Sale 1367 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 9-11 December, 2025
Category — 1870-88 Bank Note Issues (Scott 135-214)
2c Red Brown, H. Grill (135). Block of four with top imprint selvage, original gum, bottom pair small h.r., top pair lightly hinged, top left stamp with slightly short gum at top, fresh color and sharp impression
FINE ORIGINAL-GUM IMPRINT BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1870 2-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
Very few imprint blocks are known. A Power Search review found no others offered in our auctions since 1993. Scott value as normal block without premium for the position $5,500.
7c Vermilion, Double H. Grill (138 var). Choice centering, vivid color and impression, segmented cork cancel, in an old sale we mentioned a small corner crease at bottom left but it is not evident and not mentioned on either accompanying certificate, Very Fine and scarce variety, with 1986 and 2019 P.F. certificates (VF 80)
10c Brown, H. Grill (139). Intense shade and impression, bold circle of wedges cancel, several noticeable grill points, Very Fine and choice, with 1989 and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (VF 80)
24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Well-centered, characteristic pale shade seems a bit lighter than usual, segmented cork cancel
VERY FINE CENTERING. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS 19TH CENTURY BANK NOTE ISSUE RARITY, WHICH IS ONLY KNOWN IN USED CONDITION.
With copy of 2013 P.F. certificate.
(Image Magnifier)24c Purple, H. Grill (142). Distinct grill points, pastel shade, crossroads cancel, small shallow thin spot, Fine appearance, with 2024 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)1c Ultramarine, I. Grill (134A). Horizontal pair, right stamp straight edge at right and small tear, Very Fine-Extremely Fine appearance, we doubt this will remain intact for much longer, with 2021 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as singles
(Image Magnifier)2c Red Brown, I. Grill (135A). Well-centered, fresh color, neat rosette cancel, Extremely Fine, with 2014 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
(Image Magnifier)6c Carmine, I. Grill (137A). Clear grill visible on the face of the stamp, straight edge at left, bright shade, neat strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel, few nibbed perfs, Very Fine appearance, with 2014 A.P.S. certificate
(Image Magnifier)7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Clearly defined grill, brilliant color and choice centering, neat New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel and rim of circular datestamp at bottom, Extremely Fine used example of this scarce grill issue with a pretty cancel, 1999 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies, with 2012 P.F. certificate (VF-XF 85)
7c Vermilion, I. Grill (138A). Well-centered, strong rich color, bold leaf cancel, trivial corner crease, Very Fine appearance, with 2009 P.S.E. certificate (VG 50; SMQ $250)
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90c Carmine (155). Original gum, brilliant color on fresh paper, well-centered
fresh and very FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT UNGRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
In general, the Grilled National Bank Note Issues in superb original-gum condition overshadow their ungrilled counterparts. This is also true for the 90c. However, in the case of the 90c, collectors are frequently misled by the availability of Scott 166, the 1873 Continental printing. The difference in shades is distinct, yet collectors have a tendency to under-rate the 1870 National printing. Most original-gum examples are poorly centered. This example is fresh and choice.
Ex Lilly (Sale 312 in 1967). With 2024 P.F. certificate.
2c Brown, Double Paper (157a). Well-centered, rich color, bold cork cancel, paper layers separated except at top left corner, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, perfs scissors-separated as usual but mostly intact on three sides, deep rich color
FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 168, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/168, contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 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 very attractive.
Census no. 168-UNC-14. 1983 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated at right and outside the perfs at left, deep rich color, tiny tear at bottom
FINE appearing EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 168, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/168, contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 available to collectors. Many have perfs scissors-trimmed on at least one side and many have perforations into the design.
Census no. 168-UNC-55. With 2003 P.F. certificate.
(Image Magnifier)7c Reddish Vermilion, Special Printing (171). Without gum as issued, radiant color, perfs scissors-separated as almost always but leaving wide margins
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 171, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/171, contains 80 examples, with 78 available to collectors. Most stamps were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side.
Census no. 171-UNC-75. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
7c Reddish Vermilion, Special Printing (171). Without gum as issued, perfs slightly scissors-separated at sides, but mostly intact perforations, well-centered, bright color, small thin and tear, slight soiling at bottom right
VERY FINE appearing EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 171, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/171, contains 80 examples, with 78 available to collectors. Most stamps were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side.
Census no. 171-UNC-22. From our 1991 Rarities of the World sale. With 1957 and 2012 P.F. certificates.
(Image Magnifier)12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, intact perforations on all sides, 1991 P.F. certificate (no longer accompanies) notes small shallow thin at top right which we cannot detect
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 173 contains 72 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 71 available to collectors. Many are scissors-separated on at least one side.
Census no. 173-UNC-07. Ex Petersen. With 2005 P.S.E. certificate.
(Image Magnifier)15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, partly reperfed but not noted as such on 2024 P.F. certificate (a "before" photo can be seen in Sale 510, lot 134)
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
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 of those perhaps half are faulty.
Census no. 174-UNC-35. Colson backstamp. 1954 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2024 P.F. certificate (does not note part reperfing).
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, rich color, perfs all around and without the usual scissors separating that occurs on this issue, very faint overall toning is barely noticeable, small central thin spot
VERY FINE appearing EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 175, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/175, contains 111 examples, of which three are used.
Census no. 175-UNC-108. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, rich color, mostly intact perforations on three sides (certificate states reperfed at right), shallow thin spot, Fine appearance, our census of Scott 175 contains approximately 111 examples, census no. 175-UNC-16, with 1997 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated but with perforations virtually intact on all sides, choice centering for this difficult issue
VERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 176, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/176, contains 54 examples, with 52 available to collectors. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations on all four sides. This stamp, from an old-time collection, is a new addition to the census.
Census no. 176-UNC-51. With 2024 P.F. certificate.
2c Vermilion, Imperforate (178P5; formerly 178a). Horizontal pair, large to huge margins including right sheet margin, unused (no gum), Extremely Fine, SCV $600 with gum
(Image Magnifier)15c Red Orange (189). Balanced margins and well-centered, bright color contrasted by Rosette Within Rosette fancy cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1998 P.F. certificate
(Image Magnifier)7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued though traces of "gum" are present, thinned and reperfed at right and bottom, otherwise Fine, an affordable example of this Special Printing, our census of Scott 196 contains approximately 85 examples, census no. 196-UNC-25, with 1977 P.F. certificate stating only reperfed at bottom
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3c Vermilion (214). Mint N.H., brilliant color on post-office fresh paper, precise centering, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2017 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95), only four grade higher
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