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, 1878 American Bank Note Company Issues (Scott 178-191)
2c Vermilion, Intermediate Paper (178 var). Mint N.H. with left selvage, vivid orange shade of the Continental printing No. 178 but on distinct soft wove paper certified as Continental intermediate paper, three wide to huge margins, clear at top, natural gum skip not mentioned on certificate, Fine, with 2006 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value as normal No. 178 hinged
2c Vermilion, Imperforate (178P5; formerly 178a). Horizontal pair, large margins to full at right, vivid color, Very Fine, ex Floyd, with 1983 P.F. certificate, Scott value $600 as original gum
5c Blue (179). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color, beautiful centering with well-proportioned margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex Whitman, with 1997 and 2005 P.F. certificates
3c Green (184). Mint N.H., Jumbo margins, Extremely Fine, with 1995 and 2010 P.F. certificates
6c Pink (186). Original gum, well-centered, Extremely Fine, with 1991 P.F. certificate
6c Brown Rose (186 var). Original gum, single small hinge mark at top, deep rich color very distinct from the main Pink shade, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark (187). Unused, regummed according to old P.F. certificate, wide margins and choice centering but also reperfed at top according to us, Extremely Fine appearance, with 1975 P.F. certificate mentioning only regumming
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark, "Cameo" Variety (187 var). Original gum, deep rich color which is distinctively different from the normal issued color and which looks like a varnish ink type of printing, choice centering with wide and balanced margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 10-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITHOUT SECRET MARK. THIS DISTINCTIVE INKING VARIETY IS VERY SCARCE AND HIGHLY DESIRABLE, ESPECIALLY ON SUCH A CHOICE STAMP.
Ex Whitman. With 1984 and 1999 P.F. certificates. Scott value as normal.
10c Brown, Without Secret Mark, Double Paper (187a). Original gum, lightly hinged, bright color and crisp impression, choice centering with wide margins, bit of extra printer's ink at bottom right
EXTREMELY FINE CENTERED EXAMPLE AMONG ONLY FOUR RECORDED 10-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY STAMPS ON DOUBLE PAPER.
The four recorded examples of Scott 187a on Double Paper originate from a block that was acquired by Richard Champagne in our Sale 852 in 2002 and broken up. We have offered three of the other single stamps, but this is the first time we have offered the bottom left position. When we last offered the top left position in our Sale 1278, we described that as the best centered of the four. However, now that we have the bottom left position in hand (rather than a photocopy of the certified block), we can say that this stamp is essentially as well-centered as the top left stamp — perhaps a fraction of a millimeter narrower at top. This is a superb stamp in every respect.
With copy of 2003 P.F. certificate for the block of four (this the bottom left stamp).
10c Brown, With Secret Mark (188). Original gum, deep rich color, attractive centering and margins, Very Fine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
15c Red Orange (189). Mint N.H., bright and fresh color, attractive centering and with balanced margins top-to-bottom and side-to-side, Very Fine and choice
30c Full Black (190). Original gum, lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, virtually perfect centering with unusually wide margins
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1879 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE, GRADED SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. — THIS IS THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED AND THE ONLY EXAMPLE TO ACHIEVE THIS GRADE. A TRULY PHENOMENAL STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex Floyd. With 1989 P.F. certificate as block of four. With 2008 and 2026 P.S.E. certificates (OGph, Superb 98). This is the highest grade awarded and the only example to achieve it. Moving down the scale, there is one at 95J and three at 95; apart from these there are no others graded above a 90.
30c Greenish Black (190 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, well-centered, bright shade in the Greenish Black, Very Fine and choice, with 2004 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (191). Original gum, massive margins rarely seen on this top value, small corner crease and horizontal crease, still Extremely Fine and striking Jumbo, with 2008 P.F. certificate
90c Carmine (191). With part imprint bottom selvage, unused (no gum), Jumbo margins and exceptional centering, a small stained area in bottom right margin has been expertly cleaned and is not apparent but is mentioned on accompanying certificate, Extremely Fine appearance and quite beautiful, with 2008 P.S.E. certificate (VF-XF 85 Jumbo), obviously downgraded due to the cleaned stain spot
90c Carmine, Stitch Watermark (191 var). Original gum, tiny h.r. in top corners, bright color, choice centering and margins, clear vertical stitch watermark
EXTREMELY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 90-CENT 1879 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE WITH A STITCH WATERMARK.
With 1970 P.F. certificate as No. 191a, which was the listing for the Rose shade at the time. With 2004 P.S.E. certificate as Carmine shade (OG, VF-XF 85). Only six original-gum stamps grade higher and one shares this grade.
90c Carmine Rose (191 var). Original gum, lightly hinged, brilliant color and well-centered, fresh and Very Fine and choice, with 1984 and 2006 P.F. certificates
90c Carmine, Imperforate (191P5; formerly 191a). Horizontal pair, original gum, large even margins, dark color, Very Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate as No. 191b