Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — 1870-93 Bank Note Issues
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, intense shade and proof-like impression, with sheet selvage at right
EXTREMELY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE SELVAGE.
The American Bank Note Co. Special Printing on soft paper was made in 1880 to supply the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office with specimens of stamps for sale to collectors, as part of the Special Printing program. The 7c and 24c stamps had been discontinued when the 1879 Issue regular issue was printed by American on soft paper. Except for those two values, the others on soft paper (with gum) were available in post offices. For this reason, few collectors or dealers felt compelled to order the Special Printing stamps from the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office before the program ended in July 1884. At that point, any unsold stamps were destroyed.
The Third Assistant PMG supply records indicate that when the Special Printings program was discontinued in July 1884, 55 copies of the 2c 1883 Special Printing (211B) and 26 copies of the 4c 1883 Special Printing (211D) had been sold. The 2c stamps now classified as Scott 211B actually come from an 1885 steam-press printing and are not the same stamps sold through the Third Assistant PMG.
Our census figures for Scott 211D pose an enigma. Only 26 copies of Scott 211D were sold, but 28 different examples are identified in our census. Even if two of the stamps are disqualified, a 100% survival rate is extraordinary. The stamp offered here can be traced back to the Heiman March 1945 sale of the Colonel Edward H. R. Green collection (lot 154).
Eight of the 28 come from two blocks of four that were divided into singles. One block (PFC 4853) contained census numbers 211D-UNC-08, 01, 11 and 15. The other block was offered in the Caspary collection (PFC 7405) and contained census numbers 211D-UNC-14, 25, 17 and 05.
There are two examples of Scott 211D with sheet selvage. They originally formed a vertical pair, with the stamp in this sale at top and 211D-UNC-23 at bottom.
Siegel census no. 211D-UNC-16. Ex Colonel Green, Hewitt, Dr. Test ("Concord"), Floyd and Gross. Signed “Gotzinger” in pencil on back. With 1981 and 2024 P.F. certificates. With 2024 P.S.E. certificate (VF 80).
