2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (211Bc). Block of sixteen with complete "STEAMER -- AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." imprint in top selvage and two imperforate-between pairs at center, original gum, the two imperforate-between pairs are Mint N.H., three other stamps with slightly disturbed gum, deep rich color, attractive centering, trivial internal perf separations and light creases which do not affect the center pairs -- these imperfections are inconsequential given the unique nature of this block

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY SURVIVING BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE FULL "STEAMER -- AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." IMPRINT. AN EXCEPTIONAL RARITY OF THE BANK NOTE COMPANY PERIOD.

In 1885 the American Bank Note Co. experimented with a Hoe & Co. steam-powered, chain-driven printing press to increase the rate of production. New plates of 200 subjects were created for use on the steam press, including one with the distinctive "STEAMER -- AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." imprint at the top center of the plate. Five sheets of 200 stamps were printed from this "Steamer" plate and sent to the Post Office Department. Since the full sheets were intended to be divided into panes of 100, the vertical gutter between the two panes was left imperforate. These sheets were later sold into the philatelic market and divided into smaller units.

We can account for all five top imprint pieces from the "Steamer" sheets. This unique block of sixteen, which was in the Siegel 1974 Rarities sale (lot 113), probably comes from the sheet once owned by Representative Ernest R. Ackerman. The strip of six offered in our 2009 sale of the Alan B. Whitman Collection is the second largest multiple. These two are the only recorded multiples with the complete imprint. The three remaining imperforate-between multiples from the tops of the sheets are a block of four (offered in lot 155) and two pairs, each with the "American Ban" portion of the imprint but lacking the word "Steamer."

Ex Ackerman and from our 1974 Rarities sale. Scott value for the ex-Whitman top margin horizontal strip of six is $35,000.00. This complete block of sixteen is unlisted in Scott.

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