The Natalee Grace Collection of Used Stamps of the United States, Part Two continued...

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY THREE USED COPIES ARE KNOWN.

In 1875 a Special Printing program was established by the postal administration under President Grant. Stamps from previous issues were made for the 1875 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and were intended both for sale and to showcase examples of every U.S. stamp printed to date. Included in this program were examples of the designs currently for sale at the post office. Stamps no longer valid for postage are called Reprints (Scott 3-4 and 40-47). Older issues still valid for postage were called Re-Issues (Scott 102-111 and 123-132). Those printed concurrently with contemporary designs were called Special Printings (Scott 167-177 and 180-181). Therefore, the Special Printings were on sale (and valid for postage) at the same time as the normal issue, but the distribution channel was very limited.

Only two denominations of the Continental Bank Note Company Special Printing are known in used condition. The most spectacular example is the unique used 3c (Scott 169) on a cover cancelled at the Centennial Exposition. Three copies of the 24c are also known, as shown in the census below and illustrated at our website at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/175/175.pdf .

The Special Printing program was continued under the Arthur administration, and designs of stamps currently on sale were printed by the American Bank Note Company. None of these is known used, with the possible exception of Scott 211B.

Census No. 175-CAN-03. With 2007 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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