Sale 997 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 26-29 October, 2010
Category — 1870-71 National Bank Note Co. Ungrilled Issue (Scott 145-155)
2c Red Brown (146). Unused (no gum), beautiful margins and perfectly centered, deep rich color, Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.S.E. certificate
3c Green (147). Original gum, exceptionally well-centered, strong color and crisp impression, Very Fine and choice, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $465.00)
10c Brown (150). Unused (no gum), well-centered, rich color and sharp impression, Extremely Fine, with 1982 P.F. certificate
12c Dull Violet, 15c Deep Orange (151-152). Unusually wide margins of Jumbo or near Jumbo size, former blue cancel, latter magnificent color and cancelled in red, Very Fine pair, 15c especially beautiful, with 2001 and 1988 P.F. certificates, respectively
15c Bright Orange (152). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, vibrant color as fresh as the day it was printed on crisp paper, well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
The 15c 1870 National Grilled Issue (Scott 141) is widely recognized as an extremely rare stamp in choice original-gum condition. Less well known is the fact that its ungrilled counterpart -- Scott 152 -- is comparably challenging to find in such condition. This stamp has all of the National printing characteristics, but it defies the norm by having exceptional attributes of centering and freshness.
With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF 90; SMQ $7,000.00). Only one has graded higher to date (at 95) and only two others share this grade.
15c Bright Orange (152). Choice margins and bright color, blue quartered cork cancel with a trace of red transit in bottom margin, Very Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate
24c Purple (153). Original gum, marvelous intense shade and impression, essentially perfect centering with wide balanced margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. UNGRILLED ISSUE IS RARELY ENCOUNTERED IN THIS SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
With 1986 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $8,800.00). This is one of three stamps to achieve this grade to date, with only one graded higher (95J), a statistic that has not changed in at least two years.
24c Purple (153). Unused (no gum), remarkably deep rich color and proof-like impression, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp
24c Purple (153). Exceptionally well-centered, bright color complemented by red New York Foreign Mail Star cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1989 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (155). Perfectly centered, brilliant color on bright fresh paper, light cork cancelEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $2,500.00)
90c Carmine (155). Bright color nicely complemented by red cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 2003 P.S.E. certificate
