Sale 1129 — 2016 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 31 May, 2016
Category — 1870-88 Bank Note Issues with Special Printings
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Pretty pastel shade, several clear grill points, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel (V-W Type A20)EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Hansen. With 1992 and 2009 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Original gum, lightly hinged, clearly-defined grill points easily visible just below Commodore Perry's chin, intense shade and impressionVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. THE 90-CENT IS THE THIRD MOST DIFFICULT OF THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and 30c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue.
With 1973 and 2011 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine, H. Grill (144). Unused (no gum), deep rich color on bright paper, several rows of easily discernible grill points, unusually choice centering for this difficult issue with wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERBLY-CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH H GRILL. RARE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.
With 1976, 1998 and 2012 P.F. certificates (NG, VF-XF 85)
1c Dark Ultramarine, Special Printing (192). Without gum as issued, rich color, three wide margins, well clear at bottom, thin spot at bottom of bust not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 26 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Our census of Scott 192, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/192/192.pdf , contains a total of 26 copies.
Census No. 192-UNC-23. Ex T. Cullen Davis and Mielstrup. Purple mark on back. With 1964 P.F. certificate as sound
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, small thin spotsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK BROWN 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 193 contains 48 certified examples, of which almost half have faults.
Unpublished Census No. 193-UNC-02. Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and offered to the market for the first time since 1972. With 1973 P.F. certificate
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (194). Without gum as issued, rich color, characteristic centering for this rarityVERY FINE. THE 3-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY FOURTEEN EXAMPLES.
Our census of Scott 194, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/194/194.pdf , contains only fourteen examples. Its rarity matches or exceeds the most valuable Special Printings, such as Scott Nos. 180 (24 known), 203 (20 known), 204 (18 known), 205C (21 known) and 211D (25 known). In fact, it is the rarest of any Bank Note Special Printing among the Scott-listed "sets" (167-177 and 192-202). This is the first example of this rarity we have offered since 2009.
The old P.F. certificate accompanying this stamp describes it as "toned," but it is not. There is a story behind this certificate that deserves retelling and has probably not been published anywhere. In 1973 a set of 1880 American Bank Note Co. Special Printings was submitted to The Philatelic Foundation. John R. Boker, Jr., who was actively involved in the expertizing process at that time, insisted that the stamps should be described as "toned," and his opinion was not overruled. Since then, every stamp from this group with the "toned" certificates has proven to be without toning. We are confident this stamp will receive a clear certificate and offer it subject to receiving one.
Census No. 194-UNC-10. Ex Colonel Green, "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and Kharasch. Blue "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. With 1973 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (195). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, long and full perforations all around, tiny insignificant paper fiber disturbance at top center in marginVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 27 ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 195 contains 26 certified examples, an oddly low number. Some of the stamps submitted as the Special Printing, but certified as the regular issue, Scott 186, could in fact be Special Printing stamps (the two are difficult to tell apart). We record another three stamps which we feel are possibly Scott 195, despite previous P.F. certification. Although most examples of this rarity are sound (or potentially sound), many are off center. The example offered here has been off the market since 1973 and has never been certified.
Census No. 195-UNC-27. Ex Katharine Matthies (Siegel Sale 439, lot 247) and offered to the market for the first time since that 1973 auction.
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, small thin spots at topFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our unpublished census of Scott 196 contains 81 examples. Census No. 196-UNC-81. Offered for the first time since our 1971 Rarities sale.
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, rich color, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND NICELY CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- ONLY 32 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 197 contain 32 certified examples. Of these, nine have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (seven have not been examined in many years).
Census No. 197-UNC-03. Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and offered to the market for the first time since that 1972 auction. Blue "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. With 1973 P.F. certificate
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, choice centeringVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 198 contains 62 certified examples. Of these, one-third have small flaws. Many have poor centering.
Census No. 198-UNC-33. Ex Max L. Simon (Siegel Sale 292, Oct. 1965) and our Sale 427 of 1973 where acquired by the current owner. With 1959 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, small natural inclusion, rounded corner at bottom leftFINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 15-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 199 contains only 37 certified examples. Of these, only 12 are confirmed as sound, 10 have faults and 15 need to be reexamined according to current methods and standards. Many of the stamps, regardless of condition, are off center.
Census No. 199-UNC-25. Ex Caspary and Kharasch. With 1957 P.F. certificate
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, three wide margins, small thin spot at topVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found 67 certified copies of Scott 200, 24 of which have faults (usually a thin spot). A few exist outside of that population, including the example offered here.
Small backstamp
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, small blue ink spot near faceFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 201 contains 44 examples certified as genuine, 16 of which have faults (usually a thin spot). Only ten are confirmed as sound, and only seven of these have decent centering. Another 18 need to be reexamined for condition, but only a handful of these have nice centering.
Census No. 201-UNC-39. Ex Mielstrup (Siegel Sale 431, May 1973) where acquired by the current owner. With 1957 P.F. certificate
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, long and full perforations, trivial natural inclusion behind headVERY FINE . A SCARCE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 41 ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.
Our census of Scott 202 contains approximately 41 certified copies. The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition. Thins or more serious faults affect about half of the known examples.
Census No. 202-UNC-04. Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422, 1972) where acquired by the current owner. Small blue "W.H.C. " (Colson) backstamp. With 1973 P.F. certificate
2c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (203). Without gum as issued, radiant colorVERY FINE. THE 2-CENT SCARLET VERMILION 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. OUR CENSUS CONTAINS ONLY 20 EXAMPLES.
Our census of Scott 203, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/203/203.pdf , contains only 19 stamps which are available to collectors. The 20th copy is in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library.
Census No. 203-UNC-01. Small blue "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. Acquired by the current owner in our 1973 Rarities sale. With 1973 P.F. certificate.
5c Deep Blue, Special Printing (204). Without gum as issued, rich color and sharp impression, three wide margins, clear at top, thinned at topA FINE APPEARING AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 18 COPIES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
The 5c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is the second most elusive of all the Bank Note Special printings. Our census of Scott 204 is available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/204/204.pdf , and records only 18 copies of this stamp, including one example in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library.
Census No. 204-UNC-09. Acquired by the current owner in our 1967 Rarities sale. With 1966 P.F. certificate
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, few thin spotsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1882 5-CENT GARFIELD SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 205C. ONLY 21 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
This elusive Special Printing was the subject of an informative article by William E. Mooz in Chronicle 153 (February 1992). His research provides strong evidence that the stamps recognized as Scott 205C are a small part of the 2,463 sold as Special Printings through the Third Asst. PMG, and that regular issues were used to fill the backlog of orders for the 5c Garfield.
Our census of Scott 205C (available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/205C/205C.pdf ) illustrates the 21 recorded examples.
Census No. 205C-UNC-06. Ex Robert B. Greenes (Siegel Sale 395, May 1971) where acquired by the current owner. With 1969 P.F. certificate
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, tiny thin spot in top margin where one shortish perfVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1883 4-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 26 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/211D/211D.pdf , contains 26 stamps offered as No. 211D, of which 25 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Post Office Department records indicate that only 26 were sold.
Census No. 211D-UNC-07. Last offered in our 1976 Rarities sale. With 1948 P.F. certificate
1c-90c 1887-88 Bank Note Issue, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proofs (212P2a-218P2a). Complete set of seven proofs, deep rich colors, far less of the faint toning normally encountered with these proofs, 30c tiny thin spotVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE SET OF PANAMA-PACIFIC SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1887-88 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. PERHAPS 3-5 ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS THE ONLY INTACT SET WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.
From February 20 to December 4, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition was held in San Francisco, to commemorate Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean and to celebrate the opening of mankind's greatest engineering achievement, the Panama Canal.
The Post Office Department decided to prepare a limited number of proof sets showing every United States stamp printed up to the time of the Exposition. A total of 413 different designs were made. Only two sets were officially prepared, but it is widely recognized that between 3 and 5 of each were made. These included Officials, Newspapers and Periodicals, Philippines and other special use stamps.
These proofs are rarely offered as a complete set. 30c and 90c accompanied by 1990 P.F. certificates (not mentioning the tiny thin on the 30c)