The Alan B. Whitman Collection of Outstanding U.S. Stamps, Part Two: 1870-1901 Issues continued...

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 20 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, MANY OF WHICH ARE OFF CENTER.

Our census of Scott 203 (available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/203/203.pdf ) contains only 19 stamps which are available to collectors. The 20th copy is in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. Five of the 19 available stamps have small faults or short perfs. Of the 14 remaining sound copies, we see only three others which rival the stamp offered here for centering and margins.

Census No. 203-UNC-14. With 1947, 1969, 1989 and 1995 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE 5-CENT GARFIELD IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. THIS SUPERB EXAMPLE IS ONE OF 21 RECORDED.

This elusive Special Printing was the subject of an informative article by William E. Mooz in the Chronicle, February 1992. His research provides strong evidence that the stamps recognized as Scott 205C are a small part of the 2,463 sold as Special Printings through the Third Asst. PMG, and that regular issues were used to fill the backlog of orders for the 5c Garfield.

Our census of Scott 205C (available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/205C/205C.pdf ) illustrates the 21 recorded examples (only three have faults).

Census No. 205C-UNC-09. Ex Cole. With 1988 and 1995 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90). All four graded copies have graded 90, based on our census, it is uncertain if any would grade 95 at P.S.E. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- ONLY 26 ARE RECORDED.

Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing (available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/211D/211D.pdf ) contains 26 stamps offered as No. 211D, of which 25 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation. Post Office Department records indicate that only 26 were sold. Of the known copies, five have small faults. This stamp comes from the block of four sold in the legendary Alfred H. Caspary sale (bottom right stamp).

Census No. 211D-UNC-05. Ex Caspary. With 1957 and 1992 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (VF-XF 85). (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINER OF TWO SURVIVING MULTIPLES OF THE 2-CENT SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE FULL "STEAMER -- AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." IMPRINT. AN IMPORTANT RARITY OF THE BANK NOTE COMPANY PERIOD.

In 1885 the American Bank Note Co. experimented with a Hoe & Co. steam-powered, chain-driven printing press to increase the rate of production. New plates of 200 subjects were created for use on the steam press, including one with the distinctive "STEAMER - AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO." imprint at the top center of the plate. Five sheets of 200 stamps were printed from this "Steamer" plate and sent to the Post Office Department. Since the full sheets were intended to be divided into panes of 100, the vertical gutter between the two panes was left imperforate. These sheets were later sold into the philatelic market and divided into smaller units.

We can account for all five top imprint pieces from the "Steamer" sheets. One is a block of sixteen with disturbed gum and creases (Siegel 1974 Rarities sale, lot 113), which probably came from the sheet once owned by Senator Ackerman. The strip of six offered here is the second largest multiple. These two are the only recorded multiples with the complete imprint. The three remaining imperforate-between multiples from the tops of the sheets are a block of four and two pairs, each with the "American Ban" portion of the imprint but lacking the word "Steamer".

The "Never Hinged" listing for an imprint strip in the current Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue is erroneously based on the 1991 P.F. certificate that accompanies this strip, which states "it is genuine". The wording on this certificate implies that it is Mint N.H., but it is not and has never been offered as such. Therefore, there is only one strip of six (offered here) and the creased block of sixteen. In our opinion, this remarkable imprint multiple is worth far more than its $5,000.00 Scott value, which is based on the realization from a 1996 auction.

With 1991 P.F. certificate (Image)

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