US Stamps Price Scott 176: 1875 30c Alexander Hamilton Bank Note Special Printing. Page 1

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, wide margins, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving virtually intact perfs at left and bottom VERY FINE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. Our census of Scott 176 contains 50 copies. Census No. 176-UNC-43. With 1952 and 1989 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 321

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, beautiful deep shade, wide margins all around, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving full perforations on three sides and trace of perforations at bottom EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING. ONLY 50 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, approximately a dozen have perforations on all four sides. Very few of those are well-centered. Census No. 176-UNC-04. Ex Drucker. With 1989 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Feb 2015, Sale 1092, Lot 1135

United States 1875 Special Printing 1875 30c greenish black, unused without gum as issued, fully intact perforations on three sides (scissors separated as always), nicely centered, fresh color, v.f., with 1990 PFC

Cherrystone Auctions, Sep 2014, Sale 201409, Lot 27

*    30¢ greenish black, 1875 Special Printing (Scott 176), rich and fresh color on bright paper, quite well centered, scissor separated as usual but perforations visible on all four sides, Extremely Fine and choice (photo). $16,000 EASILY AMONG THE FINER OF THE 50-60 SURVIVING EXAMPLES. Expertization: 1989 P.F. Certificate.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 295

*    30¢ greenish black, 1875 Special Printing (Scott 176), fresh and nearly perfectly centered, scissor separated as almost always, with intact perfs on three sides, without gum as issued, Very Fine (photo). $16,000 AMONG THE BETTER CENTERED AND MOST DESIRABLE EXAMPLES OF THIS RARE SPECIAL PRINTING. Expertization: 1990 P.F. Certificate. Provenance: Isleham. Fewer than 10% of the 50-60 or so copies extant have intact perforations on four sides.

Matthew Bennett International, May 2014, Sale 350, Lot 294

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, beautiful bright shade, well-centered with wide margins all around, scissors-separated as almost always but leaving virtually intact perforations at top and left and most perforations at right EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT CONTINENTAL HARD PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING. AMONG THE FINEST OF THE 50 EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, approximately a dozen have perforations on all four sides. Very few are as well-centered as the example offered here. Unpublished Census No. 176-UNC-03. With 1988 and 1996 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 760

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, virtually complete perforations on all sides, intense shade and impression, wide and balanced margins EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTINGS IN EXISTENCE. A BEAUTIFUL STAMP. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, approximately a dozen have perforations on all four sides. Many of these are off center, we count perhaps two or three with decent centering, including the stamp offered here and one from our 2007 Rarities sale. Unpublished Census No. 176-UNC-20. With 1974 and 2003 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1036, Lot 123

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, full perforations all around and “No. 22” of imprint in selvage at bottom, intense shade and impression FRESH AND FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING WITH THE PLATE NUMBER. Many examples of the Continental Bank Note special printings were separated by scissors, and so are often found with perforations partly missing or entirely trimmed away. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, approximately a dozen have perforations on all four sides. This stamp comes from the Earl of Crawford bottom selvage strip of four with plate number and imprint. This strip was spared the usual fate of scissors-separation. Ex Earl of Crawford and Ackerman. With 1998 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2012, Sale 1033, Lot 4103

1875 Special Printing, 30¢ greenish black (176), bright, fresh and exceedingly well centered, usual scissor-cut perforations, without gum as issued, Extremely Fine. Scott value $16,500 A HANDSOME, TRULY PREMIUM EXAMPLE OF THE 30¢ CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO THE OTHER 45-50 EXAMPLES EXTANT. Expertization: 1991 & 2008 PF Certificates.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 345, Lot 214

United States 1875 Special Printing 1875 30c greenish black, unused without gum as issued, rich color and nice margins, usual scissors separated perforations at left and bottom, excellent centering, v.f., approximately 50 example exist, with 1947 and 2008 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Jun 2011, Sale 201106, Lot 48

1875 Special Printing, 30¢ greenish black (176), fresh and nearly perfectly centered with intact, though scissor-cut perfs on three sides, without gum as issued, Very Fine, one of the better centered and most desirable of the approximately 40 examples believed to exist. Scott $19,000 Expertization: 1990 PF Certificate. Provenance: Isleham. Fewer than 10% of the 50-60 or so copies extant have intact perforations on four sides.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 336, Lot 1207

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, crisp impression on fresh paper, scissors-separated as unusual but with virtually intact perforations, unusually choice centering VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. Many examples of the Continental Bank Note special printings were separated by scissors, and so are often found with perforations partly missing or entirely trimmed away. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, only three or four have perforations on all four sides. Unpublished Census No. 176-UNC-19. Ex Laila. With 1972 and 2000 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2010, Sale 997, Lot 5590

United States 1875 Special Printing 1875 30c greenish black, unused without gum as issued, well centered, deep rich color, usual scissors separated perforations, v.f., with 1990 PFC. It is generally estimated that less than 50 were issued

Cherrystone Auctions, Apr 2010, Sale 201004, Lot 180

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, crisp impression on fresh paper, scissors-separated as unusual but with virtually intact perforations, unusually choice centering VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. EASILY OF OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. Many examples of the Continental Bank Note special printings were separated by scissors, and so are often found with perforations partly missing or entirely trimmed away. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, only three or four have perforations on all four sides. Unpublished Census No. 176-UNC-19. With 1972 and 2000 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3177

30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, beautiful shade and proof-like impression, usual scissors-separation but three-quarters of perforations are intact, superbly centered, bottom right corner perf crease outside the boundary of the stamp EXTREMELY FINE. A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING — ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THE HARD PAPER SPECIAL PRINTINGS TO OBTAIN IN CHOICE CONDITION. Many examples of the Continental Bank Note special printings were separated by scissors, and so are often found with perforations partly missing or entirely trimmed away. Our recently updated census records for Scott 176 contain 50 copies. Of these, only three or four have perforations on all four sides. This stamp is accompanied by a 1988 P.S.E. certificate as No. 176, but on more than one occasion The Philatelic Foundation has called this the regular issue, either Scott 154 or 165. We respectfully disagree with their opinion. The shade is somewhat brighter, but the proof-like impression is much closer to the Special Printing than the regular issues. The perforation holes are of even greater significance. The partly punched holes found on hard-paper Special Printing stamps differ from the holes on normal 30c 1870 or 1873 printings. Using Power Search on our website, one can view dozens of Scott 154 and 165 stamps. Not one looks like the stamp offered here. If the Power Search is done for Scott 176, all of them have the characteristic perforations (we are referring to the shape of the holes, not the scissors-separation). The P.F. has certified a few other unused 30c stamps, with similar perfs and shade, as Scott 165 rather than the Special Printing. We suspect that there may be two shades of the Special Printing, leading the P.F. to accept one and reject the other. We offer this stamp as Scott 176 despite the 2008 P.F. certificate which accompanies the lot. If the buyer wishes to submit it to the P.S.E. for a new certificate, we will grant an extension and return privileges. Unpublished Census No. 176-UNC-48. With 2008 P.F. certificate as No. 165 and 1988 P.S.E. certificate as No. 176.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2008, Sale 963, Lot 789