 1988 P.F. certificate
4c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR35). Without gum as issued, block of four with part top imprint selvage, intense shade and impression, right selvage with light diagonal crease, Fine-Very Fine, scarce block, with 2008 P.F. certificate
6c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR36). Without gum as issued, deep shade, proof-like impression, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, a stamp with great visual appeal, with 2004 P.F. certificate
8c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR37). Without gum as issued, crisp impression, single short perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificate, otherwise Very Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
9c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR38). Without gum as issued, detailed impression, fresh and Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR39). Without gum as issued, well-balanced margins, crisp impression, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
12c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR40). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 12-CENT NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
24c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR41). Without gum as issued, intense color, wide marginsVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 411 sold. Ex Vineyard. With 1997 P.F. certificate
36c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR42). Without gum as issued, brilliant color in a pretty pastel shadeVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 36-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 330 sold. Ex Vineyard. With 1992 P.F. certificate
48c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR43). Without gum as issued, rich colorVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 48-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. A NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO FIND IN SUCH NICE CONDITION.
Only 268 sold. The last time we offered a decent copy was in 2009. With 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates
60c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR44). Without gum as issued, bright colorVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 60-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 222 sold. This is the only sound example with acceptable centering we have offered since 2004. With 2004 P.F. certificate
72c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR45). Without gum as issued, brilliant color on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 72-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 174 sold. Ex Vineyard. Small backstamp barely shows thru. With 1998 P.F. certificate
84c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR46). Without gum as issued, radiant color, well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 84-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 164 sold. Ex Vineyard. With 1997 P.F. certificate
96c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR47). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 96-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING, OF WHICH A MERE 141 WERE SOLD.
Among all of the outstanding Newspapers and Periodicals collections we have sold since 1997, we have only offered two other copies of this rarity, including one in Very Good condition. None was offered in the Floyd sale, and the Lyons copy had a light crease. This stamp, the ex-Lessin and ex-Silver Lake copies are the only sound examples we have been able to locate in any major recent sales.
Ex Vineyard. With 1993 P.S.E. and 1999 P.F. certificates.
$1.92 Dark Brown, 1875 Special Printing (PR48). Without gum as issued, intense color and proof-like impression, beautifully centered with choice balanced marginsAN EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 96-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 41 WERE SOLD.
No examples of this rarity were offered in either the Floyd or Lessin sales, and the Lyons copy was not as well centered. This is only the fourth example we have offered since keeping computerized records.
Ex Vineyard. With 1988 and 2002 P.F. certificates
$6.00 Ultramarine, 1875 Special Printing (PR50). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paperFRESH AND FINE. ONLY FOURTEEN WERE SOLD, AND ONLY FIVE HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE. ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
According to official figures for sales of the 1875 Newspaper Special Printings, 500 of the $6.00 were printed and received by the Post Office in 1875. On July 16, 1884, they were withdrawn from sale and the remaining supply was destroyed. Official records state that only 14 were sold during this nine-year period.
Our records contain only five copies certified as genuine: four by The Philatelic Foundation and this example certified by P.S.E. This is only the second we have offered since keeping computerized records; the last we offered was in our 2003 Rarities sale.
Census No. PR50-UNC-05. With 2003 P.S.E. certificate