Prices of US Stamp Scott Catalog # 165: 30c 1873 Alexander Hamilton Continental Bank Note. Page 7

30c Gray Black (Scott 165). Used with 1c Ultramarine (156) and pair of 10c Brown (161), tied by “New-York Mar. 31” duplex cancels on 1877 folded cover to Lima, Peru, red “New York Mar. 31” circular datestamp, endorsed “Str. Acapulco via Panama” in error as this was a discontinued route, sent by American Packet and then British Packet via Colon, red crayon “36/3” credit, back of cover with pair and single of Peru, 1874, 10c Orange, Postage Due (J3) stamps cancelled by Lima double-circle datestamps, Very Fine, a scarce and desirable triple-rate combination franking with Peru Postage Due stamps

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2010, Sale 989, Lot 146

30c Gray Black (Scott 165). Beautifully balanced margins, bright shade, unobtrusive cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, with 2001 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2010, Sale 984, Lot 490

30c Gray Black (165). Original gum, charcoal gray shade, fine impression on fresh paper EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1873 CONTINENTAL PRINTING. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT. 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 — which means that singles could not be harvested from multiples. 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 2008 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2010, Sale 983, Lot 115

30c Gray Black (Scott 165). Disturbed original gum, attractively centered, perf tear and reperfed right and bottom, Very Fine appearance, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5469

30c Gray Black (Scott 165). Choice centering, intense shade, clear strike of red New York Foreign Mail Star cancel (Ty. ST-MP3), tiny thin spot, Extremely Fine strike, ex Mercedes

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 982, Lot 5470

United States 1870-73 Banknote Issues 1870 30c gray black, wide margins, rich color, original gum, h.r., fine and rare stamp, with 1992 and 2004 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Nov 2009, Sale 200911, Lot 3070

30c Gray Black (Scott 165). Wide margins, bright shade, bold strike of New York Foreign Mail Geometric cancel (Ty. GE-EP3), Very Fine and choice, with 1996 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Sep 2009, Sale 976, Lot 1597

30c Gray Black (Scott 165). Choice centering with wide and balanced margins, deep greenish shade on crisp paper, New York Supplementary Mail Type F cancel, Extremely Fine, with 1992 P.F. and 2007 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95, SMQ $840.00), only three have graded higher to date

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1412

30c Gray Black (165). Unused (no gum), uncharacteristically wide margins and perfectly centered, separated from the sheet by scissors blunting some perfs slightly and trimming a few at top right, intense color and incredibly sharp impression, Extremely Fine except for the blunted perfs, this stamp has a blurred handstamp on back which we believe to be “NEUDRUCK” (German for New Print), this handstamp is sometimes seen on Special Printings that made their way to Germany, the handstamp would alert collectors that they were not dealing with an ordinary production stamp, in addition, there is some remnant of insoluble adhesive on back suggesting that this stamp had no gum, there are three certificates accompanying this stamp—one a 1988 P.S.E. as genuine No. 176, the Special Printing, and 2008 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates stating that this is an unused No. 165, Scott Retail as No. 165 with no gum

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 975, Lot 1411

U.S. General Issues, 1873, 30¢ gray black on Iowa usage, #165. Off-center, tied by indistinct cancel, and Crinnell, IOA DEC 21 1881 c.d.s., to NY, light vert, fold, Fine to Very Fine appearance. Scott $725. Estimate $100.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 81, Lot 559

UNITED STATES 1870-88 BANKNOTE ISSUES 1873 30c gray black, well centered, fresh color, h.r., reperforated at left and right, v.f. appearance, with 2007 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Mar 2009, Sale 200903, Lot 140

1873, 30¢ gray black (165), beautifully centered with enormous margins, remarkably fresh and bright with full original gum, a choice Extremely Fine jumbo. SMQ $9,100 for XF 90, $17,400 for XF-Sup 95. Scott $3,500 AN EXTRAORDINARY JUMBO EXAMPLE OF THIS TRULY SCARCE MINT HIGH VALUE. Expertization: 2006 P.F. Certificate graded XF 90J. Though this is a P.F.-graded stamp, for reference we note that only one 30¢ gray black has been graded XF 90J by P.S.E., and only two have been higher (XF-Sup 95).

Matthew Bennett International, Dec 2008, Sale 330, Lot 1662

o U.S., 1873, 30¢ gray black, #165. Used, fresh, Fine to Very Fine. Scott $130. Estimate $50.

Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 79, Lot 113

1873, 30¢ gray black (165), well centered with tall margins, strong color and impression. O.g. Very Fine. Scott value $3,500 Expertization: 2002 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2008, Sale 327, Lot 169

o 1873, 30¢ gray black (165), outstanding centering within uncommonly large margins, fresh color, Extremely Fine. Scott $130 Expertization: 1984 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, Apr 2008, Sale 326, Lot 164