5c Deep Blue, Special Printing (204). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression on bright paper, exceptional centering with wide and balanced margins, tiny "nick" at right in 6th perf hole down from top

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE TWO WIDEST-MARGINED AND BEST-CENTERED EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 5-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 18 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

The 5c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is one of the most elusive of all the Bank Note Special Printings. Our census of Scott 204, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/204 , contains 18 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Only one other's margin width and centering rival this stamp’s (204-UNC-05, Siegel Sale 1025, lot 175). Despite the tiny flaw, which was probably the natural result of perforating and separating, this is one of the most striking of the ultra-rare Bank Note Company Special Printings.

Census no. 204-UNC-04. Ex Lilly, Meilstrup, Hetherington and "Newport". With 1948 (clear) and 2008 P.F. certificates.

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