Sale 1232 — United States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 30-31 March, 2021
Category — 1870-93 Bank Note Issue (Scott 134-229)
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Original gum, lightly hinged, clear grill, deep rich color and detailed impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1870 NATIONAL GRILLED ISSUE. A RARE STAMP IN LIGHTLY-HINGED SOUND CONDITION.
With 2019 P.F. certificate for a pair
30c Black, H. Grill (143). Original gum, h.r. near top, noticeable grill points along Hamilton's forehead, intense shade and impression, single short perf at topVERY FINE. THE 1870 30-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT TO FIND IN SOUND, CENTERED AND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.
The 30c 1870 Grilled Issue is notorious among collectors for its typical poor centering. Among original-gum examples, which are rare in any condition, only a few sound examples would grade Very Fine or better -- our computerized records contain five others with centering that would grade Fine-Very Fine or Very Fine by current standards. A search through 60 years of past auction catalogues and name sales produced only two blocks of four, both poorly centered, which means that there have been no multiples from which choice singles could be harvested. Further demonstrating just how rare Scott 143 is in this condition, the P.S.E. Population Report lists only two stamps in the "OG" category, one graded Fine 70 and one graded XF 90 with an earlier P.F. certificate noting a tear. The finest example we were able to locate was offered in our Scarsdale sale (Sale 924, lot 9).
Small pencil "Grill J.M. Bartels" signature on back. With 1999 P.S.E. and 2000 P.F. certificates
1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Disturbed original gum, strong grill, brilliant color, fresh and Very Fine, with clear 1986 P.F. certificate not specifying the grill type and with 2020 P.F. certificate as "I Grill" and mentioning the gum
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Clear grill, brilliant color, neat New York Foreign Mail cancel, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, with 2017 P.F. certificate
3c Green (147). Original gum, lightly hinged, outstanding centering, rich color, Extremely Fine, an extremely difficult stamp to find unused in the higher grades, with 1988 P.F. (for block) and 2013 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $650.00), this is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only four others, SMQ does not even price this issue above the grade of 90, we have offered only one other at this grade since 2008
3c Green (147). Original gum, choice balanced margins, deep rich color, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2020 P.S.A.G. certificate (90 og H)
7c Vermilion (149). Original gum, radiant color, beautifully balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a difficult stamp to find with original gum in centered condition, ex "Scarsdale" and Curtis, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (OGh, VF-XF 85; SMQ $2,000.00), only three grade higher (two at 90, one at 95) and three others share this grade
10c Brown (150). Unused (no gum), bright shade, well-balanced margins, Extremely Fine, a superb stamp, with 2000 P.F. certificate
6c Dull Pink (159). Top left corner imprint and plate no. 18 block of eighteen, original gum, fresh and bright color, choice centering throughout, few light vertical creases, couple expertly rejoined perf separationsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER MULTIPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
Scott value as plate block of twelve, block of four and pair.
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, intense color, essentially perfect centering with huge marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE PRINTING. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP.
Ex Golin. With 1991 P.F. certificate
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, lightly hinged, radiant color, choice centering with unusually wide margins, Very Fine and choice, ex Odeneal and "Hampshire", with 2000 and 2007 P.F. certificates
7c Orange Vermilion (160). Radiant color nicely complemented by blue Negative "A" with Positive "3" fancy cancel, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp, ex Saadi, with 1991 and 2005 P.F. certificates
10c Brown (161). Bright shade, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, bold strike of unusual grid of nine squares cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2000 and 2017 P.F. certificates
12c Blackish Violet (162). Original gum, paper h.r., incredible deep rich color and proof-like impression on bright paper, outstanding centeringEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 12-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2014 P.F. certificate (XF 90). This is one of only three original-gum examples of Scott 162 graded 90 by The Philatelic Foundation, with none higher. By way of comparison, P.S.E. has awarded only three a grade of 90 (one of the three is 90J), with none higher
15c Yellow Orange (163). Original gum, attractive centering and margins, vivid colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE WITH INTENSE COLOR.
Original-gum examples of the 15c 1875 Continental Issue with choice centering and vivid color are very seldom encountered. With 2021 P.S.E. certificate
30c Gray Black (165). Outstanding centering, light face-free cancel, bright and fresh, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), with 2020 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $275.00)
2c Carmine Vermilion, Special Printing (180). Exceptional depth of color, reperfed at rightFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CARMINE VERMILION CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 24 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 180, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/180 , records 24 examples of this rare Special Printing, one of which is in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. Only about a dozen are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 180-UNC-14. With 1957 and 2019 P.F. certificates
1c Dark Ultramarine (182). Original gum, lightly hinged, Jumbo margins and near mathematically perfect centering, very pleasing pastel colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN EXCEPTIONAL ORIGINAL-GUM, JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2008 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $3,200.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it.
15c Red Orange (189). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, wide and balanced margins, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2016 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $825.00), only one grades higher in this category (four Mint N.H. grade higher)
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impressionA FINE AND SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 198 contains 64 examples. Of these, at least one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering.
Census no. 198-UNC-55. With 1972 and 1992 P.F. certificates. Two backstamps including one showing thru at center
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, vivid color, sharp impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE BEST-CENTERED OF THE FEW SOUND 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING STAMPS EXTANT. VERY RARE IN SOUND AND CENTERED CONDITION.
Our census of Scott 199 contains 37 certified examples. Of these, only 12 are confirmed as sound, 11 have faults and 14 need to be reexamined according to current methods and standards.
Census no. 199-UNC-11. Ex. Hoffman. With 1999 and 2008 P.F. certificates
1c Gray Blue (206). Original gum, lightly hinged, rich shade on bright paper, gorgeous centering with Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine Gem, a beautiful stamp, with 2013 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $1,100.00), only one grades higher (at 100) and one other shares this desirable grade, the highest grade awarded to a Mint N.H. stamp is 95
10c Brown (209). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color and proof-like impression, perfectly centered with Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1882 10-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 1994 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98 Jumbo; SMQ $2,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded to an unused example in any gum category and only one other shares it
2c Red Brown (210). Mint N.H., radiant color on bright paper, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2019 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95), with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95; SMQ $1,200.00), only two grade higher (at 95J and 98J) and only five others share this desirable grade
4c Carmine (215). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, choice centering with Jumbo marginsFRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF SCOTT 215, GRADED XF-90 JUMBO BY P.S.E.
With 1997 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $2,650.00), only nine grade higher (seven at 95 and two at 98) and no others share this grade
8c Lilac (225). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins, fresh and crisp, Extremely Fine, with 1994 P.F. certificate (showing selvage at top)
10c Green (226). Mint N.H. with wide part imprint bottom selvage, deep rich color and proof-like impression, Jumbo marginsEXTREMELY FINE. A PRISTINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1890 SMALL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
With 2002 P.F. (as pair) and 2005 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90 Jumbo; SMQ $2,800.00)
15c Indigo (227). Mint N.H. with full bottom plate no. 22 selvage, deep rich color, beautiful centeringEXTREMELY FINE PLATE NUMBER SINGLE OF THE 15-CENT 1890 ISSUE.
With 2001 P.F. and 2019 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; SMQ $2,150.00 without premium for the plate no.)