Lot 929
Newspaper, 1894 "Colman" Special Printing, 1¢-$60, privately perforated and gummed (PR57-PR79 & PR81 var.), a complete set of all values including the unissued 9¢ each stamp with intense color, a prooflike impression and full never hinged original gum, post office fresh and F.-V.F., Unlisted in Scott, but described by Luff, Braceland and Mooz. A hinged set sold for $6,000 in our auction of the Jim Kotanchik collection of Newspaper Stamps in February, 2004.
Estimate 5,000 - 7,500
A THOROUGHLY CHOICE SET, ONE OF ONLY 45 SUCH SETS PRODUCED, VERY FEW OF WHICH REMAIN IN AN UNHINGED STATE.
This printing was ordered from the American Bank Note Company in March of 1894 to serve as samples for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which had, a month earlier, been awarded the four-year contract to print postage stamps.These stamps were printed from the original plates prepared by the Continental Bank Note Co. in 1875 and were in the possession of the American Bank Note Co., who had been printing stamps since 1879.
Washington stamp dealer Henry F. Colman obtained a set of imperforate panes of 50 of the sample stamps. Keeping five sets in imperforate condition, he perforated the other forty-five sets. Colman was indicted by the government for illegal possession of these stamps, but was acquitted.
N.B. In a recent conversation with Jim Kloetzel, Editor Emeritus of the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue, we were told that these Colman Special Printings will be listed in a future edition of the Specialized—the imperforates as major listings, the privately perforated versions as a footnote with a value.
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| Realized $4,500 |
