Sale 1288 — The Nelson Berman Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday, 22 June, 2023
Category — 1880-83 American Bank Note Company Special Printings (Scott 192-211D)
1c Dark Ultramarine, Special Printing (192). Without gum as issued, lovely color, three wide marginsVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 26 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, MAKING THIS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Our census of Scott 192, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/192 , contains 27 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 26 available to collectors. Approximately half are sound, and many are off-center.
Census no. 192-UNC-18. Ex "Country Gentleman" and Lessin. With 1966 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, intense shade and detailed impressionVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 193, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/193 , contains 52 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 51 available to collectors. Almost half have faults (mostly thins, which are endemic to this soft porous paper). Of the sound examples, nearly all are centered to top or one side.
Census no. 193-UNC-16. 1989 P.F. certificate noting a small thin no longer accompanies. In our opinion this does not have a thin -- the soft and loose mesh of the paper can often be mistaken for a thin. With 1998 P.S.E. certificate as sound.
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (194). Without gum as issued, rich color, characteristic centering for this rarityVERY FINE. THE 3-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS -- OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY FIFTEEN EXAMPLES AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 194, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/194 , contains 16 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 15 available to collectors. Its rarity matches or exceeds the most valuable Special Printings, such as Scott Nos. 180 (24 known), 203 (20 known), 204 (18 known), 205C (22 known) and 211D (27 known). In fact, it is the rarest of any Bank Note Special Printing among the Scott-listed "sets" (167-177 and 192-202).
The old P.F. certificate accompanying this stamp describes it as "toned," but it is not. There is a story behind this certificate that deserves retelling and has probably not been published anywhere. In 1973 a set of 1880 American Bank Note Co. Special Printings was submitted to The Philatelic Foundation. John R. Boker, Jr., who was actively involved in the expertizing process at that time, insisted that the stamps should be described as "toned," and his opinion was not overruled. Since then, every stamp from this group with the "toned" certificates has proven to be without toning.
Census no. 194-UNC-10. Ex Colonel Green, "Country Gentleman" (Siegel Sale 422) and Kharasch. Blue "W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp. 1973 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 2016 P.F. certificate stating "it is genuine".
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (195). Without gum as issued, fresh and bright color, small natural inclusion on Lincoln's cheek not noted on certificateVERY FINE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, WITH BETTER CENTERING THAN MOST. ONLY 28 ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 195, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/195 , contains 28 examples, an oddly low number. Some of the stamps submitted as the Special Printing, but certified as the regular issue, Scott 186, could in fact be Special Printing stamps (the two are difficult to tell apart). We record another three stamps which we feel are possibly Scott 195, despite previous P.F. certification. Although most examples of this rarity are sound (or potentially sound), many are off center.
Census no. 195-UNC-05. Faint backstamp. Signed "S.P." in pencil. 1946 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies. With 1996 P.F. certificate.
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, radiant color, unusually choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 7-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 196, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/196 , contains 84 examples. This is one of the finest.
Census no. 196-UNC-09. With 1971 and 1992 P.F. certificates.
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, unusually choice centering with wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 33 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST.
Our census of Scott 197, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/197 , contains 34 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 33 available to collectors. Of these, eleven have faults, leaving only 22 sound or potentially sound examples (seven have not been examined in many years). Several of these have poor centering.
Census no. 197-UNC-07. Ex Chapin. With 1950 and 2003 P.F. certificates.
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered, small thin spotsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE FINEST-APPEARING COPIES OF THE 12-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 198, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/198 , contains 65 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 64 available to collectors. Of these, at least one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering as well. Only thirteen are confirmed as sound, and of these only seven have decent centering. The example offered here, with nice centering and small thin spots, should be considered desirable.
Census no. 198-UNC-52. Ex Sheriff, Ballman and Geisler. With 1971 and 2002 P.F. certificates
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impressionFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE OF THE 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 199, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/199 , contains 40 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 39 available to collectors. Of these, only 15 are confirmed as sound, 7 have faults and 11 need to be reexamined according to current methods and standards.
Census no. 199-UNC-20. With 1943 A.P.S. and 1991 P.F. certificates.
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, wide marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING
Our census of Scott 200 contains approximately 68 examples, about a third of which have thins or small faults. Fully 22 are confirmed as sound, but of these only five have decent centering.
Census no. 200-UNC-29. Ex Zoellner. With 1986 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, gorgeous centering with unusually wide and balanced marginsEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IN THE FINEST CONDITION ATTAINABLE.
Our census of Scott 201, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/201 , contains only 43 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 42 available to collectors. Very few are well-centered and of those not all are sound.
Census no. 201-UNC-08. Ex Hewitt and Ballman. With 1953, 1982 and 2002 P.F. certificates.
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, bright color, straight-edge at rightVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING.
Our census of Scott 202, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/202 , contains 42 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 41 available to collectors. The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition. Thins or more serious faults affect about half of the known examples.
Census no. 202-UNC-40. Ex Zoellner. With 1972 and 1998 P.F. certificates.
2c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (203). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression, choice centering for this difficult issueEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS. ONLY 20 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, MANY OF WHICH ARE OFF CENTER.
Our census of Scott 203, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/203 , contains only 19 stamps which are available to collectors. The 20th copy is in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library. Five of the 19 available stamps have small faults or short perfs. Of the 14 remaining sound copies, we see only three others which rival the stamp offered here for centering and margins.
Census No. 203-UNC-14. Ex Whitman. With 1947, 1969, 1989, 1995 and 2009 P.F. certificates.
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression, almost perfectly centered
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 22 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT GARFIELD 1882 SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS MAGNIFICENT STAMP IS GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY 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 regular issues were used to fill the backlog of orders for the 5c Garfield.
Our census of Scott 205C, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/205C , illustrates the 22 recorded examples. This is easily one of the finest.
Census no. 205C-UNC-18. Ex Caspary as a block of four. With 1957 and 1989 P.F. certificates. With 2010 and 2023 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95; unpriced in this grade in SMQ, SMQ $95,000.00 as 90). This is the highest grade awarded and it is shared by only two others.
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, Intense color and impression, choice centering, light staining which has mostly been removed and has not affected the colorVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS WITH ONLY 27 EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of the 4c 1883 Special Printing, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/211D , contains 27 stamps offered as No. 211D (though Post Office Department records indicate only 26 were sold). 26 have been certified by the Philatelic Foundation.
Census no. 211D-UNC-21. 1984 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies which noted light stains. With 1989 P.F. certificate noting "light staining which has mostly been removed".
2c Pale Red Brown, Special Printing (211B). Original gum, lovely color, Very Fine and choice, with 1980 and 1989 P.F. certificates