Sale 1247 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 14-15 December, 2021
Category — 1880-83 American Bank Note Co. Soft Paper Special Printing (Scott 192-202, 211D)
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, intense shade, three wide margins, central thin spot not mentioned on older certificateVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 193 contains 51 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 50 available to collectors. Almost half have faults (mostly thins, which are endemic to this soft porous paper). Of the sound examples, nearly all are centered to top or one side.
Census no. 193-UNC-09. With 1955 and 2018 P.F. certificates
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, rich colorFRESH AND FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 196 contains approximately 86 examples. It is the most common of the soft-paper Special Printings because the 7c was no longer in production in 1880 and, probably to some degree, because it can be easily identified since there is no regular issue on soft paper.
With 2006 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (F 70; SMQ $5,850.00)
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, three wide marginsFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 196 contains approximately 86 examples. With 2012 P.F. certificate.
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, choice centering, small tear not mentioned on certificateVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 196 contains approximately 86 examples. The centering of this stamp is above average.
Census no. 196-UNC-18. With clear 1979 P.F. certificate
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, single nibbed perf at right not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE AND CHOICE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 33 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 197 contains 34 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 33 available to collectors. Of these, ten have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (seven have not been examined in many years). Several of these have poor centering.
Census no. 197-UNC-05. Ex Wingate. With 1948 P.F. certificate
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 198 contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 available to collectors. Of these, at least one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering.
Census no. 198-UNC-46. Ex Seymour and Wingate. With 1966 and 1984 P.F. certificates
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, pulled perf and thin spot at topFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 198 contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 available to collectors. Of these, at least one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering.
Census no. 198-UNC-64. With 1947 P.F. certificate issued to Roger Weill
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, vivid color, three wide marginsFINE AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 37 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 199 contains 38 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 37 available to collectors. Of these, only 12 are confirmed as sound, at least 11 have faults and 14 need to be reexamined according to current methods and standards. This sound example is very desirable.
Census no. 199-UNC-29. Ex Colonel Green and Wingate. With 1948 P.F. and 1997 P.S.E. certificates
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, centered to topFRESH AND FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 200 contains approximately 67 examples, about a third of which have thins or small faults.
Census no. 200-UNC-37. With 1989 P.F. certificate
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, thin spot at top, faint horizontal creaseFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 200 contains approximately 67 examples, about a third of which have thins or small faults.
Census no. 200-UNC-20. Ex Lilly. With 1966 P.F. certificate not mentioning any faults.
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, intense shade, centered to bottomFINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 45 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS AND FEW ARE SOUND.
Our census of Scott 201 contains 46 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 45 available to collectors. Only approximately 11 are confirmed as sound and only seven of those are well-centered. Another 16 need to be reexamined for condition, but only a handful of these have better than Fine centering.
Census no. 201-UNC-36. With 1950 and 2019 P.F. certificates
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, bright color, reperfed at right and tiny thin spot at leftFINE. APPEARANCE. ONLY 41 EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTINGS ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 202 contains 42 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 41 available to collectors. The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition. Thins or more serious faults affect about half of the known examples. Most of the sound examples are centered to the right.
Census no. 202-UNC-24. With 1993 P.F. certificate.
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, rich color and proof-like impression, centered to bottom but perfs clear of designFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ALL 26 SPECIAL PRINTING STAMPS SOLD ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/211D , contains 26 stamps offered as Scott 211D, of which 25 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Post Office Department records indicate that only 26 were sold. Of the known copies, at least six have small faults and several others have not been examined for condition in many years.
Census no. 211D-UNC-03. Ex Sheriff (Siegel Sale 655). Small pencil "EK" initials (Eugene Klein). With 1971 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates