Sale 1235 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 19-20 May, 2021
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Co. Hard Paper Special Printing (Scott 167-177)
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, virtually complete perforations all around, bright color and paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING WITH PERFORATIONS ALL AROUND.
Our census of Scott 167 contains 47 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 46 available to collectors. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around.
Census no. 167-UNC-09. Ex Hewitt and Gorham. With 1983 and 2001 P.F. certificates.
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual but with intact perforations on all four sides, rich color on bright paperVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 168 contains 62 examples. Many have perfs scissors-trimmed on at least one side and many have perforations into the design.
Census no. 168-UNC-11. 1982 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2015 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (170). Without gum as issued, full and complete perforations all around, bright color, three huge margins to clear of design at bottomVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING WITH COMPLETE PERFORATIONS ALL AROUND AND WIDE MARGINS -- ONLY 36 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 170 contains 36 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 35 available to collectors. Approximately half have scissors-trimmed perfs on at least one side. Most others are either off-center or have small faults. This example, with complete perfs and three extra wide margins, is in the top tier of that small population.
Census no. 170-UNC-11. P.F. certificate no. 238561 no longer accompanies. With 2004 P.F. certificate
7c Reddish Vermilion, Special Printing (171). Without gum as issued, intact perforations on all sides, choice centering with balanced margins, brilliant color on bright paperVERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 171 contains 76 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 75 available to collectors. Most stamps were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side.
Census no. 171-UNC-76. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate
12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, intact perforations on all sides but P.F. certificate states reperfed at bottom -- some of the partly punched perfs might have been cleaned up, but we think it is not reperfed -- wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 173 contains 73 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 72 available to collectors. Many are scissors-separated on at least one side.
Census no. 173-UNC-63. P.F. certificate no. 378156 (does not accompany) states reperfed at bottom. With 1999 P.S.E. certificate as sound
15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, vivid shade, well-centered, usual scissors separation but all perfs fully intactVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.
Our census of Scott 174 contains 40 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 39 available to collectors. Of these, an overwhelming majority have reduced or missing perforations from scissors-separation on at least one side. Only five or six have intact perforations, and of those perhaps half are faulty. This sound and attractively centered example with intact perforations is a true condition rarity.
Census no. 174-UNC-01. Ex Col. Green and from our 1998 Rarities sale. With 2008 P.F. certificate
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, outstanding centering with full intact perforations on all sides, deep rich color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. SCARCE WITH PERFORATIONS ON ALL SIDES AND WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
Our census of Scott 175 contains approximately 110 examples. Few show complete perfs as seen on the stamp offered here and even fewer have centering that matches this example.
Census no. 175-UNC-30. 1975 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2009 P.F. certificate
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, virtually complete perforations on all sides, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTINGS IN EXISTENCE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
Many examples of the Continental Bank Note Special Printings were separated by scissors, and so are often found with perforations partly missing or entirely trimmed away. A review of our records and those of The Philatelic Foundation found 52 certified copies. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations on all four sides. We count perhaps two or three with decent centering, including the stamp offered here.
Census No. 176-UNC-20. Ex Gorham. With 1974 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
90c Violet Carmine, Special Printing (177). Without gum as issued, showing top selvage and full perforations all around, wonderfully deep rich color on bright paper, nicely balanced and wide margins, tiny expertly sealed tear in second perf hole at bottom left is barely detectable and mentioned only on the later P.F. certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 90-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 177 contains 48 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 47 available to collectors. Only seventeen have perforations intact on all four sides, and of these only nine are confirmed as sound. Many have poor centering.
Census no. 177-UNC-14. P.F. certificate nos. 257324 (sound) and 334648 (mentioning the tiny tear) no longer accompany. With clear 2007 P.S.E. certificate