Sale 1362 — The El Dorado Collection of Superb United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 7-9 October, 2025
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Co. Hard Paper Special Printing and 1875 Issue (Scott 168-178)
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, choice centering with full perforations all around, rich color
EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Our census of Scott 168, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/168, contains 64 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 63 available to collectors. Many have perfs scissors-trimmed on at least one side and many have perforations into the design. The example offered here is without question one of the finest.
Census no. 168-UNC-04. Ex Kantor and "Vineyard". With 1950, 1967 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
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3c Blue Green, Special Printing (169). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual but with intact perforations on all sides, deep rich color
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 3-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 169, WITH PERFORATIONS ON ALL SIDES.
Our census of Scott 169, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/169, contains 39 examples, including one on cover and one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 37 unused stamps available to collectors. Of these, very few have perforations all around and are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 169-UNC-39. With 2009 P.F. certificate.
(Image Magnifier)10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, intact perforations all around, beautiful centering
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Our census of Scott 172, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/172, contains 42 examples, including one in the Philatelic Foundation's Luff reference collection and one in the Miller collection, leaving only 40 available for collectors. Most are scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side. Of the eleven copies with full perforations, most have either pulled perforations or are not centered, limiting their desirability.
Census no. 172-UNC-02. Ex Engel, Golin and Gorham. With 1953 A.P.S. certificate. With 1991, 2004 and 2013 P.F. certificates (VF 80).
(Image Magnifier)12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as almost always but with full perforations all around, almost perfect centering, rich color and proof-like impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Our census of Scott 173, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/173, contains only 67 examples, including one in The Philatelic Foundation's Luff reference collection and one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 65 available to collectors. We previously had an error in our count that increased the total by ten. We wonder if the modest Scott value was influenced by that error and is artificially low, as 67 examples is a low population number. Many stamps are scissors-separated on at least one side.
Ex Drucker. 1959 and 2002 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. With 2007 and 2012 P.F. certificates (both XF 90).
(Image Magnifier)15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, intense color and sharp proof-like impression on bright white paper, choice centering with wide margins, full perforations all around
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 174.
Our census of Scott 174, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/174, contains 43 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 42 available to collectors. An overwhelming majority have the perforations scissors-separated on at least one side, and many are off-center as well. Only five or six have fully intact perforations and are sound.
Ex Hetherington. With 1957 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
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2c Vermilion (178). Mint N.H., brilliant color on crisp paper, choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT VERMILION CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
A search of our computerized records indicates that the 2c 1875 Issue is exceedingly difficult to find in high-grade Mint N.H. condition, despite its modest Scott Catalogue value. The example offered here is certainly one of the finest extant.
Ex "Scarsdale". 1995 P.F. certificate for block of four no longer accompanies. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded and only one other shares it (last offered by us in 2008).
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