Sale 1297 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 31 October-2 November, 2023
Category — 1881-87 American Bank Note Co. Issues (Scott 205-218)
1c Gray Blue (206). Mint N.H., fresh and bright, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.S.E. and 2007 P.F. certificates
3c Blue Green (207). Mint N.H. top imprint and plate no. 396 block of 18 with part arrow at left, bright color, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, the top row is especially choice. Scott value as plate block of ten and singles
6c Rose (208). Mint N.H., lovely color and well-centered
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN MINT NEVER-HINGED CONDITION. WE HAVE OFFERED ONLY ONE OTHER SINCE 1994.
We have offered only one other unduplicated single since keeping computerized records. The P.F. has certified approximately ten. With 2011 P.S.E. certificate.
6c Rose (208). Choice centering and radiant color, beautifully contrasted by bold and dark negative letter "Z" in circle fancy cancel, Extremely Fine strike on an Extremely Fine Gem stamp, Z is a very rare cancellation initial, ex Gorham, with 2003, 2008 and 2022 P.F. certificates (XF-Superb 95)
6c Deep Brown Red (208a). Mint N.H., extra wide margins with top part imprint selvage, deep rich color, minute natural gum skip
EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT DEEP RED BROWN RE-ENGRAVED ISSUE, SCOTT 208a.
Ex Whitman. With 2000 P.F. certificate.
10c Brown (209). Mint N.H., beautiful warm shade with unusually wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT RE-ENGRAVED, SCOTT 209.
Ex Dr. Morris and "Westchester". With 1990 P.F. and 2009 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). Only one grades higher (at 98, realized $11,000 hammer in our Sale 1199 in 2019) and three others share this desirable grade.
4c Blue Green (211). Mint N.H., intense shade on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine, with 1985 P.F. certificate
4c Blue Green (211). Mint N.H., unusually wide margins, deep rich color, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Mint N.H., with selvage at bottom, wide margins, rich color, fresh and Very Fine, with 1994 and 2009 P.F. certificates (VF-XF 85)
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, rich color and proof-like impression, choice centering, one past P.F. certificate noted a narrow hinge thin — when we last offered this in 2008 we stated that it is barely visible and was likely nothing more than some loose fibers since this stamp was broken out of the Caspary block — the most recent P.S.E. certificate agrees and does not note any thin
EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E. — THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/211D, contains 27 stamps offered as No. 211D (though Post Office Department records indicate only 26 were sold). 26 have been certified by the Philatelic Foundation. Of the known copies, at least seven have faults and several others have not been examined for condition in many years. Very few are as well centered as the example offered here. This stamp comes from the block of four sold in the legendary Alfred H. Caspary sale (top left stamp).
Census no. 211D-UNC-14. Ex Caspary (the top left stamp in his block of four) and Hansen. With 1989 P.F. certificate (2008 P.F. certificate no. 468487 mentioned above no longer accompanies). With 2015 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90; SMQ $100,000). This is one of only two examples at this grade in the P.S.E. Population report and it is the highest graded.
1c Ultramarine (212). Top imprint, plate no. 646 and letter "F F" block of 16 with half arrow at right, most stamps Mint N.H. (few minor inclusions), Fine-Very Fine, a surprisingly scarce plate block, Scott value as plate block and singles
5c Indigo (216). Mint N.H., deep rich color on bright paper, Very Fine and choice
30c Orange Brown (217). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Fine, with 1999 P.F. certificate
30c Orange Brown (217). Jumbo margins and well-centered, rich color, New York oval cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2021 P.F. certificate (XF 90 Jumbo)
90c Purple (218). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered and rich color, Extremely Fine, with 1993 and 2023 P.F. certificates