2003 Rarities of the World continued...

EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.

With photocopy of 2000 P.F. certificate for pair, this being the right stamp. Scott Retail as hinged (Image)

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 3-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE WITH DOUBLE IMPRESSION. ONLY FOUR HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED AS GENUINE BY THE PHILATELIC FOUNDATION.

Our records of Scott 158j contain four used examples and none used, as follows: 1) centered strongly to top left, heavy cork cancel, condition unknown, 2) centered, quartered cork cancel, sound, ex Floyd (Shreves sale, lot 292, realized $3,250), 3) the stamp offered here, and 4) s.e. at left, perfs in at top, blue quartered cork cancel, color of stamp partly changed to blue. The example offered here has the second-best centering.

With 1974 A.P.S. and 1988 P.F. certificates. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL COPY OF THE 1873 6-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE IMPRINT BLOCK OF THE 1873 6-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE PRINTING.

Ex Col. Green. Scott Retail as two blocks of four with no premium for imprint. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM 7-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE IN THE FINEST ATTAINABLE QUALITY.

With 1997 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 1873 7-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.

Very few blocks are known. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE WIDE-MARGINED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 10-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE.

With 1996 P.F. certificate (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE 1873 12-CENT CONTINENTAL -- ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT BANK NOTE ISSUES TO OBTAIN IN THIS OUTSTANDING CONDITION.

With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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

The stamp offered here has what we believe are characteristics unique to Continental's work. The shade is very bright and yellowish. The gum is white and smooth (National gum is typically dark brown and uneven). 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.

With 2002 P.F. certificate (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.

Among the various Bank Note issues, the 30c 1873 Continental printing deserves special note. 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 -- which means that singles could not be harvested from multiples.

Ex Drucker. With 1988 and 2003 P.F. certificates (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A REMARKABLE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1873 90-CENT CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE ISSUE.

With 1999 P.F. certificate (Image)