Sale 1362 — The El Dorado Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 7-9 October, 2025
Category — 1873 Continental Bank Note Co. Issue (Scott 156-166)
2c Brown (157). Original gum, bright color, well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90), Scott value $325
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2c Brown (157). Deep rich color and proof-like impression, gorgeous centering, bold strike of circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only four grade higher (one at 95J, two at 98, one at 98J)
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3c Green (158). Mint N.H., deep rich color and proof-like impression, essentially perfect centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 3-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only one other. Unpriced in SMQ as Mint N.H.. SMQ $1,300 as hinged.
(Image Magnifier)6c Dull Pink (159). Mint N.H., brilliant color as fresh as the day it was printed on crisp paper, perfectly centered
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 1999 P.F. and 2006 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90; unpriced in SMQ in Mint N.H. condition)—in our opinion, the P.S.E. grade of 90 is ungenerous (our grade is 95).
(Image Magnifier)6c Dull Pink (159). Lightly cancelled (appears unused), brilliant color, unusually choice centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2004 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only four grade higher
(Image Magnifier)6c Dull Pink (159). Brilliant color, perfect strike of 8-Point Radial Geometric Within Circle New York Foreign Mail cancel, Extremely Fine, a pretty stamp, with 2011 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)6c Dull Pink (159). Seven singles and a pair, each with gorgeous cancel, including blue Chicago geometric, pair with square of right triangles of Chicago, few New York Foreign Mail, blue crossroads, one with straddle margin at left, two with tiny faults, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, each with certificate including two graded XF 90
(Image Magnifier)6c Dull Pink (159). Horizontal strip of four, rich color, bold strikes of quartered cork cancel, Very Fine and choice, ex Kirke, with 2003 P.F. certificate, Scott value $75 as two pairs
(Image Magnifier)7c Orange Vermilion (160). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins, long and full perforations all around
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, SCOTT 160, IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. THIS STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — ONLY ONE GRADES HIGHER AND NONE SHARE THIS HIGH GRADE.
With 1989 P.F. and 2011 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only one grades higher (at 95J, last sold by us for $8,000 in 2010) and none share this desirable grade. These are very low population numbers at the top of the chart.
(Image Magnifier)7c Orange Vermilion (160). Vibrant color, perfect strike of New York Foreign Mail Circle of Hearts cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), this spectacular stamp is graded purely on centering, in our opinion the cancel elevates this to Gem 100 status
(Image Magnifier)7c Orange Vermilion (160). Brilliant color, bold strike of circle of wedges cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90)
(Image Magnifier)7c Orange Vermilion (160). Rich color, wide margins, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Multi-Point Star in Circle cancel, Extremely Fine, ex Kirke, with 2002 P.F. certificate, Scott value $90
(Image Magnifier)1c Ultramarine, 2c Green, 7c Orange Vermilion (156, 158, 160). Each tied by bold strike of circle of wedges handstamp on buff piece, with "Washington D.C. Registered 21 May" circular datestamp, Very Fine and colorful, ex Krug and Shierson
(Image Magnifier)10c Brown (161). Original gum, lightly hinged, deep rich color, wide margins and exceptionally well-centered, marvelous deep rich color and proof-like impression
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 10-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.
With 2010 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90).
(Image Magnifier)10c Brown (161). Two used singles, one with Pointing Hand fancy cancel, other with New York Foreign Mail Multi-Point Star in Circle cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2008 or 2012 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)15c Yellow Orange (163). Original gum, lightly hinged, unusually wide margins, stunning color on bright white paper
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE WITH INTENSE COLOR.
Original-gum examples of the 15c 1875 Continental Issue with choice centering and vivid color are very seldom encountered. The stamp offered here combines all attributes one could hope for and is easily one of the finest we have encountered.
With 2017 P.F. certificate.
(Image Magnifier)15c Yellow Orange (163). Vibrant color, perfect strike of Negative Star in Circle fancy cancel, Very Fine, with 2004 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)30c Gray Black (165). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright shade, long and full perforations, Jumbo margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A HUGE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE, SCOTT 165. RARE WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.
The 30c Continental is extremely rare in any original-gum condition that approaches this example. Blocks have always been rare — for example, Caspary did not have one; Lilly had one well-centered block of four and an off-center block of six — which means that singles could not be harvested from multiples.
With 2006 P.F. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo). Scott value of $4,000 hardly seems relevant to an example of this issue with such wide margins.
(Image Magnifier)90c Rose Carmine (166). Original gum, brilliant color, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, SCOTT 166, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.
Although multiples of the 90c 1873 have been broken up to furnish Very Fine and Extremely Fine (80-90 points) stamps, it is unlikely that more than a handful exist in truly XF-Superb 95 or higher grades.
With 2012 P.S.E. certificate (OGph, XF-Superb 95). Only four grade higher (one at 95J, two at 98, one at 98J) and four others share this desirable grade.
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