2016 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 24-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.

Ex Hansen. With 1992 and 2009 P.F. certificates (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. THE 90-CENT IS THE THIRD MOST DIFFICULT OF THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and 30c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue.

With 1973 and 2011 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERBLY-CENTERED UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH H GRILL. RARE WITH SUCH CHOICE CENTERING.

With 1976, 1998 and 2012 P.F. certificates (NG, VF-XF 85) (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 26 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS.

Our census of Scott 192, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/192/192.pdf , contains a total of 26 copies.

Census No. 192-UNC-23. Ex T. Cullen Davis and Mielstrup. Purple mark on back. With 1964 P.F. certificate as sound (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLACK BROWN 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our census of Scott 193 contains 48 certified examples, of which almost half have faults.

Unpublished Census No. 193-UNC-02. Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and offered to the market for the first time since 1972. With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. THE 3-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY FOURTEEN EXAMPLES.

Our census of Scott 194, available at http://www.siegelauctions.com/dynamic/census/194/194.pdf , contains only fourteen examples. Its rarity matches or exceeds the most valuable Special Printings, such as Scott Nos. 180 (24 known), 203 (20 known), 204 (18 known), 205C (21 known) and 211D (25 known). In fact, it is the rarest of any Bank Note Special Printing among the Scott-listed "sets" (167-177 and 192-202). This is the first example of this rarity we have offered since 2009.

The old P.F. certificate accompanying this stamp describes it as "toned," but it is not. There is a story behind this certificate that deserves retelling and has probably not been published anywhere. In 1973 a set of 1880 American Bank Note Co. Special Printings was submitted to The Philatelic Foundation. John R. Boker, Jr., who was actively involved in the expertizing process at that time, insisted that the stamps should be described as "toned," and his opinion was not overruled. Since then, every stamp from this group with the "toned" certificates has proven to be without toning. We are confident this stamp will receive a clear certificate and offer it subject to receiving one.

Census No. 194-UNC-10. Ex Colonel Green, "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and Kharasch. Blue "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 27 ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.

Our census of Scott 195 contains 26 certified examples, an oddly low number. Some of the stamps submitted as the Special Printing, but certified as the regular issue, Scott 186, could in fact be Special Printing stamps (the two are difficult to tell apart). We record another three stamps which we feel are possibly Scott 195, despite previous P.F. certification. Although most examples of this rarity are sound (or potentially sound), many are off center. The example offered here has been off the market since 1973 and has never been certified.

Census No. 195-UNC-27. Ex Katharine Matthies (Siegel Sale 439, lot 247) and offered to the market for the first time since that 1973 auction. (Image)

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FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our unpublished census of Scott 196 contains 81 examples. Census No. 196-UNC-81. Offered for the first time since our 1971 Rarities sale. (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND AND NICELY CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- ONLY 32 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.

Our recently updated census records for Scott 197 contain 32 certified examples. Of these, nine have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (seven have not been examined in many years).

Census No. 197-UNC-03. Ex "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and offered to the market for the first time since that 1972 auction. Blue "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our census of Scott 198 contains 62 certified examples. Of these, one-third have small flaws. Many have poor centering.

Census No. 198-UNC-33. Ex Max L. Simon (Siegel Sale 292, Oct. 1965) and our Sale 427 of 1973 where acquired by the current owner. With 1959 P.F. certificate (Image)

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FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 15-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our census of Scott 199 contains only 37 certified examples. Of these, only 12 are confirmed as sound, 10 have faults and 15 need to be reexamined according to current methods and standards. Many of the stamps, regardless of condition, are off center.

Census No. 199-UNC-25. Ex Caspary and Kharasch. With 1957 P.F. certificate (Image)

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