Sale 1288 — The Nelson Berman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 22 June, 2023
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Co. Hard Paper Special Printing (Scott 167-181)
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual but with wide margins, rich color on bright paperVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 167, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/167 , contains 48 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 47 available to collectors. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around.
Census no. 167-UNC-42. Small backstamp. With 1999 P.F. certificate.
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, perfs scissors-separated as usual but virtually intact on three sidesA FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 168, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/168 , contains 62 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 61 available to collectors. Many have perfs scissors-trimmed on at least one side and many have perforations into the design.
Census no. 168-UNC-62. Ex William L. Lewis. With 1976 A.P.S. and 2005 P.F. certificates.
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (169). Without gum as issued, perfs scissors-separated as usual but full and intact on three sides, deep rich colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 169, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/169 , contains 37 examples, including one on cover and one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 35 unused stamps available to collectors. Of these, only three have perforations all around and are confirmed as sound. The example offered here, with intact perforations on three sides, should be considered desirable.
Census no. 169-UNC-31. With 1988 P.F. certificate.
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (170). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, scissors-separated as usual but leaving virtually intact perfsEXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE FINEST COPIES CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS -- ONLY 35 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 170, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/170 , contains 35 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 34 available to collectors. Approximately half have scissors-trimmed perfs on at least one side. Most others are either off-center or have small faults. This example, with virtually complete perfs and choice centering, is in the top tier of that small population.
Census no. 170-UNC-13. Ex Lessin. With 1960 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
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. OUR CENSUS CONTAINS ONLY 75 EXAMPLES OF THIS SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 171, at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/171 , contains 75 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 74 available to collectors. Most stamps were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side.
Census no. 171-UNC-08. Ex Lutwak and Zoellner. With 1971 A.P.S. and 1976 P.F. certificates
10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual with full perfs at top and left, bright colorVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 172, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/172 , contains 39 examples. Most are scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side. Of the eleven copies with full perforations, most have either pulled perforations or are not centered, limiting their desirability.
Census no. 172-UNC-11. Ex Caspary and Lessin. With 1960 and 2002 P.F. certificates
12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, rich color, full perforations all around without the usual scissors-separation, unusually choice centering, small thin spotEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING WITH INTACT PERFORATIONS ALL AROUND.
Our census of Scott 173, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/173 , contains only 64 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 63 available to collectors. We previously had an error in our count that increased the total by ten. We wonder if the modest Scott value was influenced by that error and is artificially low, as 64 examples is a low population number. Many stamps are scissors-separated on at least one side.
Census no. 173-UNC-18. With 1991 P.F. certificate.
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 on three sidesFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 174, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/174 , contains 41 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 40 available to collectors. An overwhelming majority have the perforations scissors-separated on at least one side. Only five or six have intact perforations, and of those perhaps half are faulty.
Census no. 174-UNC-11. With 1960 P.F. certificate
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, full perforations all around without the usual scissors-separation, rich color, choice centering, single pulled perf at lower rightVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 24-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, WITH COMPLETE PERFORATIONS ON ALL FOUR SIDES.
Our census of Scott 175, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/175 , contains 105 examples. Few show complete perfs as seen on the stamp offered here.
Census no. 175-UNC-46. With 1994 P.F. certificate.
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, perfs scissors-separated as usual but intact on two sides, lovely shade and impressionVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 176, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/176 , contains 50 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 49 available to collectors. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations on all four sides.
Census no. 176-UNC-13. 1948 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 1997 P.S.E. certificate.
90c Violet Carmine, Special Printing (177). Without gum as issued, beautiful bright color on fresh paper, scissors-separated as usual but leaving virtually full and intact perforations all aroundVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. RARE IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
Our census of Scott 177, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/177 , contains 45 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 44 available to collectors. Only 17 have perforations intact on all four sides, and of these only nine are confirmed as sound. Many have poor centering.
Census no. 177-UNC-36. Ex Lessin. With 1954 and 2002 P.F. certificates
2c Carmine Vermilion, Special Printing (180). Without gum as issued, intense color and proof-like impression, intact perforations all around without any scissors-separationA VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1875 2-CENT CARMINE VERMILION CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 24 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 180, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/180 , contains 24 examples of this rare Special Printing, one of which is in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library. Approximately half are confirmed as sound, but most are not well-centered.
Census no. 180-UNC-05. Ex Hale, Weisman and Floyd. With 1992 P.S.E. and 1953, 1969 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
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. 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 MILLER COLLECTION AT THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Our census of Scott 181, available at our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/181 , contains only ten examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library (number 10), leaving nine available to collectors. One (number 8) was certified in 1952 and needs to be reexamined for condition and identification. Another (number 6) has a confirmed fault. We have offered only five unduplicated examples since 1994.
Census no.181-UNC-01. Ex Grunin, Lutwak and Zoellner. With 1955 and 1979 P.F. certificates.