Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1873 Continental Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 156-166)
2c Brown (157). Mint N.H., wide margins and precise centering on brilliant white paper, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
3c Green, With Grill (158e). Original gum, strongly impressed grill which causes a tiny pinhole not noted on accompanying certificate, rich color, Very Fine appearance, with 2001 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Pink (159). Original gum, choice centering, strong color, Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, almost perfectly centered with balanced margins, radiant color, small light corner crease, appears Extremely Fine, a gorgeous and fresh appearing stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, centered to bottom but perfs clear of design, Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate for block of four, this is the bottom right stamp
10c Brown (161). Unused (regummed), choice centering and wide margins, deep rich color on bright paper, Very Fine and choice, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate
12c Blackish Violet (162). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep dark color in the distinctive shade of the Continental printingVERY FINE AND CHOICE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 12-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Ex Whitman and Laila. With 1996 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $3,600.00). This is a very difficult stamp to find in sound original-gum condition in the higher grades. The P.S.E. Population Report contains only one 90J, two 90's, one 85J and this 85
12c Blackish Violet (162). Unused (no gum), beautiful deep color, extra wide top margin capturing a trace of the imprint, thin spot near top, Very Fine appearing and striking stamp
15c Yellow Orange, Ribbed Paper (163 var). Clear vertical ribbing, original gum, lightly hinged, rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering with balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FIRST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 15-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE ON RIBBED PAPER WE HAVE OFFERED SINCE KEEPING COMPUTERIZED RECORDS.
With 1989 P.F. certificate
15c Yellow Orange (163). Original gum, bright color, Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
30c Gray Black (165). Original gum, bright shade and detailed impression, unusually wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL PRINTING. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Lost among the 1870 National Grilled and Ungrilled Issues, 1875 Continental and 1880 American Bank Note Special Printings, and the 1879 and 1888 American Issues is the 30c 1873 Continental printing. Scott 165 is distinguished from its National counterpart by shade and the shape of the perforations, and from its 1879 American counterpart by paper. Many philatelists -- even intermediate and advanced collectors -- have difficulty classifying Scott 165. 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.
Ex Scarsdale. With 1984 and 2000 P.F. certificates
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, beautifully centered with extra wide margins, bright color and detailed impressionEXTREMELY FINE AND UNUSUALLY WIDE-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL ISSUE.
With 2000 (as slightly disturbed original gum, which it is not) and 2007 P.F. certificates, the latter as "genuine, previously hinged" (VF-XF 85)
90c Rose Carmine (166). Unused (regummed), reperfed at right, Fine appearance, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate