United States Stamps and Postal History continued...

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

Our Levi records contain 30 examples of the rare Scott 192. All but four of the listed copies are centered to one side or corner. Of the four centered copies in the Levi records, there is only one that has been previously described as sound. The example offered here, centered to left but with perfs clear and in completely sound condition, is one of the most desirable examples of this issue.

With 1948 P.F. and 2000 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

VERY FINE. THIS AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY PLATE PROOF OF THE 2-CENT JACKSON DESIGN IS IN THE COLOR OF THE 1880 SPECIAL PRINTING (SCOTT 193).

The American Bank Note Company issued 2c stamps of this design as follows: 1879 Vermilion Regular Issue (Scott 183), 1880 Scarlet Vermilion Special Printing (Scott 203), and 1880 Black Brown Special Printing (Scott 193). The 2c was printed earlier in Brown by the National and Continental Bank Note firms, but in 1875 the color was changed to Vermilion while Continental still had the contract to print stamps. The imprints on this plate proof leave no doubt that it was American's product. The plate number 413 is relatively late in the sequence of numbers assigned by American to plates used for the 1879 Issue. For the 2c Vermilion, American used two Continental plates (296, 297) and manufactured plate numbers 338, 339, 391, 392, 393, 394, 412 and 413 for additional printings (presumably including the Black Brown Special Printing). Plate numbers 412 and 413 had to have been made in late 1881, because they follow number 407, which produced the 1c Reengraved issued in August 1881. Numbers 412 and 413 also fall within the range of numbers assigned to the last twelve plates created for the 3c Reengraved (Scott 207) issued in 1881 (numbers 408-411, 414-421). In 1881 there was no reason for American to produce a Black Brown trial color proof for a 2c regular issue. American's only purpose in producing a 2c Black Brown plate proof in 1881 would be to prepare more "old issues" for the Special Printing program. We believe that the sheet offered here is indeed a proof of the Black Brown Special Printing, Scott 193. As such, it is a most remarkable classic proof item. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. NO MORE THAN 55 COPIES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.

With 1947 P.F. and 2000 P.S.E. certificates (Image)

FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. FEWER THAN 55 EXAMPLES ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.

With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. APPROXIMATELY 30 EXIST.

The mesh and weave of the 1880 Special Printing soft paper leaves stamps prone to thinning. We have also seen bright spots in the mesh that are natural to the paper (British philatelists call them "air holes", which are not thins). The paper of this stamp is very fibrous, but while we must defer to the P.F. certificate stating "thin spot", we feel that the flaw may be natural. In any case, it certainly does not detract from the appearance of this Extremely Fine Gem stamp.

With 1975 P.F. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. APPROXIMATELY 40 EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTINGS ARE KNOWN TO EXIST. THIS STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.

The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition (thins affect most of the known examples) and typically poor centering. In this stamp we have the rare combination of soundness, margins and centering, as well as extraordinary freshness. With the demand for Special Printings so strong, we anticipate collectors will display exuberance in bidding for this Extremely Fine stamp.

With 2000 P.S.E. certificate (Image)