Sale 1122 — The Hanover Collection of Superb-Quality U.S. Stamps-Part One
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 April, 2016
Category — 1873-75 Continental Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 156-179)
2c Brown (157). Original gum, single hinge mark with gum covering the entire back of the stamp, deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 2-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,400.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only two others share it. By way of comparison, the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. example is a 90J (one copy).
3c Green (158). Mint N.H., pretty shade, choice centering with well-proportioned margins, Extremely Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, brilliant color, almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Ex "Scarsdale". With 1998 and 2007 P.F. certificates
10c Brown (161). Mint N.H., beautiful deep rich shade, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 10-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
We have offered only three others in Mint N.H. condition since keeping computerized records.
With 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
30c Greenish Black (165 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, soft charcoal gray shade with a greenish cast that is unique to the Continental printing, crisp impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN THE GREENISH BLACK SHADE.
The 30c Continental is extremely rare in any original-gum condition that approaches this example. 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 harvested from multiples.
With 1983 and 1990 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $16,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade, a statistic that has not changed in half a decade.
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, brilliant color, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 90-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2000 P.F. certificate
10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, intact perforations all around, well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 172 contain 36 certified examples. A majority of these have been scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side. Of the eleven copies with full perforations, most have either pulled perforations or are not centered. Only four qualify as having decent centering, one of which was offered in our 2012 sale of the David W. Gorham collection.
Unpublished Census No. 172-UNC-31. Ex Curtis. With 1947, 1989 and 2013 P.F. certificates (NGAI, XF 90)
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 24-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, WHICH IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 175 contain approximately 100 examples. This is certainly one of the finest.
Unpublished Census No. 175-UNC-04. Ex Chapin. With 1953 and 2003 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (NGAI, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $25,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and no other stamp shares it.
5c Blue (179). Original gum, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering for this difficult issue with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 5-CENT TAYLOR, SCOTT 179, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. -- THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE ON RECORD AND THE ONLY STAMP TO ACHIEVE IT.
The 1875 printing, Scott 179, is often overlooked by collectors who put it into the same category as its 1879 counterpart, Scott 185, which is more readily available. For Mint N.H. copies, we have offered only five unduplicated since keeping computerized records. The example offered here, while hinged, has the best centering of any we have encountered.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded and the only one to achieve it.