2008 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.

The 15c National Grilled Issue is one of the most difficult of all National Bank Note Company issues to find in well-centered, original-gum condition. The stamp offered here, combining the elements of color, paper, centering, noticeable grill points and full gum, is a true condition rarity.

With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $21,200.00) (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY GRILLED ISSUE.

The 15c National Grilled Issue is one of the most difficult of all National Bank Note Company issues to find in well-centered, original-gum condition. This stamp is one of the finest original-gum examples extant.

Ex Hetherington, Klein, Zoellner and Lyons. With 1998 and 2002 P.F. certificates. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 90-CENT GRILLED NATIONAL BANK NOTE ISSUE. THE 90-CENT IS THE THIRD MOST DIFFICULT STAMP OF THE NATIONAL BANK NOTE GRILLED ISSUE TO OBTAIN IN SOUND ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

Considering original-gum examples only, after the extremely rare 12c and non-existent 24c, the 90c is the rarest of the 1870 National Grilled Issue. We have offered only a half-dozen or so were sound and centered Very Fine in all of our Rarities sales and in the past 14 years of auctions.

With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1870 15-CENT NATIONAL BANK NOTE COMPANY UNGRILLED ISSUE. RARE WITH SUCH STUNNING COLOR AND WITH SUCH WIDE MARGINS.

The 15c 1870 National Grilled Issue (Scott 141) is widely recognized as an extremely rare stamp in choice original-gum condition. Less well known is the fact that its ungrilled counterpart -- Scott 152 -- is comparably challenging to find in such condition.

With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF 90, SMQ $8,000.00) (Image)

VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 7-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING. APPROXIMATELY 70-75 ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.

Most stamps of the Continental Special Printings were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side and in some cases two or three sides. Our recent review of records of the Philatelic Foundation located only 70 examples of Scott 171.

With 2007 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED TO DATE BY P.S.E., AND THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE.

Ex Scarsdale. With 1998 P.F. and 2003 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $3,450.00). (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E.

With 2007 P.S.E. certificate (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $8,500.00). This is the highest grade awarded to date -- only two Mint N.H. and two other hinged examples share this grade. (Image)

FINE APPEARANCE. APPROXIMATELY 40 EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTINGS ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.

The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition (thins affect most of the known examples) and typically poor centering.

With 2003 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

FINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE PANE OF 100 OF THE 3-CENT 1881 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.

Scott Retail approximately (Image)

FINE-VERY FINE. A RARE PANE OF 100 OF THE 3-CENT 1887 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.

Scott Retail as Mint N.H. singles with no premium for the two plate blocks (which is unpriced as Mint N.H. in Scott Catalogue) (Image)