Sale 1084 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Stamps and Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 5-6 November, 2014
Category — 1873 Continental Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 156-179)
1c Black, Trial Color Proof on Card (156TC4). Pane of 100 with imprint and plate no. 298 at top and bottom and part arrows at right, few slight bends in selvage, otherwise Very Fine, scarce complete pane of 100, Scott Retail as singles with no premium for plate blocks
1c-15c 1873 Continental (156-159, 161, 163, 178, 179). 1c block of six, others blocks of four, rich colors, few small faults including light creases, 15c faulty, Fine appearing group of used blocks, most ex Twigg-Smith, No. 178 with 2007 P.S.E. certificate
2c Brown, Half Used as 1c (157e). Right half, affixed partly on top of horizontal strip of four of 3c Green (158), tied by target cancels, "Hopkinton N.Y. Mar. 22" circular datestamp on registered cover to Bangor Mich., left 3c stamp small toned spot, left center 3c small tear and creases at bottom, cover slightly reduced at left, Very Fine appearing cover with the 2c bisect making up the 10c registry fee plus 3c rate, with 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Green (158). Bottom imprint and plate no. 292 block of 20, comprising the two bottom rows of the pane with selvage at left and half-arrow natural s.e. at right, original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering, reinforced perf separations including throughout the horizontal row between the stampsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 1873 3-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
The Chapin census records only 11 plate blocks of Scott 158.
Ex Ackerman and Barden
3c Green, Double Paper (158a). Block of four, original gum, several h.r. reinforcing perf separations, light bends and small thin spot at top left, otherwise Very Good-Fine, a scarce block of this paper variety, Scott Retail as singles
6c Dull Pink (159). Bottom imprint and plate no. 21 block of twelve, slightly disturbed original gum, remarkably fresh with bright color, slightly short gum at bottom and a few reinforced perf separationsEXTREMELY FINE. A SPECTACULAR IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF THE 1873 6-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
Chapin records ten plate blocks, two of which are in panes of 50. This plate block is not listed in his census.
With 2005 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Pink (159). Block of 15 with right selvage, original gum, at least five stamps Mint N.H., small h.r. on a couple and in selvage, bright colorFINE AND LARGE MULTIPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE PRINTING CONTAINING MINT NEVER HINGED STAMPS.
Scott Retail as two blocks of four, three pairs and a single
6c Dull Pink (159). Block of twelve, bright color, unobtrusive segmented cork cancels, pos. 4 and 5 repaired at top, pos. 7 sealed tear at left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, this is the largest reported used multiple of Scott 159, with 2011 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as three blocks of four
6c Dull Pink (159). Radiant color, tied by bold negative "8" handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "Kingston, Jamaica 5th June 1874" to Lockeport, Nova Scotia, light strike of "Davidson Colthirst & Co., Kingston Jamaica" oval handstamp, also light strike of blue "Forwarded by J. Leaycraft, New York" backstamp, Very Fine and scarce use
10c Brown (161). Bottom imprint and plate no. 23 block of 12, original gum, stamps Mint N.H. but with a few tiny gum disturbances, narrow h.r. in ungummed portion of selvage, centered slightly to top, deep rich color, bright and freshFINE. A GREAT RARITY OF CLASSIC PLATE BLOCK COLLECTING. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE FULL PLATE BLOCKS OF THE 1873 10-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
There are three recorded plate blocks of the 10c Continental Issue. This and the plate block offered in the following lot (without gum) are the only two bottom blocks. The block offered here was part of the unique pane of 100 from the Col. Green collection, which was last offered intact in our 1974 Rarities of the World sale. After the sale the pane was broken up, yielding this plate block and the unique top plate block.
Chapin Census no. 423. Ex Col. Green, Anderson and Wampler.
10c Brown (161). Bottom imprint and plate no. 25 block of 12, unused (no gum), deep rich color, attractive centering and margins, pos. 9 with small surface scuffsFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 1873 10-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED.
There are three recorded plate blocks of the 10c Continental Issue. This and the plate block offered in the previous lot (with original gum) are the only two bottom blocks. The other bottom and the unique top plate block come from the pane of 100 from the Col. Green collection, which was last offered intact in our 1974 Rarities of the World sale.
Chapin Census no. 424. Ex Col. Green and Wampler. Scott Retail $21,500.00 as original gum
10c Brown (161). Irregular block of ten, rich color, bold cork cancels, some sensibly reinforced perf separations including bottom four stamps reattached, few faults, still Fine and scarce, this is the largest reported used multiple of Scott 161
12c Blackish Violet (162). Intense shade and impression on bright paper, unobtrusive cork cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $750.00)
12c Blackish Violet (162). Block of four, intense color and proof-like impression on bright paper, each stamp with dotted grid cancel, tiny sealed tear at bottom left, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, ex Twigg-Smith
15c Yellow Orange (163). Block of four with right selvage, original gum, stamps lightly hinged, h.r. in selvage only, vivid color, right pair and selvage with some perf separationsFINE-VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1873 15-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
A review using Power Search found very few blocks. Since this block was offered in our 1995 Rarities sale, we have offered only two others, one of which was regummed.
With 1995 P.F. certificate
15c Yellow Orange (163). Intense shade, well-balanced margins, neat strike of circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, ex Merlin, with 2002 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $350.00)
30c Gray Black (165). Bright shade, choice centering with wide margins, segmented cork cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $275.00), we are surprised this did not receive a Jumbo designation
30c Gray Black (165). Block of nine, bright shade, each stamp cancelled by well-struck Star with hollow center fancy cancel, top stamps also cancelled by horizontal blue crayon marking, top center stamp internal tear, few other minor imperfections, Very Fine, scarce large multiple, especially desirable with the fancy cancels, ex Mercedes, Scott Retail as block of four, two pairs and single with no premium for the cancels
90c Rose Carmine (166). Bottom imprint and plate no. 23 strip of five, slightly disturbed original gum, brilliant color, right stamp small tear at lower rightFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER STRIP OF THE 90-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
There are no recorded full imprint and plate no. blocks of the 90c Continental Issue. The Chapin book records the unique plate number block of four without imprint, last offered in our 2012 Rarities sale. In our 2009 Whitman sale we offered a block of four with imprint only. The strip offered here, which is one of very few known, is the closest a plate block collector can come to filling the space for the 90c Continental.
Scott Retail $14,000.00
90c Rose Carmine (166). Well-centered with enormous margins, bold registry oval cancel on bright white paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1983 and 2001 P.F. certificates (former as No. 191)
90c Rose Carmine (166). Block of four, natural s.e. at right, bold cancels, few perf separations sensibly reinforced, top left stamp small corner crease, otherwise Fine-Very Fine and scarce used block, Scott Retail $2,500.00
90c Rose Carmine (166). Block of eight with wide bottom margin showing trace of imprint, unusual cork cancels, faint crease in two stamps, faulty at upper right, still a Fine and very scarce large used multiple, Scott Retail $5,000.00 as two blocks of four
90c Rose Carmine (166). Tied by partial strike of "1" duplex, second strike below with "New-York Oct. 8" circular datestamp on blue linen-lined cover to Para, Brazil, stamp defective and top of cover refoldedVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SINGLE FRANKING OF THE 1873 90-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE ON A COVER TO BRAZIL.
This cover was carried via St. Thomas to Para, and was carried on the third sailing of the City of Para. The 90c stamp paid 9-times the single rate.
With 1986 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as almost always but with full perforations on three sides, bright color and paper, tiny tear at top rightVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 167 contain 45 certified examples. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around.
Unpublished Census No. 167-UNC-45. With 1996 A.P.S. and 2013 P.F. certificates
2c Vermilion (178). Bottom imprint and plate no. 163 block of 27 (9 x 3), original gum, heavy hinge reinforcing, rich color, top right stamp with tiny piece out and minor perf separationsVERY GOOD-FINE. ACCORDING TO THE CHAPIN CENSUS, THIS IS ONE OF FOUR KNOWN PLATE BLOCKS AND THE LARGEST KNOWN MULTIPLE OF THIS STAMP.
Ex Col. Green. Scott Retail $11,900.00 as plate block of fourteen, one block of four, and nine singles
2c Vermilion (178). Bright color, bold strike of North-South Shaking Hands fancy cancel of South Hanson Mass., light diagonal creases, scarce, with 1990 P.F. certificate