5c Bright Blue, Special Printing (181). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on crisp paper, three extra wide margins, full at bottom

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 181. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, INCLUDING ONE IN THE MILLER COLLECTION AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Our census of Scott 181, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/181 , contains only ten examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving nine available to collectors. One (number 8) was certified in 1952 and needs to be reexamined for condition and identification. Another (number 6) has a confirmed fault. Two have perforations touching the design at bottom (numbers 1 and 5). One other has perforations partly scissors-separated but intact (number 3). This leaves only four sound and well-centered examples available to collectors with intact perforations (numbers 2, 4, 7 and 9 -- the stamp offered here). For the condition-conscious collector this is a significant opportunity to add one of the rarest stamps in U.S. philately, without compromising on condition.

Census No. 181-UNC-09. Ex Caspary, Lilly, Cole, and Weisman. With 1992 P.S.E. certificate. With 1966 (issued for Lilly sale), 1988 (issued for Cole sale), 1998 (issued for Weisman sale) and 2008 P.F. certificates

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