Lot 1146
1882 Special Printing, 5¢ gray brown (205C), virtually perfect centering with large margins, rich distinctive color, free of the flaws that affect several of the known examples. Without gum as issued. Extremely Fine.
Scott $40,000
A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE STAMP, OF WHICH ONLY 22 HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.
Expertization: 1993 P.F. Certificate.
Because this was the first stamp that the American Bank Note Company produced completely from scratch—previously they had only printed stamps using plates or transfer rolls made by the Continental or National Bank Note Companies—they experienced production delays and could not meet the intended issue date of March 1. In mid-February, however, they apparently sent four ungummed sheets of 100 to the Third Assistant Post Master General, whose office was charged with selling all of the special printings to the public, as a partial delivery of their initial order of 5,000. These 400 stamps were from an early printing, probably made while still trying to smooth out the production process, and are the basis for Scott’s listing of #205C. It is believed that the rest of the 10,000 stamps eventually supplied to the 3rd Asst. P.M.G. by A.B.N.Co. came from regular press runs and cannot be distinguished from ordinary 5¢ Garfields. This theory is further supported by the fact that the 3rd Asst. P.M.G. placed his initial order for the 5¢ special printing well before the stamp was released by the Post Office Department, whereas all previous special printings were ordered long after the regular stamps had been released.
This also explains the great disparity between the number of 5¢ Special Printings sold, 2,463 (a quantity comparable to the 6¢ 1869 Re-issue, which Scott values at $1,900) and the obvious rarity of #205C. Since the 5¢ Garfield was available from the 3rd Asst. P.M.G. from mid-February until its regular release on April 10th, for nearly two months it was the only way for a stamp collector to acquire the new stamp. Accordingly, stamp dealers bought large quantities to supply their regular customers.
(Summarized from an article by William Mooz published in the February 1992 issue of "The Chronicle".).
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| Realized $45,000 |
