| 1870-1888 Bank Note Issues |
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| Lot |
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Description |
Lot 2020 |
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1870, 6¢ carmine, grilled (137), incredibly well centered within unusually large margins, exceptionally fresh as well, with lovely color on bright paper, full original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $19,200.
Scott $5,250
A RECORD MINT SINGLE BEING THE FINEST WE HAVE SEEN, THE HIGHEST GRADED MINT SINGLE AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE AT THIS GRADE.
Expertization: 1992 PF and 2004 PSE Certificates, the latter graded XF-Sup 95.
The quality of this 6¢ mint grill is simply unheard of. The color is lovely, the centering above reproach and the margins are so enormous for a grilled 6¢ National, we are surprised it did not receive a 95J. This is one of the finest of any mint Bank Note grill.
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Lot 2021 |
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1870, 1¢ ultramarine (145), virtually perfect centering within large balanced margins, bright fresh color, full original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $3,500.
Scott $750
A MATCHLESS GEM MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1¢ UNGRILLED NATIONAL, THE FINEST GRADED TO DATE BY THE PSE AND THE SOLE EXAMPLE AT THIS GRADE.
Expertization: 2004 PF and 2004 PSE Certificates, the latter graded XF-Sup 95.
A review of auction records confirms the PSE population report. The 1¢ National ungrilled in this grade is a true condition rarity. Interestingly, not one example has been graded in Never Hinged condition.
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Lot 2022 |
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1870, 15¢ bright orange (152), amazing centering within unusually wide margins for the 15¢ ungrilled National, blazing color, full fresh original gum with virtually no trace of hinging, Extremely Fine.
Scott $3,000
AN INCOMPARABLE 15¢ UNGRILLED NATIONAL, RARELY ENCOUNTERED MINT, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CHOICE QUALITY.
Expertization: 1992 PF Certificate.
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Lot 2023 |
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1870, 24¢ purple (153), virtually perfect centering, gorgeous fresh pastel shade, full fresh lightly hinged original gum, Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,000
THE COMBINATION OF BEAUTIFUL FRESH COLOR AND OUTSTANDING CENTERING MAKE THIS A GENUINE CONDITION RARITY.
Expertization: 1998 PF Certificate.
Few stamps suffer from the twin problems of color and centering as much as the 24¢ National Bank NOte issue. The grills are notorious for poor color, but the ungrilled do not fare much better. The overwhelming majority of mint singles we have seen have either had dingy, faded color or poor centering, and usually both. We cannot recall a single rival for this stamp.
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Lot 2024 |
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1870, 30¢ black (154), incredibly well centered within huge balanced margins, intense jet black color, original gum, lightly hinged, Extremely Fine.
Scott $7,500
WITH ITS OUTSTANDING CENTERING AMID JUMBO MARGINS, CHOICE COLOR AND LIGHTLY HINGED ORIGINAL GUM, WE CANNOT RECALL A FINER EXAMPLE OF THE 30¢ UNGRILLED NATIONAL.
Expertization: 1999 PSE and 2001 PF Certificates.
Provenance: Scarsdale
The 30¢ Nationals, as a rule, are narrow margined and not very well centered. The present example is unquestionably the exception to this rule and may well be the finest example out there.
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Lot 2025 |
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1870, 90¢ carmine (155), perfectly centered within generous margins for the issue, rich "fiery" color, full fresh lightly hinged original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $18,500.
Scott $5,500
A SUPERB 90¢ NATIONAL IN THE FINEST QUALITY AVAILABLE, BEING THE HIGHEST GRADED MINT SINGLE, A DISTINCTION IT SHARES WITH ONLY ONE OTHER EXAMPLE.
Expertization: 2005 PSE Certificate graded XF-Sup 95.
The 90¢ National, similar to the 30¢ values, come with notoriously small margins as evidenced by the fact that the PSE has not graded even one example, mint or used, as a jumbo. Moreover, as a group, they do not come well centered. The present example, therefore, should elicit your most careful consideration as it may well be the finest extant.
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Lot 2026 |
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1873, 7¢ orange vermilion, paper with silk fibers (160 var.), beautifully centered with large, well balanced margins, rich, vibrant color and full, lightly hinged original gum, fresh and Extremely Fine.
Scott $2,000
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE AND LITTLE KNOWN CONTINENTAL PAPER VARIETY.
Expertization: 2001 PF Certificate noting the variety.
The paper clearly shows three blue silk fibers, one on the front, in the top margin, and two on the back.
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Lot 2027 |
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1875, 2¢ vermilion (178), choice, virtually perfect centering and truly vibrant color with full, never hinged original gum; post office fresh and Extremely Fine. SMQ $7,100.
Scott $375 for hinged
ONE OF ONLY TWO CONTINENTAL 2¢ VERMILIONS TO RECEIVED A PSE GRADE OF XF-SUPERB 95, WITH NONE GRADED HIGHER.
Expertization: 1995 PF (block of 4) and 2005 PSE Certificates, the latter graded XF-Sup 95.
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Lot 2028 |
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1879, 2¢ vermilion (183), near perfect centering within oversized margins, brilliant color on bright paper, impeccable never hinged original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $2,600 for a normal 95.
Scott $400
A STUNNING AND PRISTINE LARGE MARGINED, NEVER HINGED SINGLE, BEING THE HIGHEST GRADED TO DATE BY THE PSE, WITH ONLY THREE OTHERS AT THIS GRADE.
Expertization: 2008 PSE Certificate graded XF-Sup 95J.
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Lot 2029 |
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1880 Special Printing, 10¢ deep brown (197), outstanding centering within very wide margins, exceptionally fresh color and paper, sharp impression, Extremely Fine.
Scott $55,000
A MAGNIFICENT-QUALITY 10¢ SOFT PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING.
Expertization: 1999 PF Certificate.
Special Printing are most certainly one of the more difficult areas to collect in choice quality. The hard papers typically come with scissor separated perforations. The soft paper varieties are often faulty, most notably with thins due to the somewhat fragile nature of the paper. When one finally has a fresh, sound example, the centering invariably leaves much to be desired. This 10c soft paper we offer here is actually one of the finest Special Printings extant of any denomination.
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Lot 2030 |
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1882, 6¢ deep brown red, re-engraved (208a), perfectly centered, post office fresh color, paper and absolutely flawless never hinged original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $8,150.
Scott $1,850
WITH ITS PRISTINE COLOR, PAPER AND GUM AND ITS IMPECCABLE CENTERING, THIS IS A TRULY SUPERB 6¢ RE-ENGRAVED AND BEARS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED BY THE PSE AND IS THE SOLE EXAMPLE AT THIS GRADE.
Expertization: 1998 PF and 2007 PSE Certificates, the latter graded XF-Sup 95.
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Lot 2031 |
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1882, 10¢ brown, re-engraved (209), top sheet margin, "M", single, perfectly centered within near jumbo margins, stunning darker shade, full absolutely unblemished never hinged original gum, Superb. SMQ $12,100.
Scott $525
A MATCHLESS GEM THAT IS SUPERB IN EVERY RESPECT, THE HIGHEST GRADED TO DATE AND THE SOLE EXAMPLE AT THIS COVETED GRADE.
Expertization: 2006 PSE Certificate graded Superb 98.
The 10¢ re-engraved is the most common of the 10¢ Bank Notes, consequently we have seen several that were truly choice, but never have we encountered a perfect example….until now.
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Lot 2032 |
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1883, 4¢ blue green (211), essentially perfectly centered, brilliant color on fresh crisp paper, flawless never hinged original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $5,000.
Scott $1,050
AN ABSOLUTE GEM MINT EXAMPLE OF THIS PERENNIALLY DIFFICULT STAMP, BEING THE HIGHEST YET GRADED BY THE PSE, AND WITH ONLY ONE OTHER AT THIS GRADE, PLUS WE CANNOT RECALL EVER SEEING A FINER EXAMPLE.
Expertization: 2009 PSE Certificate graded XF-Sup 95.
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Lot 2033 |
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1883 Special Printing, 2¢ pale red brown (211B), lower right corner margin single with large, perfectly balanced margins, rich color and flawless, never hinged original gum; fresh and choice Extremely Fine.
Scott $850
A STUNNING JUMBO MARGINED CORNER SINGLE.
Expertization: 1984 PF Certificate for a block of 4.
This stamp would be spectacular even were it to be the much more common 2¢ Red Brown (#210)- how much more so, then, for the scarce Special Printing.
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Lot 2034 |
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1887, 1¢ ultramarine (212), virtually perfectly centered within margins of simply immense proportions, lovely pastel shade on bright paper, original gum, never hinged, an Extremely Fine jumbo. SMQ $2,300 for a a normal 95.
Scott $310
A BREATHTAKING SUPER JUMBO, ONLY THREE GRADED HIGHER (ALL ORDINARY 98'S).
Expertization: 1981, 1989, 1998 PF (first two when stamp had sheet selvage) and 2004 PSE Certificates, the last graded XF-Sup 95J.
Provenance: V. Morris, R. Klimetz
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Lot 2035 |
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1888, 4¢ carmine (215), top sheet margin single, perfectly centered, bright and fresh, full never hinged original gum, Superb. SMQ $10,000.
Scott $675
A SIMPLY SUPERB GEM OF THE HIGHEST ORDER WITH ONLY TWO OTHERS SHARING THIS GRADE AND NONE GRADED HIGHER.
Expertization: 2006 PSE Certificate graded Superb 98.
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Lot 2036 |
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1888, 30¢ orange brown (217), mathematically centered within generous margins, exquisite color, never hinged original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $4,750.
Scott $1,100
AN OUTSTANDING GEM MINT SINGLE OF THE 30¢ ORANGE BROWN, ONE OF 4 AT THIS GRADE WITH ONLY ONE HIGHER (98).
Expertization: 2009 PSE Certificate graded XF-Sup 95.
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Lot 2037 |
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1888, 90¢ purple (218), near perfect centering with unusually wide margins, lovely fresh deep color, flawless never hinged original gum, Extremely Fine. SMQ $5,900 for a normal 90.
Scott $3,000
AN EXTRAORDINARY WIDE MARGINED 90¢ PURPLE, BEING THE HIGHEST GRADED JUMBO BY THE PSE TO DATE; THE SOLE EXAMPLE OF THIS GRADE WITH ONLY ONE GRADED HIGHER- A 95.
Expertization: 1984 PF and 2008 PSE Certificates, the latter graded 90J.
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