Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Co. Hard Paper Special Printing (Scott 167-177, 180)
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, rich color and sharp impression, scissors-separated as almost always leaving perfs mostly intact on three sides, few short perfs at left, light red ink mark on back barely shows thruA FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 167 contains 45 certified examples. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around.
Census No. 167-UNC-24. Signed in pencil. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, deep color, scissors-separated as almost always leaving straight edge at bottom and full perfs at top so that stamp appears to have wide margins on all sidesA FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 168 contains 57 certified examples. Many have perfs scissors-trimmed on at least one side.
Census No. 168-UNC-16. Ex Lutwak and Zoellner. With 1971 P.F. certificate
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (169). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, perfs scissors-separated but intact on three sidesA FINE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 3-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 169 contains 36 examples that have been certified as genuine by The Philatelic Foundation (including one on cover). Of these, only three have perforations all around and are confirmed as sound. The example offered here, in sound condition, with full perforations on three sides, should be considered desirable.
Census No. 169-UNC-36. With 1993 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (170). Without gum as issued, rich color on crisp paper, scissors-separated as usual but with intact perfs all aroundFINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 170 contains 35 certified examples. Of these, approximately half have full perforations on all sides.
Census No. 170-UNC-29. Ex Curtis. With 1999 P.F. certificate
10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, rich color, scissors-separated with full perfs on three sides and partial at bottom, wide marginsFINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 172 contains 36 certified examples. A majority of these are scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side.
Census No. 172-UNC-19. Ex Francis E. Stern (Siegel Sale 309). With 1967 P.F. certificate
12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, full perforations all around, three wide margins, pulled perf at bottom leftVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 173 contain 71 certified examples.
With 2002 P.S.E. certificate
15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, full perfs on three sides and three wide marginsFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 174 contains 39 certified examples.
Census No. 174-UNC-19. Pencil initials on back. With 1993 P.F. certificate
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, perfs scissors-separated as usual but intact on three sides, the intact perfs at top give the stamp the appearance of very choice centeringFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 175 contains approximately 100 examples.
With 2009 P.F. certificate
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, perfs scissors-separated as usual but intact at top and largely present on sides, rich color, nice centering, tiny natural straw inclusion in left marginFINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 175 contains approximately 100 examples.
With 1970 P.F. certificate
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving intact perfs on three sides and portions at bottomVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 176 contains 50 certified examples. Of these, approximately a dozen have perforations on all four sides. Very few of those are well-centered.
Census No. 176-UNC-39. With 1992 and 2001 P.F. certificates
90c Violet Carmine, Special Printing (177). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, perfs scissors-separated as usual but intact on two sidesFINE AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 177 contains 46 certified examples.
Census No. 177-UNC-09. With 1960 P.F. certificate
2c Carmine Vermilion, Special Printing (180). Without gum as issued, vivid color, short perf at left and tiny corner perf crease at top rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE VERMILION 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST SPECIAL PRINTINGS WITH ONLY 23 EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 180, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/180/180.pdf , contains 23 examples of this rare Special Printing, one of which is in The New York Public Library collection. Approximately half are confirmed as sound, but most are not well-centered.
Census No. 180-UNC-11. Ex Hall. With 1981 P.F. certificate. A 1991 P.F. certificate (247316, no longer accompanies) stated "Genuine with light perf staining top right", but we do not see any evidence of staining.