Sale 1332 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 8-10 October, 2024
Category — 1873-88 Bank Note Issues
2c Brown (157). Block of six with part imprint bottom selvage, original gum, bottom center stamp Mint N.H., top stamps h.r., rich color and nicely centered, Very Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate, SCV $2,325 for block of four and pair without premium for the part imprint or the Mint N.H. stamp
2c Brown, Double Paper (157a). Block of 16 with selvage at left, bold quartered cork cancels, paper at bottom left corner separated and folded up for display, slight crease at bottom, Fine appearing and rare large multiple of the Double Paper variety, SCV $2,400 as singles
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Bottom imprint and plate no. 33 strip of five, either very disturbed original gum or possibly regummed, couple tears in selvage and perf separations, soiling in left stamp, Fine appearance, presentable and rare, an alternative to the unique full plate block which catalogues $18,500
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Block of four, disturbed original gum, bright color, few perf separations and couple slightly nibbed perfs, Fine, SCV $6,000
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Wide and beautifully balanced margins, vivid color, cancelled by well-struck New York Foreign Mail Star in Circle cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke and Gorham, with 2004 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (161). Horizontal strip of four with top full imprint selvage, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color, each stamp in right pair with a light vertical crease, Fine appearing and scarce position piece, with 2010 P.F. certificate, SCV $3,600 as two pairs without premium for the imprint
10c Brown, Silk Paper (161 var). Original gum, h.r., several noticeable silk paper fibers, wide margins, rich color, tiny corner perf crease at bottom left, Very Fine and scarce, this variety is identified by its tiny dark silk fibers throughout the paper, visible under magnification, it is also found on most of the other Continental printings, including the 1875 Issue, but not among the National and American printings, ex Caspary where acquired by the current owner
90c Rose Carmine (166). Block of four, original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and beautifully centered
VERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 1873 90-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Ex Hall. With 1997 P.F. certificate
2c Vermilion, With Grill (178c). Disturbed original gum, h.r., vibrant color, clear grill, Fine, red backstamp, with 1958 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (179). Jumbo margins, rich color on bright white paper complemented by red New York circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 20019 P.F. certificate
5c Blue (185). Mint N.H. horizontal block of six, gum applied a bit unevenly on bottom right stamp, extraordinarily well-centered throughout, the stamp at upper left with major double transfer in both labels
EXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THIS MAJOR DOUBLE TRANSFER IN A BLOCK, AND ONE OF THE FINEST-QUALITY MULTIPLES OF THIS BANK NOTE STAMP EXTANT.
Very few examples of this and other double transfers on the 5c Taylor plates are known.
Ex Hall and from our 1998 Rarities sale. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott value as Mint N.H. singles without premium for the double transfer.
6c Pink (186). Original gum, wide margins, pastel color, Very Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE PRINTING WITHOUT SECRET MARK.
This is surprisingly difficult to find in sound original-gum condition with wide margins.
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression, exceptional centering for any Bank Note stamp, much less for a rare Special Printing
VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT GARFIELD 1882 SPECIAL PRINTING, scott 205c. only 22 are AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
The American Bank Note Co. Special Printing on soft paper was made in 1880 to supply the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office with specimens of stamps for sale to collectors, as part of the Special Printing program. The 7c and 24c stamps had been discontinued when the 1879 Issue regular issue was printed by American on soft paper. Except for those two values, the others on soft paper (with gum) were available in post offices. For this reason, few collectors or dealers felt compelled to order the Special Printing stamps from the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office before the program ended in July 1884. At that point, any unsold stamps were destroyed.
In 1882 the 5c Garfield replaced the old 5c Taylor design, resulting in a new stamp (Scott 205) and a new Special Printing (Scott 205C). This Special Printing was the subject of an article by William E. Mooz in Chronicle 153 (February 1992). Mooz had a well-reasoned theory that a small delivery of the Special Printing (400 stamps) was available from the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office before the stamp was issued. Of these, it is possible that only 100 looked like the 5c Garfield stamps recognized as Special Printings today. Mooz offered evidence and analysis to show that the majority of 2,463 5c Garfield stamps sold as Special Printings were actually regular issues.
Our census of Scott 205C at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/205C contains 23 examples, including one in the Luff reference collection at The Philatelic Foundation. Its rarity matches or exceeds Scott 180 (24 known) and 211D (28 known). Eight of the 23, including the stamp offered here, come from two blocks of four that were divided into singles. One block had right sheet selvage (PFC 158) and contained census numbers 205C-UNC-08, 14 (this stamp), 21 (selvage removed) and 23. The other block was offered in the Caspary collection (PFC 7404) and has also been divided.
Census no. 205C-UNC-14. Ex Engel. With 1992 P.F. certificate.
10c Brown (209). Deep rich color, choice centering, perfect strike of negative "U.S. Mail" in Padlock fancy cancel of Stoneham Mass., Extremely Fine, a beautiful strike and stamp, with 1997 P.F. certificate
2¢ Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Mint N.H., lovely warm color, Very Fine and choice, with copy of 1991 P.F. certificate for block of eight
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Mint N.H. with bottom selvage, bright shade, Fine, ex Caspary
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Original gum, single hinge mark, deep rich color,, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 1969 P.F. certificate
4c Carmine, 5c Indigo (215-216). Mint N.H., fresh and Fine, No. 215 with 1987 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates, No. 216 with 208 P.S.E. certificate
30c Orange Brown (217). Bottom imprint and plate no. 405 strip of five, original gum, center stamp Mint N.H., others lightly hinged, gorgeous color and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2001 P.F. certificate, SCV $2,275 as singles without premium for the multiple or imprint
30c Orange Brown (217). Mint N.H., rich color and well-centered, Very Fine and choice, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
90c Purple (218). Block of four with top imprint selvage, original gum, h.r. in selvage where few perf separations sensibly reinforced, perfs in stamps are strong and intact, rich color
FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE BLOCK OF FOUR WITH TOP SELVAGE OF THE 90-CENT 1888 ISSUE.
Ex Caspary where acquired by the current owner. SCV $4,750 as an ordinary block.
90c Purple (218). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. and 2024 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85), SCV $800
90c Purple (218). Original gum, balanced margins, Very Fine and choice, with 1999 P.F. certificate
90c Purple (218). Original gum, well-centered, deep rich color on fresh paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1969 and 1998 P.F. certificates