Sale 1277 — The Adventurer Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 March, 2023
Category — 1873-75 Continental Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 156-166)
1c Gray Blue (156 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color which is significantly different than the normal Ultramarine shade, Extremely Fine, with 1979 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (157). Original gum, lightly hinged, pretty shade, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 1985 and 1987 P.F. certificates, the former as part of a block
3c Green (158). Mint N.H., deep rich color, Very Fine and choice, with 1977 P.F. certificate, Scott value as hinged
3c Green, With Grill (158e). Original gum, h.r., clearly-defined grill, wide margins, Very Fine and choice example of this unusual grill variety, rare with such choice centering, with 1977 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Pink (159). Original gum, brilliant color, unusually choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 1978 P.F. certificate
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, with 1978 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (161). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, Jumbo margins, Very Fine and choice, a huge stamp, with 1978 P.F. certificate
12c Blackish Violet (162). Original gum, deep shade and incredibly strong impression, almost perfectly centered with immense and well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB JUMBO ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE PRINTING IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE CONDITION.
Ex "Laila". With 2003 and 2009 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
15c Yellow Orange (163). Unused (no gum), brilliant color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2010 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
30c Gray Black (165). Original gum, lightly hinged, charcoal gray shade, fine impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL PRINTING. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
The 30c Continental is extremely rare in original-gum condition with choice centering. Blocks have always been rare -- for example, Caspary did not have one; Lilly had one well-centered block of four and an off-center block of six -- which means that singles could not be easily harvested from multiples.
Ex Whitman. With 2001 and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, brilliant color on crisp paper, perfectly centered with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, SCOTT 166, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
The Superb 98 grade becomes exponentially more difficult to achieve as one moves away from the modern issues toward the perforated classics. In particular, the Bank Note Issue high values rarely possess the wide "boxed" margins and precise centering that define the Superb 98 grade.
With 1999 P.F. and 2023 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98; SMQ $18,500.00). Only one other shares this grade (from our 2012 Rarities sale) and one grades higher (at 98J).