Sale 1092 — Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 19-20 February, 2015
Category — 1870-75 National and Continental Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 134-179)
6c Carmine, H. Grill (137). Unusually wide margins and well-centered, bright color, light strike of blue target cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
7c Vermilion, H. Grill (138). Split grill variety, original gum, slightly disturbed from hinge removal and only noted as such on most recent of three certificates, essentially perfect centering with brilliant color, bright and freshEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 7-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY STAMP TO ACHIEVE IT.
With 1982 and 1996 P.F. certificates (as "original gum" and "previously hinged"). With 2014 P.S.E. certificate (DOG, XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ above the grade of 90 in any unused condition)
12c Dull Violet, H. Grill/Ungrilled (140/151). Attractive pale shade which is a characteristic of genuine National Grilled Issue stamps, unusually wide margins, neat strikes of Star in Circle New York Foreign Mail cancel and also with part of red transit cancel at left, 2001 P.F. and P.S.E. certificates state Scott 140 with grill, 2012 P.S.E. certificate states no opinion as to grill and 2013 P.F. certificate reverses their opinion and states this has no discernible grill, the stamp itself is sound and Extremely Fine, offered on its own merits, with 2001 and 2013 P.F. and 2001 and 2012 P.S.E. certificates
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Deep rich color, several clear rows of grill points, perfect strike of large 5-Point Star in Circle New York Foreign Mail cancel, Extremely Fine, a stamp with great visual appeal and one of the few I Grills we have encountered with a fancy cancel, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
2c Red Brown (146). Original gum, lightly hinged, almost perfect centering, deep rich color, Extremely Fine Gem, a superb stamp, with 1997 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,750.00)
3c Green (147). Mint N.H., bright shade, choice centering with wide and balanced margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, the 3c 1870 National is extremely difficult to find in such pristine Mint N.H. condition (as opposed to its 1873 Continental counterpart, which is much more readily available), ex Whitman, with 1987 and 1996 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as hinged
6c Carmine (148). Rich color on bright paper, neat strike of target cancel, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp with a much more attractive cancel than others we have sold at this or higher grades, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $350.00)
7c Vermilion (149). Vivid color beautifully complemented by red target cancel, choice centering, Extremely Fine, a stunning stamp, with 2003 P.F. certificate
24c Purple (153). Wide and balanced margins, bright color, New York Foreign Mail Star cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1984 P.F. certificate
30c Black (154). Wide balanced margins, intense shade, light cancel leaves design fully visible, bright and crisp, Extremely Fine
90c Carmine (155). Disturbed part original gum, rich color and attractively centered, Fine
1c Ultramarine (156). Mint N.H., bright color, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 1986 P.F. certificate, Scott Retail as hinged
2c Brown (157). Mint N.H., wide margins and precise centering on brilliant white paper, deep rich colorEXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE CO. ISSUE.
Ex Curtis. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail as hinged
6c Dull Pink (159). Mint N.H., radiant color as fresh as the day it was printed on post office-fresh paper, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 6-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
With 1990 P.F. and 2015 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in SMQ in Mint N.H. condition, $1,750.00 as hinged). Only one stamp has been graded higher in the P.S.E. Population Report in Mint N.H. condition, at 95J. Scott Retail as hinged.
6c Dull Pink (159). Original gum, faintly hinged, handsome centering, pastel shade, Extremely Fine, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, VF-XF 85; SMQ $625.00)
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, fresh and Very Fine, with 2014 P.S.E. certificate
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Almost perfectly centered with wide margins, radiant color on fresh paper, perfectly struck New York Circle of Hearts Foreign Mail fancy cancel, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp, with 2002 P.F. certificate
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, beautifully centered, bright shade with slight dry print or surface disturbance in vignette, scissors-separated but perfs virtually complete, small thin spotEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 167 contain 45 certified examples. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around.
Census No. 167-UNC-36. With 2002 P.F. certificate
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual, intact perforations on three sides and trimmed outside of perfs at top and right creating nicely balanced margins, rich color on bright paperVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 168 contain only 56 copies certified as genuine.
Census No. 168-UNC-56. With 2009 P.F. certificate
10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated perfs as usually found on this issue, bright color, choice centeringVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. LESS THAN 40 ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 172 contain 36 certified examples. A majority of these have been scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side. Of the eleven copies with full perforations, most have either pulled perforations or are not centered.
Census No. 172-UNC-30. Ex "Country Gentleman", Chapin and Hoffman. With 1973 and 2003 P.F. certificates
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, beautiful deep shade, wide margins all around, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving full perforations on three sides and trace of perforations at bottomEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 50 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, approximately a dozen have perforations on all four sides. Very few of those are well-centered.
Census No. 176-UNC-04. Ex Drucker. With 1989 P.F. certificate