2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (211Bc). Block of four with "AMERICAN BAN" portion of imprint in top selvage and two imperforate-between pairs at center, original gum, hinge slivers rejoin the selvage to the block, deep rich color, well-centered, top pair with horizontal crease

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO SURVIVING BLOCKS OF THE 2-CENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH ANY PORTION OF THE "STEAMER -- AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." IMPRINT.

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. The unique block of sixteen offered in lot 154 probably comes from the sheet once owned by Representative Ernest R. Ackerman. The strip of six offered in our 2009 sale of the Whitman Collection is the second largest multiple. Those two are the only recorded multiples with the complete imprint. The three remaining imperforate-between multiples from the tops of the sheets are this block of four and two pairs, each with the "American Ban" portion of the imprint but lacking the word "Steamer".

Ex Sheriff. With 1971 P.F. certificate which mentions a crease on one stamp but not the rejoined perfs between the top row and the selvage. $4,000.00 Scott value for two imperforate-between pairs does not convey the rarity of this block with the part imprint

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