US Stamp Prices Scott 198: 1880 12c Henry Clay Bank Note Special Printing. Page 1

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, rich color on bright paper, choice centering EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. Our census of Scott 198 contains 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws. Very few are as perfectly centered as the example offered here. Census No. 198-UNC-13. With 1986 and 2004 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2015, Sale 1096, Lot 350

198, 1880 12c Blackish purple, Special Printing,without gum as issued, typical small thins, rare with a mere 282 issued, 2013 PSE certificate (Scott price $12,500) 

H.R. Harmer, May 2014, Sale 3005, Lot 1144

Scott #198, 12c Blackish purple special printing, without gum as issued, an attractive and seldom seen sound example of this rarity, of which fewer than only 75 copies are thought to exist, exceptionally fresh, rich luxuriant color and a crisp impression, fully intact perforations, centered to the top, fine and an exceedingly challenging value to acquire; 1972 and 2008 PF certificates.

Spink Shreves Galleries, May 2014, Sale 148, Lot 183

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, dark shade, natural s.e. at right VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots due to the porous nature of the paper). Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-28. With 2004 P.F. certificate.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Mar 2014, Sale 1067, Lot 1181

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, dark shade, natural straight edge with part top arrow at right, well-centered, small thin spot from hinge removal VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots due to the porous nature of the paper). Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-61. With 1957 P.F. certificate

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 783

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins all around, negligible corner crease at top right EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFULLY CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots due to the porous nature of the paper). Few are as well-centered as the example offered here. Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-16. Ex Lilly. With 1966 and 2005 P.F. certificates, only the latter mentioning the faint corner crease.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Nov 2013, Sale 1057, Lot 782

United States 1880 Special Printing 1880 12c blackish purple, unused without gum as issued, wide margins, beautiful color, approximately 60 certified examples exist, nearly a third of which have defects, with 1994 and 2008 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Jul 2013, Sale 201307, Lot 52

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, intense shade and impression on bright paper, Jumbo margins EXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS IS PROBABLY THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING IN EXISTENCE. A PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain 62 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots). Only thirteen are confirmed as sound, and of these only seven have decent centering. A significant portion of the population — 28 — have not been examined in many years so their condition is not confirmed. Very few of these have decent centering, so the population of sound and centered examples is very small. Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-17. With 1966, 1989 and 2004 P.F. certificates.

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2012, Sale 1036, Lot 131

1880 Special Printing, 12¢ blackish purple (198), fresh and very well centered with intense color and prooflike impression, without gum as issued, Very Fine and choice. Scott value $13,000 AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 12¢ AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. SPECIAL PRINTING, OF WHICH WE ESTIMATE THAT FEWER THAN 70 EXIST. Expertization: 1957 & 2006 PF Certificates. Provenance: Little.

Matthew Bennett International, Sep 2012, Sale 345, Lot 232

1880 Special Printing, 12¢ blackish purple (198), well centered within extra wide margins and intense color on bright, fresh paper, intact perforations on all sides, without gum as issued, Very Fine and choice. Scott value $15,000 AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THIS 12¢ AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. SPECIAL PRINTING OF 1880, ONLY ABOUT 75 OF WHICH ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE SURVIVED. Expertization: 1971, 1989 & 20010 PF Certificates with Warren Coulson’s “W.H.C.” handstamp. Provenance: Grunin.

Matthew Bennett International, Mar 2011, Sale 336, Lot 1211

United States 1880 Special Printing 1880 12c blackish purple, unused without gum as issued, wide margins, beautiful color, approximately 60 certified examples exist, nearly a third of which have defects, with 1994 and 2008 PFCs

Cherrystone Auctions, Feb 2011, Sale 201102, Lot 63

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, choice centering with wide margins all around VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 12-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING WITH WIDE MARGINS. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain approximately 60 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots). Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-26. Ex Hoffman. With 1994 and 2008 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Oct 2010, Sale 997, Lot 5616

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, detailed impression on fresh paper, beautiful centering EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 12-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 75 COPIES EXIST, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain approximately 60 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots). Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-11. P.S.E. encapsulated (XF-Superb 95, SMQ value $32,000.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Dec 2009, Sale 978, Lot 1043

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, detailed impression on fresh paper, beautiful centering EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 12-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 75 COPIES EXIST. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain approximately 60 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots). Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-02. 1948 and 1999 P.F. certificates no longer accompany. With 2009 P.S.E. certificate (XF 90, SMQ price $29,000.00)

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Jun 2009, Sale 973, Lot 144

12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, detailed impression on fresh paper, beautiful centering EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 12-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING. PROBABLY FEWER THAN 75 COPIES EXIST. Our recently updated census records for Scott 198 contain approximately 60 certified examples. Of these, fully one-third have small flaws (mostly thin spots). Unpublished Census No. 198-UNC-40. Ex Vineyard. With 1948, 1990 and 2001 P.F. certificates

Robert Siegel Auction Galleries, Apr 2009, Sale 972, Lot 3197