Sale 968A — The Alan B. Whitman Collection, Part Two: 1870-1901 Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 14-15 April, 2009
Category — 1873 Continental Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 156-166)
1c Ultramarine (156). Original gum, barest trace of hinging, intense shade and impression, tiny speck of blue ink at bottom left not mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
2c Brown (157). Original gum, described as previously hinged on new P.S.E. certificate but in our opinion it is Mint N.H., with bottom right corner sheet selvage, the stamp itself is beautifully centered with Jumbo margins, brilliant color, crisp impression, long and full perforationsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 2-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. A LOVELY STAMP.
This fantastic stamp exists because a complete sheet of 100 in the 1985 Rarities sale was divided into singles and blocks, which explains why Scott 157 is available in Mint N.H. condition. We are confident this stamp is Mint N.H., despite the recent P.S.E. certificate to the contrary. During the 1980's and 1990's, when many sheets and blocks were broken to obtain singles, the P.F. was shown the pieces to see which stamps were Mint N.H. before certification. Unfortunately, that visual confirmation is not possible when the P.S.E. certifies a single stamp years later, and any natural gum irregularity is regarded as a trace of previous hinging. We think that has happened in this case. In our opinion, this stamp is Mint N.H., and bidders may refer to the 1985 Rarities sale catalogue for a photo of the original sheet.
With 1986 and 1997 P.F. certificates as Mint N.H.. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95 Jumbo). This is the highest grade awarded to date and the only example to achieve this grade
3c Green (158). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins and also with top left corner selvage, bright color, Extremely Fine, a stamp of massive proportions, with 1992 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
6c Dull Pink (159). Mint N.H., brilliant color, slightly dry print at top, almost perfectly centered with well-proportioned marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. A STUNNING STAMP.
With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and as fresh as the day it was printed, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 1984 and 1993 P.F. certificates
10c Brown (161). Original gum, lightly hinged, beautiful intense shade, well-proportioned margins, Very Fine and choice, a pretty stamp, with 1992 P.F. certificate for block
12c Blackish Violet (162). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep dark color in the distinctive shade of the Continental printingVERY FINE LIGHTLY-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 1996 P.F. certificate
30c Gray Black (165). Original gum, lightly hinged, charcoal gray shade, fine impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL PRINTING. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
When it comes to naming the most elusive Bank Note stamps in choice original-gum condition, the 30c 1873 is often overlooked. However, go to any serious collection and look for this stamp, and most of the time it is missing or represented by something that compromises quality. The 30c 1870 is frequently found filling the space for Scott 165. The 30c Continental is extremely rare in any original-gum condition that approaches this example. Blocks have always been rare -- for example, Caspary did not have one; Lilly had one well-centered block of four and an off-center block of six -- which means that singles could not be removed from multiples. We hope that collectors who still have a tendency to overlook the 30c Continental will be awakened to its rarity in Extremely Fine original-gum condition by our comments.
With 2001 P.F. certificate
90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 90-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. SCARCE WITH SUCH MASSIVE MARGINS.
With 1989 and 1997 P.F. certificates
90c Rose Carmine (166). Bottom margin block of four with full "NATIONAL BANK NOTE CO. NEW YORK" imprint, original gum, top pair lightly hinged, bottom pair Mint N.H., beautiful bright color on fresh paper, top stamps almost perfectly-centered, bottom stamps with extra wide marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM BLOCK OF THE 90-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY PRINTING. THIS IS THE ONLY BLOCK OF THIS STAMP KNOWN TO US SHOWING THE IMPRINT. THE PRESENCE OF TWO MINT NEVER-HINGED STAMPS IS ALSO REMARKABLE.
As this block vividly demonstrates, Continental Bank Note Co. used the National plate to print 90c stamps in 1873, leaving the National imprint unchanged. The Chapin book records a unique plate number block of four without imprint. Our search of specialized Bank Note auctions and major name sales failed to reveal another block showing the imprint. Probably a half-dozen additional blocks still exist, but most of the well-centered blocks have been broken into singles. Given the two Mint N.H. stamps, we are surprised this is still intact -- we have sold only three Mint N.H. singles, according to Power Search.
With 2001 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as block of four with no premium for either the imprint or the two Mint N.H. stamps.