Sale 956 — The Jay Hoffman Collection of United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 8-9 May, 2008
Category — 1880-83 American Bank Note Co. Special Printing
1c Dark Ultramarine, Special Printing (192). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paperVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently completed census of Scott 192, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/192/192.htm, records a total of 25 copies of Scott 192. Of these, fourteen are reported to be sound. The example offered here, centered to bottom but with perfs clear and in completely sound condition, is a very desirable example of this issue.
Census No. 192-UNC-11. Ex Vineyard. With 1971 and 2001 P.F. certificates
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, wide margins, trivial natural inclusion in left margin at centerVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING. SCARCE WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found less than 50 certified examples of Scott 193.
Ex Chapin. With 1993 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (194). Without gum as issued, intense shade and sharp impression, centered to right as are several of the few recorded examples, slightly and naturally elongated perf hole at lower right not mentioned on accompanying certificatesVERY FINE. THE 3-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY FOURTEEN EXAMPLES, MAKING THIS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Our census of Scott 194, available at our website at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/194/194.htm, contains only fourteen examples. This puts it squarely in the company of the rarest Special Printings, such as Scott Nos. 180 (24 known), 181 (10 known), 203 (20 known), 204 (18 known), 205C (21 known) and 211D (25 known). It is the rarest of any Bank Note Special Printing among the Scott-listed "sets" (167-177 and 192-202).
Census No. 194-UNC-13. Ex Crocker. With 1971 and 2001 P.F. certificates. Based on relative rarity, this is significantly undervalued in Scott
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (195). Without gum as issued, fresh and bright color, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. LESS THAN 30 ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Our revised census of Scott 195 contains only 28 examples of this rarity.
Ex Lilly and Vineyard. With 1976, 1990 and 2002 P.F. certificates
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, radiant color, wide marginsFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 7-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found approximately 83 certified copies of Scott 196.
With 1951, 1977 and 2006 P.F. certificates1
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and sharp proof-like impression, beautiful centering with wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census of Scott 197 contains only 30 examples certified as genuine by the Philatelic Foundation. Of these, seven have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (some have not been examined in many years).
With 1954, 1992 and 2004 P.F. certificates
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING WITH WIDE MARGINS.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found approximately 60certified copies of Scott 198. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots).
With 1994 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, vivid color, sharp impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED OF THE FEW SOUND 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING STAMPS EXTANT. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 40 EXIST, AND LESS THAN TEN OF THESE ARE IN SOUND CENTERED CONDITION.
Our recent review of the records of the Philatelic Foundation found only 36 certified examples of Scott 199. As another indication of rarity, the last time we offered an example of Scott 199 was in our 2007 Rarities sale (this stamp), and that was the first offering since October 2004.
With 1971 and 1999 P.F. certificates
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, beautiful bright color and proof-like impression, wide marginsVERY FINE. PROBABLY LESS THAN 75 EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY EXIST.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found approximately 66 certified copies of Scott 200. Of these, 23 had small faults, the majority of these with thin spots.
With 1973 and 2005 P.F. certificates
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, stitch watermark at right, rich color on crisp paper, wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. RANKED BY CENTERING AND CONDITION, THIS STAMP PLACES AMONG THE TOP FIVE IN EXISTENCE.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found approximately 45 certified copies of Scott 201. Sound and centered examples are extremely rare -- 14 have faults and of the sound copies very few compare favorably to the example offered here.
Ex Frank B. Allen. With 1950 and 2005 P.F. certificates.
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, bright colorFINE AND RARE. APPROXIMATELY 40 EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTINGS ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.
The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition (thins affect most of the known examples) and typically poor centering.
With 1955, 1992 and 2006 P.F. certificates
2c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (203). Without gum as issued, beautiful rich color on fresh bright paperFRESH AND FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY 20 EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT SCARLET VERMILION 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 203 published in the Zoellner catalogue (and updated at our website at: http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/203/203.htm) contains only 19 stamps which are available to collectors. The 20th copy is in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library.
Census No. 203-UNC-04. Ex Lessman and Connoisseur. With 1992 and 2006 P.F. certificates
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 21 EXAMPLES OF THIS STAMP RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
This elusive Special Printing was the subject of an informative article by William E. Mooz in the Chronicle, February 1992. His research provides strong evidence that the stamps recognized as Scott 205C are a small part of the 2,463 sold as Special Printings through the Third Asst. PMG, and that regular issues were used to fill the backlog of orders for the 5c Garfield.
Our census of this issue available at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/205c/205c.htm illustrates the 21 known copies. The provenance of the example offered here is especially desirable. The last example we offered at auction was in our sale of the Vineyard collection, in 2004.
Census No. 205C-UNC-12. Ex Neinken, "Southern Cross", Weisman, Lyons and McKinney. With 1944 A.P.S. certificate and 1991 P.F. and 1993 P.S.E. certificates.
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Original gum, single hinge mark, brilliant color on bright paper, Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (211Bc). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THIS IMPERFORATE BETWEEN ERROR.
We have offered only a handful since keeping computerized records. "HF" backstamps. With 2005 P.F. certificate
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, rich color and proof-like impressionA VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE EXCEEDINGLY RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE MOST ELUSIVE OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing published in the Zoellner catalogue and updated on our website at: http://www.siegelauctions.com/enc/census/211D/211D.htm contains 26 stamps offered as No. 211D, of which 25 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Post Office Department records indicate that only 26 were sold.
The Scott Catalogue value for No. 211D has not been correctly adjusted in relation to its counterparts, such as Scott No. 205C, with which it has always maintained near parity. For example, between 2001 and 2008, Scott No. 205C rose from $28,500 to its current $75,000, while Scott No. 211D only increased from $26,000 to $50,000. In our estimation, the Scott value for No. 211D should be at least $75,000. The copy in our recent Sale 953 realized $75,000 hammer despite a tiny thin, which confirms our assessment of this rarity's true market value.
Census No. 211D-UNC-19. With 1983 and 2002 P.F. certificates.