5c Special Printing 205C Census

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc.

205c.jpg (23576 bytes)

5c Gray Brown, American Special Printing (Scott No. 205C)
One of 22 recorded examples
Census No. 205C-UNC-08

SPECIAL NOTE: There are many United States stamps that look similar to the rarities listed below. Some of the differences between expensive rarities and common stamps can be subtle, including differences in perforation, shade and size. These stamps should have certificates from a recognized expertizing committee, such as The Philatelic Foundation or P.S.E.

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 requisitioned to fill a backlog of orders.

Our census of this issue illustrates the 21 known copies.


Census No. History: PFC:	205C-UNC-01 Caspary Coll. - HRH 11/21/1956 as block of four Simon Coll. - RAS 10/27/1965 7404 as block of four (B.L. stamp) “Genuine” 7404C single “Genuine” 248764 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-02 Meilstrup Coll. - RAS 5/2/1973, Lot 248 19347 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-03 Caspary Coll. - HRH 11/21/1956 as block of four RAS 4/14/1984 (Rarities) Concord Coll. - RAS 5/19/1994, Lot 206 - $19,000 7404 as block of four (T.L. stamp) “Genuine” 7404A as single“Genuine” 283149 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-04 Lilly Coll. - RAS 2/2/1967, Lot 312 - $6,500 Chapin Coll. - SPG 5/30/2003, Lot 301 - $45,000 RAS Sale 872, 3/10/2004, Lot 563 1530 “Genuine”

Census No. History: PFC:	205C-UNC-05 RAS 3/27/1974 (Rarities) RAS 1/25/1983, Lot 907 "light crease" 31373 - “Genuine with horizontal crease”	205C-UNC-06 RAS 5/13/1971 31945 “Genuine with two thin spots”	205C-UNC-07 RAS 10/3/1992 (Rarities), Lot 635 - $24,000 Floyd Coll. - SPG 10/23/2001, Lot 348 - $52,500 410 “Genuine” 254720 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-08 West Coll. - Ward 4/26/1947 Ambassador Coll. - RAS 4/27/1966, Lot 245 Seymour Coll. - RAS 4/23/1970, Lot 230 Neinken Coll. Zoellner Coll. - RAS Sale 804 10/9/1998, Lot 402 - $25,000 158 as block of four (B.L. stamp) “Genuine” 26024 “Genuine”

Census No. History: PFC:	205C-UNC-09 Cole Coll. - RAS 2/24/1988, Lot 1292 RAS 4/15/1989 192332 “Genuine” 297531 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-10 RAS 4/24/1982 “XF” 257339 “Genuine slightly toned with a tiny stain at bottom right” (not noted in 1982)	205C-UNC-11 RAS 4/29/1981 Hewitt Coll. - Ivy 5/26/1986, Lot 316 508 “Genuine” 101218 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-12 Neinken Coll. "Southern Cross" Coll. Weisman Coll. - SPG 5/8/1998, Lot 1151 - $28,000 Lyons Coll. - SPG 1/21/2000, Lot 225 - $42,500 McKinney Coll. - SPG 9/13/2002, Lot 164 - $37,500 325 “Genuine” 238396 “Genuine"

Census No. History: PFC:	205C-UNC-13 Vineyard Coll., RAS Sale 883, 10/8/2004, Lot 3180 - $57,500 366 “Genuine” 272556 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-14 RAS 4/5/1980 158 as block of four (T.L. stamp) “Genuine” 265319 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-15 T. Charlton Henry Coll. - HR 12/15/1960 Lessin Coll. - SPG 5/31/2002, Lot 345 - $35,000 McCarthy Coll., SPG 12/12/2003, Lot 173 - $31,000 13463 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-16 Crocker Coll. - HR, 11/23/1938 Isleham Coll. - RAS 5/25/1986 22896 “Genuine “ 259716 “Genuine"

Census No. History: PFC:	205C-UNC-17 Caspary Coll. - HRH 11/21/1956 as block of four 7404 as block of four (B.R. stamp) “Genuine” 7404D as single“Genuine”	205C-UNC-18 Caspary Coll. - HRH 11/21/1956 as block of four 7404 as block of four (T.R. stamp) “Genuine” 7404B as single “Genuine” 214614 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-19 100298 “Genuine”	205C-UNC-20 - Not Genuine 37005 “Not 205C but 205 without gum” This stamp has a 2001 P.S.E. certificate and is signed Bartels, but received a negative opinion from the P.F.

Census No. History: PFC:	205C-UNC-21 Engel Coll. - Corinphila 5/30/1975 Walter Klein Coll. - Christie's 6/15/1988, Lot 140 Hinrichs Coll. - SPG 5/21/2001, Lot 363 -$53,250 158 as block of four (B.R. stamp) “Genuine” 11330 as single “Genuine” 414303 "Genuine"	205C-UNC-22 8481 “Genuine

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