1c Ultramarine, Special
Printing (167). Without gum as issued, rich color and sharp proof-like
impression, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving intact perfs
all around, well-centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 1-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS STAMP IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS. A TRUE CONDITION RARITY.
Most of the Continental Hard-Paper Special Printings were scissors-separated when issued, often causing trimmed perforations or straight edges. This stamp has exceptionally full perforations on all sides.
Approximately 35-40 are believed to exist. Ex Engel and Lutwak. With 1956 and 1976 P.F. certificates (Image)
2c Dark Brown, Special
Printing (168). Without gum as issued, deep color and proof-like
impression, scissors-separated as almost always leaving straight edge at
bottom and full perfs at top so that stamp appears to have wide margins on
all sidesVERY FINE. AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Probably less than 75 examples are known. Ex Lutwak. With 1971 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Blue Green, Special
Printing (169). Without gum as issued, huge margins, beautiful intense
color, full and intact perforations all aroundEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. EASILY ONE OF THE THREE OR FOUR FINEST OF THE LESS THAN 40 3-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Caspary, Hetherington and Klein. With 1957 P.F. certificate (Image)
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing
(170). Without gum as issued, deep color for this stamp,
scissors-separated as almost always but leaving virtually intact perfs all
around, accompanying certificate notes slight soiling which is no longer
presentVERY FINE. AN UNUSUALLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. FEWER TNAN 35 ARE KNOWN TO EXIST.
Last offered at auction in our 500th sale, October 1976. Ex Lutwak. With 1976 P.F. certificate (Image)
7c Reddish Vermilion, Special
Printing (171). Without gum as issued, bright color, scissors-separated
as usual but showing part of perfs all around and full perfs at top and
leftFRESH AND VERY FINE. APPROXIMATELY 50 OF THE 7-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1971 A.P.S. and 1976 P.F. certificates (Image)
10c Pale Brown, Special
Printing (172). Without gum as issued, incredibly bright color, wide
margins, scissors-separated as usual but leaving full intact perfs on
almost all aroundEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEWER THAN 40 10-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1974 P.F. certificate (Image)
12c Dark Violet, Special
Printing (173). Without gum as issued, rich color, well-centered,
scissors-separated as usual but leaving perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE APPROXIMATELY 60 EXAMPLES OF THE 12-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Last offered at auction in our 500th sale on October 1976, where it realized $1,050. Ex Lutwak. With 1955 and 1976 P.F. certificates (Image)
15c Bright Orange, Special
Printing (174). Without gum as issued, rich color and sharp proof-like
impression on bright white paper, scissors-separated as are most but
leaving full and intact perfs all aroundFRESH AND VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN WITH FULL PERFS INTACT.
Our Levi records of Scott 174 contain fewer than 40 examples, two-thirds of which have perfs trimmed off on one or more sides.
Ex Lutwak. With 1973 P.F. certificate (Image)
24c Dull Purple, Special
Printing (175). Without gum as issued, intense shade and proof-like
impression, showing full and intact perfs all aroundVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Approximately 80-90 examples are believed to exist. Ex Lutwak. With 1939 A.P.S. and 1976 P.F. certificates (Image)
30c Greenish Black, Special
Printing (176). Without gum as issued, beautiful deep shade,
well-centered with wide margins all around, scissors-separated as almost
always but leaving virtually full perfs all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE APPROXIMATELY 40 EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS BELIEVED EXTANT.
Ex Lutwak. With 1953 A.P.S. and 1987 P.F. certificates (Image)
90c Violet Carmine, Special
Printing (177). Without gum as issued, beautiful bright color on fresh
paper, scissors-separated as usual but leaving full and intact perfs at
bottom and leftVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. APPROXIMATELY 40 ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1974 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Carmine Vermilion, Special
Printing (180). Without gum as issued, fiery color and fine impression,
full and intact perfs all around without any scissors-separation, single
tiny pinhole which we have difficulty locating and which is not mentioned
on most recent certificateFINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE VERMILION CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 23 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 181 (see Appendix, p. 376) records 23 examples of this rare Special Printing, one of which is in the New York Public Library collection.
Census No. 180-UNC-03. Ex Lutwak. With 1978 P.F. certificate (Image)
5c Bright Blue, Special
Printing (181). Without gum as issued, deep rich color on fresh bright
paper, scissors-separated but full and intact perfs almost all
aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS AND ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY TEN EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, INCLUDING ONE IN THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLECTION.
Our census of the 5c Continental Special Printing (see Appendix, p. 377) contains only nine examples that are available to collectors. In our opinion, this stamp is undervalued in Scott. Scott 204, the American Soft-Paper Special Printing, has a comparable catalogue value despite the fact that there are 18, or almost twice as many copies, recorded in our census.
Census No.181-UNC-01. Ex Grunin and Lutwak. With 1955 and 1979 P.F. certificates (Image)