United States Stamps continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE JUMBO-MARGINED EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL -- ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BANK NOTE ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN THIS OUTSTANDING CONDITION.

With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF THE 12-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE PRINTING.

With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. THE 15-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL IS ONE OF THE MOST ELUSIVE BANK NOTE ISSUES IN THIS GRADE OF ORIGINAL-GUM CONDITION.

Although defined by a secret mark, the 15c Continental, Scott 163, is very difficult to distinguish from its National counterpart, Scott 152. Certain shades and impressions of the 15c Continental closely match certain National printings, and the secret mark is often undetectable. However, the stamp offered here has what we believe are characteristics unique to Continental's work. The shade is very bright and yellowish. The secret mark in the upper left triangle is also prominently featured in this impression. There is simply no question that this is a 15c Continental. Collectors who have searched for a well-centered Scott 163 with original gum know how rare it is in such condition. Off-center stamps are the norm, and original gum is a rare commodity in this issue. The same can be said for the 30c Continental, Scott 165, and we sold one of those for $25,000 hammer in our Sale 826 (versus $1,750 catalogue value).

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE AND RARE BLOCK OF THE 15-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE PRINTING.

Scott Retail with gum. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.

Lost among the 1870 National Grilled and Ungrilled Issues, 1875 Continental and 1880 American Bank Note Special Printings, and the 1879 and 1888 American Issues is the 30c 1873 Continental printing. Scott 165 is distinguished from its National counterpart by shade and the shape of the perforations, and from its 1879 American counterpart by paper. Many philatelists -- even intermediate and advanced collectors -- have difficulty classifying Scott 165. When it comes to naming the most elusive Bank Note stamps in choice original-gum condition, the 30c 1873 is often overlooked. However, go to any serious collection and look for this stamp, and most of the time it is missing or represented by something that compromises quality. The 30c 1870 is frequently found filling the space for Scott 165. The 30c Continental is extremely rare in any original-gum condition that approaches this example. Blocks have always been rare -- for example, Caspary did not have one, Lilly had one well-centered block of four and an off-center block of six (offered in this sale as lot 1531) -- which means that singles could not be harvested from multiples. Our analysis of the rarity of this stamp is confirmed by the $21,000 hammer realization for a superb example in our 2000 Rarities sale, and $25,000 hammer for a similar copy in our Sale 826. We hope that collectors who still have a tendency to overlook the 30c Continental will be awakened to its rarity in Extremely Fine original-gum condition by our comments and recent realizations.

With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

FINE AND RARE SHEET MARGIN BLOCK OF SIX OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL. A WONDERFUL RARITY.

The Klein collection also contained a left sheet margin block of six, with visible gum soaks. Lining up the perforations, it is probable that these two once formed a block of twelve. As a measure of its scarcity, none was offered in either the Caspary or Braus sales.

Ex Lilly (Image)