Sale 1249 — The Hope Collection of U.S. Newspapers & Periodicals Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 1 March, 2022
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Co. Special Printing (Scott PR33-PR50)
2c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR33). Without gum as issued, wide margins, intense shade on bright white paper, Very Fine and choice, with 1992 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates, with 2001 P.F. certificate
3c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR34). Without gum as issued, excellent centering with wide margins, bright and fresh, Very Fine and choice, ex Floyd, with 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates
4c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR35). Without gum as issued, choice centering on bright white paper, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90)
4c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR35). Without gum as issued, intense shade and sharp proof-like impression on bright paper, well-centered with wide margins, Extremely Fine, ex Drucker, with 1986 and 2008 P.F. certificates
6c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR36). Without gum as issued, extra wide margins and well-centered, intense shade on crisp paper, Extremely Fine, with 1985 and 2001 P.F. certificates
8c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR37). Without gum as issued, outstanding centering with balanced margins, bright shade, Extremely Fine, a lovely stamp, with 2001 P.F. certificate
9c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR38). Without gum as issued, crisp impression, outstanding centeringEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 9-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Ex "Silver Lake". With 1995 P.S.E. and 2006 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
10c Gray Black, 1875 Special Printing (PR39). Without gum as issued, almost perfectly centered with Jumbo margins all around, crisp impression on bright paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONAL JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 JUMBO BY P.S.E -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND PROBABLY THE FINEST EXAMPLE EXTANT.
Ex "Beverly Hills" and from our 2002 Rarities sale. 1981 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2004 and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95 Jumbo; SMQ $3,850.00). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by no others. The next highest grade is a single example at XF 90.
12c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR40). Without gum as issued, incredibly well-centered with full intact perforations, fresh color and sharp impressionEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST QUALITY NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS TO HAVE SURVIVED AND A GREAT CONDITION RARITY.
Small red backstamp. With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; $4,050.00). Only one other shares this grade with just two higher (both at 95J).
24c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR41). Without gum as issued, bright color and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 411 sold. With 2001 P.F. certificate
36c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR42). Without gum as issued, well-centered with wide margins, pretty pastel shade, full perforations not often seen on this issueEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 36-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 330 sold. With 2001 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates.
48c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR43). Without gum as issued, choice centering with balanced margins, brilliant color on bright white paper, long and full perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 36-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 330 sold. Ex Cole. With 2001 and 2007 P.F. certificates (XF 90)
60c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR44). Without gum as issued, beautifully centered with balanced margins, bright color, couple slightly nibbed perfs at right not mentioned on any certificateEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 60-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 222 were sold, most of which are off-center and/or have small faults. Ex Engel, Hillmer, Greenblatt and Weisman. With clear 1990 P.S.E., 1958 and 2002 P.F. certificates
72c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR45). Without gum as issued, attractive centering with wide margins top and bottom, fresh color on crisp paperVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE 72-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 174 were sold. Ex Drucker. Signed in pencil on back. With 1987 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
84c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR46). Without gum as issued, radiant color on bright paperVERY FINE. A FRESH AND ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 84-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 164 were sold and many of the examples we have offered have a fault. Ex Lessin. With 1975 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
96c Pale Rose, 1875 Special Printing (PR47). Without gum as issued, stitch watermark at bottom, radiant color on bright paper, choice margins and centering -- far better than normally encountered on this difficult issueVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 96-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Only 141 sold. A Power Search review shows that most examples we have offered are either off-center or have small faults. The example offered here is a notable exception.
Ex Engel. With 1960, 1992 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
$1.92 Dark Brown, 1875 Special Printing (PR48). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on bright paper, wide margins and choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A GORGEOUS SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE $1.92 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 41 WERE SOLD.
The $1.92 value of the 1875 Continental Newspaper Special Printing marks the start of the rarities of the set. We have offered only about a dozen unduplicated examples in all of our Rarities sales going back to 1964 and in our regular auctions since 1994. This example, in sound condition and with choice centering, ranks among the few finest examples known.
Ex Lutwak, Greenblatt and Weisman. With 1976, 1998 and 2014 P.F. certificates.
$3.00 Vermilion, 1875 Special Printing (PR49). Without gum as issued, vivid color, attractive margins and centering, completely soundVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE $3.00 1875 CONTINENTAL NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 20 WERE SOLD, AND ONLY SIX ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
According to sale records of the 1875 Newspaper Special Printings, 20 of the $3.00 were sold and delivered. On July 16, 1884, the Special Printings were withdrawn from sale, and the remaining supply was destroyed.
Our census of PR49, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/PR49 , contains six examples, all with similar centering, which one would expect since they probably came from one sheet. Three are certified with a fault.
Census no. PR49-UNC-02. Ex Engel, McNall, Weisman and Ballman. With 1992 P.S.E. certificate. With 1960, 1992, 2002 and 2011 P.F. certificates.
$6.00 Ultramarine, 1875 Special Printing (PR50). Without gum as issued, choice centering and wide margins, fresh and bright colorVERY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE $6.00 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY NEWSPAPER SPECIAL PRINTING IN OUR RECORDS. ONLY FOURTEEN WERE SOLD, AND ONLY SEVEN HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE. ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS IN UNITED STATES PHILATELY.
According to sale records of the 1875 Newspaper Special Printings, 14 of the $6.00 were sold and delivered. On July 16, 1884, the Special Printings were withdrawn from sale, and the remaining supply was destroyed.
Our census of Scott PR50, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/PR50 , contains only seven examples. Six are certified by The Philatelic Foundation and two by P.S.E.
Census no. PR50-UNC-01. Ex Wingate and from our 2003 Rarities sale. With 2003 and 2018 P.F. certificates.