United States Stamps continued...

FRESH AND VERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. OUR CENSUS CONTAINS ONLY 20 EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT SCARLET VERMILION 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.

Our census of Scott 203 (available at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/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, only a few equal or surpass the stamp offered here in terms of centering and margins. The tiny blue ink specks on this stamp have always been mentioned, but they are of very little significance.

Census No. 203-UNC-10. Ex H. N. Roach. With 1990 and 2008 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE THREE OR FOUR FINEST OF THE 18 RECORDED COPIES OF THE 5-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.

The 5c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is one of the most elusive of the Bank Note Special printings. Our census of Scott 204 (available at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/204.pdf) records only 18 copies of this stamp, including one example in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. About one-third of the known stamps have minor faults. Of the dozen sound examples available to collectors, this stamp places among the top three or four in terms of centering and margins. It was Alfred H. Caspary's choice for his legendary collection, and over the years this stamp has stood the test of time as condition standards have become more rigorous. We anticipate a record realization when this magnificent 5c Taylor Special Printing is offered in the Hansen sale.

Census No. 204-UNC-03. Ex Caspary, Ambassador Collection, Cole, Greenblatt, Weisman and Ballman. With 1956, 1988, 2002 and 2008 P.F. certificates, as well as 1991 P.S.E. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE 5-CENT GARFIELD IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. THIS 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://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/205C.pdf) illustrates the 21 recorded examples (only three have faults).

Census No. 205C-UNC-15. Ex T. Charlton Henry, Lessin and McCarthy. With 1961 and 2008 P.F. certificates (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A MAGNIFICENT EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS.

Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing (available at http://siegelauctions.com/enc/census/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 (top left stamp).

During the past year, we have offered two other examples of No. 211D. In each description, we pointed out that the Scott value has not been correctly adjusted in relation to its counterparts, such as Scott No. 205C, with which it has always maintained near parity. For example, between 2001 and 2008, Scott No. 205C rose from $28,500 to its current $75,000, while Scott No. 211D only increased from $26,000 to $50,000. The copy in our recent Sale 953 realized $75,000 hammer despite a tiny thin, and the sound copy in the Hoffman sale realized $95,000 hammer. Look for an upward adjustment in the next Scott Catalogue.

Census No. 211D-UNC-14. Ex Caspary (the top left stamp in his block of four). With 1989 and 2008 P.F. certificates. (Image)

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