Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Ungrilled Issue (Scott 145-155)
6c Carmine (148). Block of eighteen, cancelled by large red grids and tied by light strike of matching "Jackson Mo. Jul. 11" circular datestamp on piece, some perf separations including right vertical row partly detached prior to use, Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest recorded used multiple of Scott 148, really quite spectacular
6c Carmine, 10c Brown, 15c Bright Orange (148, 150, 152). Blocks of four, each with cork cancel, few small faults, Fine-Very Fine appearance, a nice group of used blocks
7c Vermilion (149). Huge Jumbo margins and almost perfectly centered, bright color, bold New York Foreign Mail circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Jumbo, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $650.00 as 95, $1,675.00 as 98)
10c Brown (150). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, pretty shade, neat strike of "N. York Steamship Jul. 20" circular datestamp, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2005 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet (151). Block of six, original gum, center stamp at bottom Mint N.H., most others only lightly hinged, centered to top rightA RARE BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 1870 15-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WITH ONE STAMP IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION.
With 1995 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $19,750.00 as a block and a pair with no premium for the Mint N.H. stamp.
12c Dull Violet (151). Balanced wide margins, fresh color on crisp paper, light cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Kirke, with 1999 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,300.00), only one has graded higher (at 98) and only four others share this grade
12c Dull Violet (151). Block of four, rich color beautifully contrasted by bold strikes of red New York Foreign Mail cancels, exceptionally well-centered, top right stamp single pulled perf at top, top left stamp small corner crease, still Very Fine-Extremely Fine block, ex Twigg-Smith
12c Dull Violet (151). Pretty shade, tied by large grid cancel, "Chelsea Mass. Dec. 12" circular datestamp on light yellow cover to Hopewell Corner, New Brunswick, 1871 transit backstamps, fresh and Very Fine double-rate use, ex Seybold and Mercedes
15c Bright Orange (152). Bright shade, wide balanced margins with long and full perforations all around, bold target cancel, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, ex Floyd and Tahoe, with 1993 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $450.00)
24c Purple (153). Rich color nicely complemented by red New York Foreign Mail cancel struck at left which leaves entire design clearly visible, fresh and Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Block of four, pale pastel shade, bold cork "propeller" cancels, few perf separations expertly strengthened, Very Fine, a rare used block, with 1974 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Choice centering, tied by cork cancel and "New Bedford Mass. Mar. 4" circular datestamp on 1874 cover to Seychelles and forwarded back to New Bedford Mass., Boston, London and New York transits, cover cleaned and repaired, Very Fine appearance, scarce use, with 1989 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Centered to lower left, tied by cork cancel, "New Bedford Mass. Feb. 3" circular datestamp on 1874 cover to Seychelles, red Boston and London transits, red crayon "20" and "1" credits, receiving backstamp, scattered toning and soiling, otherwise Fine, very scarce, ex Gallagher, with 2000 P.F. certificate
30c Black (154). Block of four, original gum, top stamps h.r., natural short gum at left which along with centering leads us to believe this is from the left two rows of the plate, light natural gum bend at bottom rightFINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
The last block we offered in one of our auctions was a block of six in 2003, with similar centering.
With 1997 A.P.S. certificate. Scott Retail $38,500.00
30c Black (154). Jumbo margins and outstanding centering, crisp shade on bright paper, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel (Weiss Ty. GE-C1)EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH A NEW YORK FOREIGN MAIL CANCELLATION.
Ex Kirke. With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,000.00 as 95, $5,250.00 as 98). Only one has graded higher (at 98) and only two others share this grade.
30c Black (154). Gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, deep shade, neat quartered cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $2,000.00 as 95, $5,250.00 as 98). Only one has graded higher (at 98) and only two others share this grade.
30c Black (154). Block of four, intense shade and impression, bold New York oval registry cancels, few flaws including bottom stamps with creases and top left stamp scuff, still Fine and scarce block, Scott Retail as pairs
30c Black (154). Two vertical blocks of ten which originally formed a block of 20, intense shade and impression, tied by blue quartered cork cancels on small piece, also tied by red wax seal at upper left where tiny tear, few flaws including slight creases, third stamp in bottom row defective, otherwise Fine, an irregular block of sixteen is the largest reported used multiple, with 1988 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail $6,250.00 as pairs
30c Black (154). Choice centering, tied by bank embossed handstamp on auditor's draft and used as a Revenue stamp, from Auditor of the Canal Dept. in Albany, dated Dec. 31, 1872, stamp with small flaws, document with small tears, Very Fine appearance, a rare use of the 30c Bank Note issue as a Revenue stamp properly paying the inland exchange rate required by use of a "Cognovit Clause", with 2013 P.F. certificate
30c Black (154). Choice centering, tied by cork, "Washington D.C. Jan. 4" circular datestamp on cover to Hong Kong, China, endorsed "Via San Francisco", "Hong Kong C MR 71873" receiving backstamp, docketed with small stick drawing, docketing on back apparently gives details on routing including "East to Cape Div., S to Rio, SE to Lat. 40 past G.H., E. to Long. 100, NE to East end Java, thence No. W. thru straits Macassar...etc.,", barely reduced at rightVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE ON A COVER TO HONG KONG.
The franking pays the triple 10c rate via San Francisco and Yokohama. Signed on back and with note from Ashbrook.
90c Carmine (155). Brilliant color, detailed impression, wide margins, cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE.
Ex Merlin. With 2006 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00), only one has graded higher (at 98, offered in our Kirke sale) and five others share this grade.
90c Carmine (155). Horizontal block of eight, rich color and sharp impression, neat cork cancels and trace of red cancel at bottom, one stamp with tiny thin, faint internal crease affects two othersFINE-VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE USED BLOCK OF THE 90-CENT 1870 NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. ISSUE.
The largest recorded used multiple is a block of ten.
Ex Twigg-Smith. Scott Retail $4,500.00 as two blocks of four