12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and well-centered, small thin at top center and small facial scuff at bottom left (see below for explanation)

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our census of Scott 198, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/198 , contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 available to collectors. Of these, at least one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering as well.

Census no. 198-UNC-36. From our 1974 Rarities sale. With 2007 P.S.E. certificate stating "colored over facial scuff at bottom left". There was previously a "W.H.C" (Colson) blue backstamp in this area, which someone long ago attempted to lighten. This caused the facial scuff and the bit of coloring over was attempted to hide remnants of the backstamp

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