2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (211Bc). Horizontal strip of six with "STEAMER- - AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." imprint in top selvage and imperforate-between pair at center, original gum, barest trace of previous hinging, some very minor perf reinforcement between second and third stamps, remarkably well-centered, bright and fresh

EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINER OF TWO SURVIVING MULTIPLES OF THE 2-CENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE FULL "STEAMER -- AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." IMPRINT. AN IMPORTANT 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. One is a block of sixteen with disturbed gum and creases (Siegel 1974 Rarities sale, lot 113), which probably came from the sheet once owned by Senator Ackerman. The strip of six offered here 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 and two pairs, each with the "American Ban" portion of the imprint but lacking the word "Steamer".

The "Never Hinged" listing for an imprint strip in the current Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue is erroneously based on the 1991 P.F. certificate that accompanies this strip, which states "it is genuine". The wording on this certificate implies that it is Mint N.H., but it is not and has never been offered as such. Therefore, there is only one strip of six (offered here) and the creased block of sixteen. In our opinion, this remarkable imprint multiple is worth far more than its $5,000.00 Scott value, which is based on the realization from a 1996 auction.

With 1991 P.F. certificate

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