Sale 967 — Important and Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 16-19 December, 2008
Category — 1879 American Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 182-191)
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Original gum, lightly hinged, outstanding wide Jumbo margins, deep rich color and pretty impression, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $800.00 as 90, $1,450.00 as 95)
3c Green (184). Bottom imprint and plate no. 265 block of twelve, original gum, three or four may be Mint N.H., pos. 2 and 8 creased (hinge reinforcement there as well) and hinge reinforced between pos. 4 and 5, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, of note is pos. 8 which is an Extremely Fine appearing Jumbo and pos. 7 which is a Mint N.H. Very Fine Jumbo, attractive and scarce plate block
3c Green (184). Bold Worcester Mass. Negative North-South Shaking Hands fancy cancel, fabulous Extremely Fine strike and as complete as one can expect to find on a single stamp
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Original gum, particularly well-centered with choice margins, deep rich color and clear impressionEXTREMELY FINE. A PHENOMENAL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT BROWN 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY WITHOUT SECRET MARK.
Scott 187 without secret mark is significantly more difficult than Scott 188 to find in such superb condition. This is the highest graded example and the only one to achieve this grade (the next highest is VF 80).
P.S.E. encapsulated (XF 90; SMQ $7,550.00)
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Original gum, bright color, unusually wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE ISSUE WITHOUT SECRET MARK.
With 2008 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Original gum, wide margins and lovely rich color, filled thin at lower left, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1958 P.F. certificate for a pair (not mentioning any faults) and 2006 P.S.E. certificates
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Unused (no gum), rich color, handsome centering with proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
10c Brown, With & Without Secret Mark (187-188). Horizontal strip of three, cancelled, center stamp with Secret Mark, end ones without, wonderful huge margins, faults, Extremely Fine appearance
15c Red Orange (189). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed, perfectly centered with wide margins, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 15-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2000 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $7,350.00). Only three have graded higher to date and only four others share this grade.
15c Red Orange (189). Original gum, lightly hinged, vibrant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,400.00), only one hinged and three Mint N.H. have graded higher to date
15c Red Orange (189). Huge Jumbo margins and exceptionally well-centered, deep rich color with almost face-free light cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $340.00 as 95, $960.00 as 98), one of only seven recorded in the P.S.E. Population Report with only two higher
30c Full Black (190). Original gum, lightly hinged, with selvage at left, intense shade and proof-like impression, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY REGULAR ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E. -- ONLY ONE HAS GRADED HIGHER TO DATE AND NO OTHERS SHARE THIS DESIRABLE GRADE.
With 1992 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,950.00 as 95, $7,200.00 as 98). This is the only example to achieve this grade to date and only one has graded higher.
30c Full Black (190). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade, remarkably detailed impression, gorgeous centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY REGULAR ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 2004 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $3,950.00). Only two grade higher and only one other shares this grade.
30c Full Black (190). Crisp impression, bright shade, bold strike of segmented cork cancel, unusually wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a huge stamp, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $710.00)
90c Carmine, Imperforate (191b). Horizontal pair, original gum, huge even margins, rich colorEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PAIR OF THE IMPERFORATE 90-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With copy of 1997 P.F. certificate for block, this being the top pair and 2007 P.S.E. certificate