Sale 972 — The Laila Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Monday-Tuesday, 27-28 April, 2009
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Co. Special Printing (Scott 167-181)
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving intact perfs on three sidesVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 167 contain 44 certified examples. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around (including two with either imprint or plate no. at bottom). Very few are centered as well as this stamp.
Unpublished Census No. 167-UNC-25. Ex Hetherington, Caspary and Bayou. With 1957 and 2002 P.F. certificates
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual but with full perforations all around, deep rich colorVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. SCARCE WITH FULL PERFORATIONS.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 168 contain only 55 copies certified as genuine. Of these, 22 have straight edges on at least one side and several are faulty. In fact, almost all known examples of the 2c 1875 Special Printing are off center.
Unpublished Census No. 168-UNC-17. Ex T. Charlton Henry. With 1975 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (169). Without gum as issued, full perforations on three sides, straight edge at right is apparently natural as we detect a trace of the arrow at bottom right, dark color on fresh paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. FEWER THAN 40 OF THE 1875 3-CENT CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Our recently updated records for Scott 169 contain 35 examples that have been certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation (including one on cover). The example offered here, with its wide margins and perforations intact on three sides, is one of the finest known examples of this rarity.
Unpublished Census No. 169-UNC-17. With 1967 and 2001 P.F. certificates
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (170). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual but leaving full perforations on all sides, beautiful centering, radiant color on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 6-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 170 contain 33 certified examples. Of these, approximately half have full perforations on all sides, including several which are faulty.
Unpublished Census No. 170-UNC-17. Ex T. Charlton Henry. With 1975 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
7c Reddish Vermilion, Special Printing (171). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated but with nearly intact perfs on all four sides, radiant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A PHENOMENAL EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 171 contain 70 certified examples. Most stamps were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side and in some cases two or three sides. The stamp offered here, with virtually intact perforations on all sides, superb centering, and remarkably vibrant color is, in our opinion, a great condition rarity.
Unpublished Census No. 171-UNC-11. Ex West. With 1991 P.F. certificate
10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, incredibly bright color, wide margins, scissors-separated as usual but leaving almost full intact perfs on three sidesVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING.
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. The example offered here should be considered highly desirable.
Unpublished Census No. 172-UNC-36. With 1986 P.F. certificate
12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, choice centering with unusually wide margins, scissors-separated as usual but leaving perfs on three sides and extra wide margin at bottomEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE WIDEST-MARGINED AND BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 173 contain 70 certified examples.
Unpublished Census No. 173-UNC-26. Ex Bayou. With 1970 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, vibrant color and sharp proof-like impression on bright white paper, scissors-separated as usual but leaving most perfs on three sides and wide margin at leftVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING.
#Our recently updated census records for Scott 174 contain 39 certified examples. Of these, an overwhelming majority have the perforations scissors-separated on at least one side. Only five or six have intact perforations, and of those perhaps half are faulty.
Unpublished Census No. 174-UNC-31. Ex Bayou. With 2002 P.F. certificate
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, scissors-separated but with intact perforations on all four sides, much better centering than usually found on this issueEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 175 contain approximately 100 unused examples.
Unpublished Census No. 175-UNC-101. With 1999 P.F. certificate
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, crisp impression on fresh paper, scissors-separated as unusual but with virtually intact perforations, unusually choice centeringVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. EASILY OF OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Many examples of the Continental Bank Note special printings were separated by scissors, and so are often found with perforations partly missing or entirely trimmed away. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, only three or four have perforations on all four sides.
Unpublished Census No. 176-UNC-19. With 1972 and 2000 P.F. certificates
90c Violet Carmine, Special Printing (177). Without gum as issued, beautiful bright color on fresh paper, scissors-separated as usual but leaving full and intact perfs on all four sidesEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 177 contains 44 certified examples, many of which have faults. Only 16 have perforations on all four sides, and few of those are as well-centered as the example offered here.
Unpublished Census No. 177-UNC-12. Ex Vineyard. With 1986 and 2000 P.F. certificates.
2c Carmine Vermilion, Special Printing (180). Without gum as issued, vibrant color on crisp paper, choice centering with wide marginsAN EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CARMINE VERMILION CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 23 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. THIS STAMP RANKS AMONG THE TOP QUARTILE IN TERMS OF CONDITION.
Our census of Scott 180 (available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/180/180.pdf ) records 23 examples of this rare Special Printing, one of which is in The New York Public Library collection. Comparing this to others we would rank it among the top 25%, by virtue of its freshness of color, wide margins and intact perfs on all sides.
Census No. 180-UNC-13. Ex Lilly and Cole. With 1949 and 2003 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (F-VF 75; SMQ $71,500 as 70, $110,000.00 as 80)
5c Bright Blue, Special Printing (181). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on fresh bright paper, full and intact perfs all around, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 1875 5-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING ON HARD PAPER. THIS IS THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS AND ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, INCLUDING ONE IN THE MILLER COLLECTION AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Our census of the 5c Continental Special Printing (Scott 181), updated at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/181/181.pdf, contains only nine examples which are available to collectors.
Census No. 181-UNC-04. With 1983, 1990 and 2006 P.F. certificates (VF 80)