1c Dark Ultramarine, Special
Printing (192). Without gum as issued, rich color, wide margins all
around, small thin spots which do not detract from its
appearanceEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE FINEST-APPEARING COPIES OF THE RARE 1-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our Levi records of Scott 192 show that more than 80 percent of the estimated 30 extant copies are off-center. Of the four centered copies in the Levi records, one has thins and a crease, one has corner creases, and only one is completely sound.
Ex Lutwak. With 1987 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
2c Black Brown, Special
Printing (193). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, tiny corner
margin crease not mentioned on accompanying certificate and two tiny thin
spotsVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. LESS THAN 55 EXAMPLES ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)
3c Blue Green, Special
Printing (194). Without gum as issued, intense shade and sharp
proof-like impression, centered to right as are several of the few recorded
examplesVERY FINE. THE 3-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL, WITH FEWER THAN THAN 20 BELIEVED TO EXIST.
With 1948 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing
(195). Without gum as issued, fresh color, well-centered for this
difficult stampVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. LESS THAN 30 COPIES ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1971 A.P.S. and 1976 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special
Printing (196). Without gum as issued, rich color, well-centered with
wide and even margins all aroundEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST COPIES OF THE 7-CENT AMERTICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Probably fewer than 100 copies exist. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)
10c Deep Brown, Special
Printing (197). Without gum as issued, intense color and proof-like
impression, perfectly centered with wide and even margins all around, tiny
barely noticeable thin spot at centerEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. QUITE POSSIBLY THE FINEST-APPEARING OF THE FEWER THAN 30 10-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With "WHC" (Colson) backstamp. With 1976 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
12c Blackish Purple, Special
Printing (198). Without gum as issued, rich color and proof-like
impression, almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN COPIES OF THE 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Probably less than 75 copies are known. Ex Lutwak. With 1947, 1976 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
15c Orange, Special Printing
(199). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, fine
impressionVERY FINE. A FRESH EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 30 EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1954 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
24c Dark Violet, Special
Printing (200). Without gum as issued, unbelievable deep rich color,
proof-like impression, wide marginsVERY FINE. PROBABLY LESS THAN 75 EXAMPLES OF THE 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1986 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
30c Greenish Black, Special
Printing (201). Without gum as issued, bright color and fine
impressionVERY FINE AND RARE. LESS THAN 40 EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING ON SOFT PAPER ARE BELIEVED TO BE EXTANT.
Ex Lutwak. With 1971 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
90c Dull Carmine, Special
Printing (202). Without gum as issued, straight-edge at right, bright
colorVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING ON SOFT PAPER. LESS THAN 40 EXAMPLES ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST.
Ex Lutwak. With 1972 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
2c Scarlet Vermilion, Special
Printing (203). Without gum as issued, well-centered for this difficult
stamp, beautiful rich color on fresh bright paperVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 2-CENT SCARLET VERMILION AMERICAN BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING, WHICH IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS. OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY 20 EXTANT COPIES.
Our census of Scott 203 (see Appendix, p. 378) contains only 19 stamps which are available to collectors. Only nine examples are in sound condition with a centering of Very Fine or better. The stamp offered here ranks among the top three or four in our census.
Census No. 203-UNC-07. With 1943 A.P.S. certificate. With 1972 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
5c Deep Blue, Special Printing
(204). Without gum as issued, beautiful rich color and sharp proof-like
impression, choice margins and centeringEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 18 RECORDED COPIES OF THE 5-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS.
Our census of Scott 204 (see Appendix, p. 379) records only 18 copies of this stamp, including one example in the New York Public Library collection. It is the second most elusive of the Bank Note Special Printings.
Census No. 204-UNC-01. Ex Col. Edward H. R. Green, Engel and Klein. With 1957 and 1998 P.F. certificates (Image)
5c Gray Brown, Special
Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like
impression, almost perfectly centeredEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 22 EXAMPLES OF THIS STAMP RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
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 the greater portion was regular issues requisioned to fill a backlog of orders.
Our census of this issue (see Appendix, p. 380) illustrates the 22 known copies.
Census No. 205C-UNC-08. Ex West and Neinken. Originally part of the right margin block of four, this being the bottom left stamp. With copy of 1946 P.F. certificate for the block of four and with 1967 P.F. certificate (Image)
2c Pale Red Brown, Special
Printing (211B). Mint N.H., rich color, fresh and Very Fine, this stamp
was printed on the new steam-powered printing press, with 1970 P.F.
certificate, Scott Retail for hinged
(Image)
4c Deep Blue Green, Special
Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, beautifully centered with wide
even margins, deep color and sharp proof-like impressionEXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE 4-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY PRINTING.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing contains 27 stamps offered as No. 211D, of which 25 have been certified by The Philatelic Foundation (see Appendix, p. 381). Post Office Department records indicate that only 26 were sold.
Census No. 211D-UNC-24. Ex Caspary, as the top right stamp in the block of four. The block was broken shortly after the Caspary sale. Ex Clifford Cole. With 1957 P.F. certificate (Image)