Sale 959 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Wednesday, 23-25 June, 2008
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Ungrilled Issue (Scott 145-155)
1c Ultramarine (145). Original gum, well-centered, bright color, Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine (145). Magnificent centering and color, bold crossroads cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $360.00)
3c Green (147). Original gum, barely hinged, spectacular Jumbo margins, exceptionally fresh with lovely color and impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $580.00 as 85, $910.00 as 95)
3c Green (147). Original gum, lovely classic National shade, fresh and Very Fine, with 1997 P.S.E. certificate for block
6c Carmine (148). Horizontal pair, unused (regummed), Very Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
6c Carmine (148). Choice margins and wonderfully well-centered, strong color, negative numeral "14" cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $355.00)
6c Carmine (148). Magnificent margins and centering, lovely color, negative "14" numeral cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $425.00)
7c Vermilion (149). Original gum, vivid color, well-centered, reperfed at top (not mentioned on certificate), appears Very Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
7c Vermilion (149). Original gum, faintest trace of hinging, magnificent color, Fine, with photocopy of 1992 P.F. certificate for block of four (bottom left stamp)
7c Vermilion (149). Block of four, original gum, vivid color, bottom pair light crease, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, scarce block -- and getting scarcer (any better and it would have been broken long ago)
10c Brown (150). Unused (no gum), Jumbo margins and handsomely centered, rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $1,050.00 as 90, $1,600.00 as 95)
12c Dull Violet (151). Large part original gum, superb centering and margins, gorgeous color in the classic National shade, fresh and Extremely Fine, a wonderfully choice stamp, ideal for the collector who cares more about centering and freshness than the state of the gum
12c Dull Violet (151). Disturbed original gum, lovely fresh color, Fine, with 2000 A.P.S. certificate
15c Bright Orange (152). Original gum, vibrant color, choice centering with three extra wide margins, full perforations all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
The 15c 1870 National Grilled Issue (Scott 141) is widely recognized as an extremely rare stamp in choice original-gum condition. Less well known is the fact that its ungrilled counterpart -- Scott 152 -- is comparably challenging to find in such condition.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
15c Bright Orange (152). Choice margins and bright color, nearly face-free blue quartered cork cancel with a trace of red transit in bottom margin, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Purple (153). Original gum, fresh and bright color, detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With 1987 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Original gum, distinctive dull shade, attractive centering, Fine, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
24c Purple (153). Beautifully centered with lovely strong color, neat circle of wedges cancel with a trace of another in red, a beautiful stamp exhibiting the three C's -- exceptional color, cancel, and centering -- an Extremely Fine Gem, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,400.00)
24c Purple (153). Wide Jumbo margins and well-centered, incredible depth of color that almost defies description (not washed out or dull), unusual cork cancel and light circular datestamp, Very Fine, with 1991 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF 85 Jumbo; SMQ $265.00 as 85, $435.00 as 90)
24c Purple (153). Attractively centered and with vivid color, light red New York circular datestamp, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $265.00 with ordinary cancel)
30c Black (154). Original gum, crisp impression, choice centering for this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
During the past few years, we have offered very few superb original-gum examples of the 30c 1870 National Bank Note printing. An example in our recent Hoffman sale realized $12,000 hammer.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
30c Black (154). Remarkably wide margins, obviously Jumbo dimensions, excellent centering as well, intense color and neat segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,100.00), we're mystified by P.S.E.'s choice not to make this a 95 Jumbo
30c Black (154). Fabulous wide margins and excellent centering, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85; SMQ $430.00)
90c Carmine (155). Original gum with selvage at right, lightly hinged, beautiful rich color and detailed impression, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE IS RARE IN CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 1870 90c National Ungrilled Issue, Scott 155, is somewhat overshadowed by its grilled counterpart, Scott 144. Collectors are also misled by the availability of Scott 166, the 90c 1873 Continental. Although the difference in shades is distinct, collectors have a tendency to confuse the two and under-rate the 1870 National printing. Only a few original-gum examples of Scott 155 have the centering, color and freshness of the stamp offered here.
With 2003 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (155). Wide margins and nearly perfectly centered, deep rich color, cork cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.F. certificate