Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — 1875 Continental Bank Note Company Special Printing (Scott 167-181)
1c Ultramarine, Special Printing (167). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual with fully intact perfs on three sides and only slightly blunted at right, rich color on bright paper
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE ONE-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 167.
Our census of Scott 167, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/167, contains 50 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and one in the Luff reference collection at The Philatelic Foundation, leaving potentially 48 available to collectors. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations all around.
Census no. 167-UNC-12. Ex Dr. Meilstrup (Sale 431). With 1955 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1955 PF No. 5659 View Cert
2c Dark Brown, Special Printing (168). Without gum as issued, no scissors-separation so perfs are intact except for some short perfs at lower right, also tiny thin spot not mentioned on either certificate, deep rich color
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 168.
Our census of Scott 168, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/168, contains 65 examples, including one that was stolen from the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library (and not yet recovered), leaving 64 available to collectors. Many have perfs scissors-trimmed on at least one side and many have perforations into the design.
Census no. 168-UNC-35. Ex "Ambassador" (Sale 300). With 1957 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates.
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (169). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated as usual but with intact perforations on all sides, deep rich color
VERY FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 3-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 169, WITH PERFORATIONS ON ALL SIDES.
Our census of Scott 169, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/169, contains 40 examples, including one on cover and one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 38 unused stamps available to collectors. Of these, very few have perforations all around and are confirmed as sound.
Census no. 169-UNC-10. Signed in pencil by George B. Sloane. With 1965 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1965 PF No. 21797 View Cert
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (170). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, scissors-separated as usual with intact perfs at sides, small ink spot on back does not show thru
VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 170. ONLY 38 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 170, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/170, contains 38 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and one in the Luff reference collection at The Philatelic Foundation, leaving, leaving 36 available to collectors. Approximately half have scissors-trimmed perfs on at least one side. Most others are either off-center or have small faults. This is a very attractive example.
Census no. 170-UNC-15. With 1989 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1989 PF No. 0209494 View Cert
7c Reddish Vermilion, Special Printing (171). Without gum as issued, bright color, complete perfs all around without scissors-separation, small natural straw inclusion in Stanton's beard
FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 7-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, scott 171, WITH COMPLETE PERFORATIONS.
Our census of Scott 171, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/171, contains 80 examples, with 78 available to collectors. Most stamps were scissors-separated, affecting the perforations on at least one side.
Census no. 171-UNC-42. With 1980 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1980 PF No. 80999 View Cert
10c Pale Brown, Special Printing (172). Without gum as issued, rich color, perfs all around with a couple short and one pulled at top
FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 172.
Our census of Scott 172, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/172, contains 42 examples, including one in The Philatelic Foundation's Luff reference collection and one in the Miller collection at the New York Public Library, leaving 40 available for collectors. Most are scissors-separated into the perforations on at least one side.
Census no. 172-UNC-22. With 1980 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1980 PF No. 82614 View Cert
12c Dark Violet, Special Printing (173). Without gum as issued, complete perfs all around without scissors-separation, essentially perfect centering almost never encountered with Bank Note Special Printings, rich color and proof-like impression
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 173, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E — THE HIGHEST AND ONLY EXAMPLE AT THIS GRADE.
Our census of Scott 173, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/173, contains 72 examples, including one in The Philatelic Foundation's Luff reference collection and one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 70 available to collectors. We previously had an error in our count that increased the total by ten. Many stamps are scissors-separated on at least one side. This superb stamp is easily among the few finest.
Census no. 173-UNC-31. Ex Hetherington. With 1983 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a Scott 173 and it is shared by no others. The next highest are one each at 90J and 85J.
15c Bright Orange, Special Printing (174). Without gum as issued, brilliant color, perfs scissors-trimmed as usual but intact on three sides, well-centered, tiny trivial corner crease
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 15-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 174.
Our census of Scott 174, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/174, contains 43 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 42 available to collectors. An overwhelming majority have the perforations scissors-separated on at least one side, and many are off-center as well. Only five or six have fully intact perforations, and of those perhaps half are faulty.
Census no. 174-UNC-24. From our 1989 Rarities sale. With 1988 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1988 PF No. 0192482 View Cert
24c Dull Purple, Special Printing (175). Without gum as issued, rich color, perfs all around and without the usual scissors-separation that occurs on this issue, horizontal crease and small spots (one filled), appears Very Fine, our census of Scott 175, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/US/Scott/175, contains 111 examples, of which three are used, census no. 175-UNC-05, with 1970 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (176). Without gum as issued, scissors-separated with intact perfs on two and a half sides and a wide bottom straight edge, intense shade and attractive centering for this challenging issue
VERY FINE. A FRESH AND RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 176.
Our census of Scott 176, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/176, contains 53 examples, with 51 available to collectors. Of these, fewer than ten have perforations on all four sides.
Census no. 176-UNC-47. From our 1988 Rarities sale. With 1971 A.P.S. and 1970 P.F. certificates.
90c Violet Carmine, Special Printing (177). Without gum as issued, full perfs all around without the usual scissors-separation, rich color and excellent centering
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 177. VERY RARE WITH PERFORATIONS ALL AROUND AND SUCH CHOICE CENTERING
Our census of Scott 177, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/177, contains 48 examples, including one in the Luff reference collection at The Philatelic Foundation and one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 46 available to collectors. Fewer than 20 have perforations intact on all four sides, and of these only nine are confirmed as sound. This is a stellar example of this elusive Special Printing.
Census no. 177-UNC-43. With 1954 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1954 PF No. 5170 View Cert
2c Carmine Vermilion, Special Printing (180). Without gum as issued, intense color and proof-like impression, intact perforations without any scissors-separation, outstanding centering and margins
EXTREMELY FINE. a superb EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT CARMINE VERMILION 1875 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, scott 180. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS WITH ONLY 24 EXAMPLES RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Raymond Weill used to say that Warren Colson, a veteran stamp dealer who was active before 1900, called the color of Scott 180 “Tiger’s Eye” vermilion. It is a descriptive metaphor for the vibrant shade and impression that distinguishes the Special Printing from its counterpart, the regular issue of the 1875 2c Vermilion, Scott 178. Some copies of the ordinary Scott 178 are so beautifully printed, they come very close to matching a Special Printing—but not quite. In our reference collection are a couple of “almost” examples of Scott 178, but compared to this stamp, the real Special Printing is a true Tiger’s Eye.
Our census of Scott 180, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/180, contains 24 stamps, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, which leaves 23 available to collectors. Astonishingly, about 14 of those are centered strongly to one side or corner, and several have clipped perforations or faults. Our short list of choice sound examples has three in the Very Fine category and six in the Extremely Fine category. If we parse the best, the stamp offered here is one of the three or four best centered examples.
Census no. 180-UNC-17. With 1983 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1983 PF No. 0116549 View Cert
5c Bright Blue, Special Printing (181). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, unusually choice centering with well-balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS WITHOUT QUESTION ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT 1875 CONTINENTAL SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 181. THIS IS THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS AND ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL UNITED STATES STAMPS. ONLY ELEVEN EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS, AND ONLY NINE ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 181, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/181, contains 11 stamps, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and one in the Luff reference collection at The Philatelic Foundation, which leaves just nine available to collectors. One of these nine (181-UNC-08) was certified in 1952 and needs to be reexamined for condition and identification. Another (181-UNC-06) has a confirmed fault.
Census no. 181-UNC-07. Signed in pencil (likely Spencer Anderson). With 1946, 1969 and 1989 P.F. certificates. Ex Houghton Phillips, who must have acquired the stamp around 1946 as his name is on the oldest certificate. The Weill Brothers acquired his collection intact circa 1985. "Boardwalk" acquired this stamp in the 1989 Christie's sale of the Weill Brothers stock and it is offered to the market for the first time since then.