Sale 959 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Wednesday, 23-25 June, 2008
Category — 1873 Continental Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 156-166)
1c Ultramarine (156). Mint N.H., wonderfully fresh and bright, lovely color, Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
1c Ultramarine (156). Original gum, enormous Jumbo margins all around and nearly perfect centering, a few blunt perfs at left, otherwise Extremely Fine Gem
2c Brown, Ribbed Paper (157). Wide balanced margins and superb centering, lovely deep rich color, bright red circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $300.00 as ordinary used stamp on normal paper and without premium for colored cancel)
2c Brown (157). Beautiful margins and centering, rich color, perfect bold New York Foreign Mail Pinwheel cancel (Weiss GE-C3), Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $300.00 for ordinary cancel)
3c Green (158). Original gum, lightly hinged, attractive margins and centering, fresh, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
3c Green (158). Block of four, original gum, slight disturbance from hinge removal and reinforcement along perfs, dark rich color, Fine-Very Fine and fresh
6c Dull Pink (159). Original gum, lightly hinged, precise centering, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, stunning fiery color, wide margins, fresh bright paperEXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
Our sale records contain approximately a half-dozen examples of the 7c 1873 Issue with original gum and comparable margins/centering.
10c Brown (161). Original gum, very attractive margins and centering, bright colorEXTREMELY FINE. AN UNUSUALLY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2008 P.F. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $3,500.00)
10c Brown (161). Original gum, deep shade, well-centered, fresh and Very Fine, a lovely example of this scarce Continental issue, with 1992 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (161). Perfectly centered, rich color, neat New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $340.00)
10c Brown (161). Almost precisely centered, strong color and neat target cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $340.00)
12c Blackish Violet (162). Original gum, beautiful dark Continental shade, three balanced margins but centered a bit low, still Fine and well above the usual quality for this difficult issue, with 2004 P.F. certificate
15c Yellow Orange (163). Original gum, incredibly vibrant color in the distinctive Continental shade, fresh and Very Fine, the 15c 1873 Issue is extremely scarce in this choice original-gum condition, with 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Gray Black (165). Original gum, charcoal gray shade, fine impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL PRINTING. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
When it comes to naming the most elusive Bank Note stamps in choice original-gum condition, the 30c 1873 is often overlooked. However, go to any serious collection and look for this stamp, and most of the time it is missing or represented by something that compromises quality. The 30c 1870 is frequently found filling the space for Scott 165. 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. We hope that collectors who still have a tendency to overlook the 30c Continental will be awakened to its rarity in Extremely Fine original-gum condition by our comments and recent realizations.
30c Gray Black (165). Enormous Jumbo margins, incredibly well-centered, bold bluish black St. Louis Mo. balloon-type circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $1,050.00 as 95, $3,100.00 as 98), one other shares this grade and only one has graded higher (98) according to the P.S.E. Population Report
30c Gray Black (165). Beautiful centering with wide and balanced margins, intense shade on bright paper, unobtrusive cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,050.00), only three have graded higher to date
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, gorgeous bright color and proof-like impression, unusually freshEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THIS 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY HIGH VALUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, very slight disturbance from removal of large hinge, bright shade, exceptionally well-centered, Very Fine and choice
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, lovely color, light vertical bend and reperfed at left, Fine appearance