Sale 1122 — The Hanover Collection of Superb-Quality U.S. Stamps-Part One
Sale Date — Thursday, 7 April, 2016
Category — 1873-75 Continental Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 156-179)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
91°
30c Greenish Black (165 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, soft charcoal gray shade with a greenish cast that is unique to the Continental printing, crisp impression on fresh paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN THE GREENISH BLACK SHADE.
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 harvested from multiples.
With 1983 and 1990 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95; SMQ $16,000.00). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares this grade, a statistic that has not changed in half a decade.
4,000
16,500