Sale 1277 — The Adventurer Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 7-8 March, 2023
Category — 1880 American Bank Note Company Special Printing (Scott 193-211D)
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impressionVERY FINE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 193, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/193 , contains 52 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 51 available to collectors. Almost half have faults (mostly thins, which are endemic to this soft porous paper). Of the sound examples, nearly all are centered to top or one side.
Census no. 193-UNC-47. Small blue Colson backstamp. With 1940 American Board of Experts certificate signed by Klemann and Bartels. With 1983, 1990 and 2004 P.F. certificates
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, vibrant colorFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 7-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 196 contains approximately 85 examples. This is one of the finest.
Census no. 196-UNC-21. Ex Col. Green and Geisler. Signed Stern. With 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, single nibbed perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 33 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 197, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/197 , contains 34 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 33 available to collectors. Of these, eleven have faults, leaving only 22 sound or potentially sound examples (seven have not been examined in many years). Several of these have poor centering.
Census no. 197-UNC-05. Ex Wingate. With 1948 and 2022 P.F. certificates
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression on bright paper, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS PROBABLY THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Our census of Scott 198 contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 available to collectors. Of these, at least one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering as well. Only thirteen are confirmed as sound, and of these only seven have decent centering. A significant portion of the population -- 28 -- have not been examined in many years so their condition is not confirmed. Very few of these have decent centering, so the population of sound and centered examples is very small indeed.
Census no. 198-UNC-17. Ex Gorham. With 1966, 1989, 2004 and 2016 P.F. certificates.
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, fine impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 199, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/199 , contains 40 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 39 available to collectors. Of these, only 15 are confirmed as sound, 7 have faults and 17 need to be reexamined according to current methods and standards.
Census no. 199-UNC-04. Ex Petersen. With 1952 and 2001 P.F. certificates
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, beautifully centered with unusually wide side margins, magnificent color and impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
Our census of Scott 200 contains approximately 68 examples, about a third of which have thins or small faults. Fully 22 are confirmed as sound, but of these only five have decent centering.
Census no. 200-UNC-12. Ex Gorham. With 1948, 1990 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, intense shade, better centering than normally seenVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 201 contains 46 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 45 available to collectors. Only approximately 11 are confirmed as sound and only seven of those are well-centered. Another 16 need to be reexamined for condition, but only a handful of these have better than Fine centering.
Census no. 201-UNC-28. Ex "Great Point". With 1989 P.F. and 1990 and 2006 P.S.E. certificates.
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, bright color, choice centering and wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. APPROXIMATELY 42 EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING ARE KNOWN TO EXIST AND THIS STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.
Our census of Scott 202 contains 42 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 41 available to collectors. 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. Most of the sound examples are centered to the right. In this stamp we have the rare combination of soundness, margins and centering, as well as extraordinary freshness.
Census no. 201-UNC-16. Ex McCarthy. With 2000 P.S.E. and 2001 P.F. certificates
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with well-balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT GARFIELD 1882 SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 22 ARE RECORDED AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST.
This elusive Special Printing was the subject of an informative article by William E. Mooz in the Chronicle, 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 Assistant Postmaster General's office, and that regular issues were used to fill the backlog of orders for the 5c Garfield.
Our census of Scott 205C, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/205C , contains 22 examples. Only three have faults. Several are centered to one side.
Census no. 205C-UNC-10. Ex Wingate and Przybyl. With 2000 P.F. certificate. Accompanied by 1944 typed note with photograph affixed and tied by signature from noted dealer Edwin Mueller guaranteeing this stamp as Scott 205C (and a Scott 204 as well).
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, rich color and proof-like impression, beautiful centering with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ALL 26 SPECIAL PRINTING STAMPS SOLD ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS--THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/211D , contains 26 stamps offered as Scott 211D, of which 25 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Post Office Department records indicate that only 26 were sold. Of the known copies, at least six have small faults and several others have not been examined for condition in many years.
Census no. 211D-UNC-05. Ex Caspary, Whitman and Przybyl. With 1957, 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $80,000.00).