2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing, Horizontal Pair, Imperforate Between (211Bc). Original gum, lightly hinged, with "AMERICAN BAN" of imprint at top, radiant color, choice centering

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING WHICH IS IMPERFORATE BETWEEN AND SHOWS PART OF THE IMPRINT. ONLY FIVE MULTIPLES CAN SHOW ANY OF THE 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. 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 in our recent Whitman sale 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".

With 1998 and 2009 P.F. certificates

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