Sale 1057 — The Curtis Collection: 1847-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 November, 2013
Category — 1880-85 American Bank Note Co. Special Printing (Scott 192-211D)
1c Dark Ultramarine, Special Printing (192). Without gum as issued, rich color, wide margins all around, small thin spots which seem to be a common occurrence on this soft porous paper do not detract from its superb appearanceEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE FINEST-APPEARING COPIES OF THE RARE ONE-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our comprehensive census of Scott 192, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/192/192.pdf , contains a total of 26 copies. Of these, only thirteen are reported to be sound.
Census No. 192-UNC-10. Ex Lutwak, Zoellner and Floyd. With 1987 and 1998 P.F. certificates
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, exceptional centering with wide margins, couple tiny thins at topEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 193 contain 47 certified examples, of which 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. The example offered here, with well-proportioned margins, is very desirable.
Unpublished Census No. 193-UNC-18. Ex Peyton (Isleham). With 1986 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (195). Without gum as issued, fresh color, natural straight edge at rightFINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 26 ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our recently updated census records contain 26 certified examples of Scott 195, an oddly low number. Some of the stamps submitted as the Special Printing, but certified as the regular issue, Scott 186, could in fact be Special Printing stamps (the two are difficult to tell apart). We record another three stamps which we feel are possibly Scott 195, despite previous P.F. certification. A majority are sound or potentially sound, but many are off center to some degree.
Unpublished Census No. 195-UNC-25. With 1953 and 1982 P.F. certificates
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, brilliant color on bright white paper, unusually wide margins, especially at top and rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 196 contain approximately 80 certified examples. It is one of the most common 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.
Unpublished Census No. 196-UNC-73. Ex Lilly and Vineyard. With 1972, 1992 and 1997 P.F. certificates (first two are photocopies)
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, intense color and proof-like impression, exceptionally wide margins and choice centering, small thin spot at top centerEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE FINEST-APPEARING OF THE 32 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING STAMPS RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 197 contain 32 certified examples. Of these, few are as well-centered with wide margins as the stamp offered here.
Unpublished Census No. 197-UNC-18. Ex Ballman. With 1991 and 2002 P.F. certificates
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins all around, negligible corner crease at top rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots due to the porous nature of the paper). Few are as well-centered as the example offered here.
Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-16. Ex Lilly. With 1966 and 2005 P.F. certificates, only the latter mentioning the faint corner crease.
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, dark shade, natural straight edge with part top arrow at right, well-centered, small thin spot from hinge removalVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots due to the porous nature of the paper).
Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-61. With 1957 P.F. certificate
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, natural straight edge at right clear of designFINE AND EXTREMELY RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recent review of the records of the Philatelic Foundation and our Levi records found only 37 certified examples of Scott 199. Of these, only eleven are confirmed as sound and many are -center. Perhaps four or five of these have decent centering. Ten have faults, and sixteen need to be reexamined for condition (many of which are off-center).
Unpublished Census No. 199-UNC-23. With 1997 P.F. certificate
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, attractive margins and centering, deep rich color in the distinctive shade of the Soft Paper Special Printing, two central thins (one tiny)VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found 66 certified copies of Scott 200, 24 of which have faults (usually a thin spot). This P.S.E. certified stamp brings our census total to 67.
Unpublished Census No. 200-UNC-67. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, bright shade and detailed impression, well-centered with long and full perforations all aroundVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recent review of records at the Philatelic Foundation found 44 examples certified as genuine, 16 of which have faults (usually a thin spot due to the porous nature of the paper). Only ten are confirmed as sound, and only seven of these have decent centering. Another 18 need to be reexamined for condition, but only a handful of these have nice centering.
Unpublished Census No. 201-UNC-29. 1994 P.F. certificate (as "genuine") no longer accompanies. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (F-VF 75; SMQ $23,000.00)
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, small thin spot at centerFINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 202 contain approximately 41 certified copies. 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.
Census No. 201-UNC-14. With 1970 and 2002 P.F. certificates
2c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (203). Without gum as issued, well-centered for this difficult stamp with wide margins, beautiful rich color on fresh bright paper, tiny expert repair at left center is barely noticeableVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 2-CENT SCARLET VERMILION 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. OUR CENSUS CONTAINS ONLY 20 EXAMPLES.
Our census of Scott 203, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/203/203.pdf , 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-19. Ex Bayou (Siegel Sale 843). With 1940 American Board of Experts and 2001 P.F. certificates, the former not mentioning any expert repair
5c Deep Blue, Special Printing (204). Without gum as issued, rich color and sharp impression, wide margins to just in at bottom, tiny toned spot at top of Taylor's headALMOST FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 18 COPIES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
The 5c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is the second most elusive of all the Bank Note Special printings. Our census of Scott 204 is available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/204/204.pdf , and records only 18 copies of this stamp, including one example in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. About one-third of the known stamps have minor faults.
Census No. 204-UNC-08. With 1949 and 2008 P.F. certificates.
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression, beautifully centeredEXTREMELY FINE. THE 5-CENT GARFIELD 1882 SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL THE BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. THIS SUPERB EXAMPLE IS ONE OF ONLY 21 RECORDED.
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 Scott 205C is available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/205C/205C.pdf , and illustrates the 21 recorded examples (only three have faults).
Census No. 205C-UNC-07. Ex Floyd. P.F. certificate nos. 410 and 254720 no longer accompany. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $100,000.00). Only two have graded higher (at 95) and four others share this grade.
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, beautifully centered with wide margins, deep shade and sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 26 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/211D/211D.pdf , 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. Of the known copies, five have small faults.
Census No. 211D-UNC-22. Ex Golin and McKinney. With 1946 and 1992 P.F. certificates
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Mint N.H., bright shade and proof-like impression, choice margins and centering, Extremely Fine, with 1999 P.F. and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85; SMQ $1,300.00)