Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — 1880 American Bank Note Company Special Printing (Scott 192-211D)
1c Dark Ultramarine, Special Printing (192). Without gum as issued, rich color and outstanding centering, small central thin spots as often encountered on this issue
EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING. A GORGEOUS EXAMPLE OF THE ONE-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 192. ONLY 28 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS, MAKING THIS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CLASSIC UNITED STATES STAMPS.
Our census of Scott 192, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/192, contains 30 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 28 available to collectors. Only approximately half are sound, and many are off-center. The soft porous paper also means thin spots are endemic to this issue. The stamp offered here, despite the small thins, is an outstanding example in terms of centering and color.
Census no. 192-UNC-30. With 1984 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1984 PF No. 0138009 View Cert
2c Black Brown, Special Printing (193). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, outstanding centering with balanced margins, thin spots at top
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 193.
Our census of Scott 193, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/193, contains 54 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 52 available to collectors. Almost half have faults, mostly thins, which are endemic to this soft porous paper. Of the sound examples, nearly all are centered to top or one side.
Census no. 193-UNC-55 (this census number exceeds the total number we record because we once had a duplicate entry, which we deleted). With 1984 A.P.S. certificate.
Certificate
1984 A.P.S. No. 52755 View Cert
3c Blue Green, Special Printing (194). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, unusually choice centering for this challenging issue, tiny thin spot is very minor
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THE 3-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SOFT-PAPER SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 194, IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS — OUR CENSUS RECORDS ONLY 15 EXAMPLES IN PRIVATE HANDS.
Our census of Scott 194, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/194, contains 17 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 15 available to collectors. Nine are confirmed sound, but several are off-center. Its rarity matches or exceeds the most valuable Special Printings, such as Scott 180 (23 known), 203 (20 known), 204 (19 known), 205C (24 known) and 211D (28 known). In fact, it is the rarest of any Bank Note Special Printing among the Scott-listed “sets” (167-177 and 192-202).
Census no. 194-UNC-06. Ex "Troy" (1983 Christie's sale, where likely acquired by the current owner). Signed by Spencer Anderson. Small blue Colson backstamp. With 1983 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1983 PF No. 0119104 View Cert
6c Dull Rose, Special Printing (195). Without gum as issued, choice centering and margins, fresh color
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 6-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 195. ONLY 30 ARE CONTAINED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 195, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/195, contains 30 examples, an oddly low number. Some of the stamps submitted as the Special Printing, but certified as the regular issue, Scott 186, could in fact be Special Printing stamps (the two are difficult to tell apart). We record another three stamps which we feel are possibly Scott 195, despite previous P.F. certification. Although most examples of this rarity are sound (or potentially sound), many are off center. This choice sound example is one of the best centered in the census.
Census no. 195-UNC-15. With 1981 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1981 PF No. 98323 View Cert
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, vibrant color, extraordinary margins and essentially perfect centering, negligible thin spot at top
EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING AND A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 7-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 196.
Our census of Scott 196, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/196, contains 90 examples, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library.
Census no. 196-UNC-15. With 1974 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates.
7c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (196). Without gum as issued, bright color, wide margins and choice centering, horizontal crease, central thin spot and tiny pinhole
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 7-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 196.
Our census of Scott 196, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/196, contains 90 examples, including one in the Miller collection at The New York Public Library.
Census no. 196-UNC-14. With 1973 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates.
10c Deep Brown, Special Printing (197). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, outstanding centering with wide margins, small natural inclusion in Jefferson's cheek
EXTREMELY FINE. A STELLAR EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 10-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 197. ONLY 33 ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 197, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/197, contains 34 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 33 available to collectors. Of these, at least eleven have faults, leaving only 23 sound or potentially sound examples (about seven have not been examined in many years).
Census no. 197-UNC-17. With 1985 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1985 PF No. 0143786 View Cert
12c Blackish Purple, Special Printing (198). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and detailed impression, well-balanced margins, two small thin spots as often seen with this paper
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 12-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 198.
Our census of Scott 198, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/198, contains 66 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 64 available to collectors. Of these, more than one-third have flaws. Many have poor centering as well. Only 23 are confirmed as sound, and perhaps 12-15 have decent centering.
Census no. 198-UNC-09. With 1958 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificate.
15c Orange, Special Printing (199). Without gum as issued, essentially perfect centering with exceptional balanced margins, vibrant color on fresh paper which is free from the small thins endemic to this paper, tiny natural inclusion at top left not noted on any certificate but mentioned for accuracy
EXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE 15-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 199, GRADED XF-SUPERB 95 BY P.S.E. THIS IS THE ONLY STAMP TO ACHIEVE THIS LOFTY GRADE IN THE P.S.E. POPULATION REPORT — ONE OF THE FEW FINEST EXAMPLES EXTANT OF ONLY 41 RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 199, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/199, contains 41 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 40 available to collectors. Of these, only 15 are confirmed as sound. This superb stamp is easily one of the few finest extant.
Census no. 199-UNC-09. With 1957 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF-Superb 95). This is the highest grade awarded by P.S.E. to a Scott 199 and it is shared by no others. The next highest grade is a single example at VF 80. Scott value $26,000.
24c Dark Violet, Special Printing (200). Without gum as issued, deep rich color, tiny pinhole in right margin
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 24-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 200.
Our census of Scott 200, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/200, contains 71 examples, including stamps in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library and The Philatelic Foundation's Luff reference collection, leaving 69 potentially available to collectors. More than 20 are confirmed as sound, but of these only approximately a half dozen have choice centering.
Census no. 200-UNC-30. From our 1977 Rarities sale. With 1977 P.F. and 2004 P.S.E. certificates.
30c Greenish Black, Special Printing (201). Without gum as issued, bright shade and detailed impression, outstanding centering with wide and balanced margins, two small thin spots as often found on this soft porous paper
EXTREMELY FINE CENTERING AND A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE 1880 30-CENT AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 201. ONLY 46 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 201, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/201, contains only 46 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 44 potentially available to collectors. Only 16 are confirmed as sound and not all are well-centered. Another ten need to be reexamined for condition, but only a handful of these have better than Fine centering.
Census no. 201-UNC-14. Ex Engel and from our 1977 and 1984 Rarities sales. Signed Spencer Anderson and Harmer Rooke & Co. in pencil. With 1960 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1960 PF No. 12079 View Cert
90c Dull Carmine, Special Printing (202). Without gum as issued, bright color on fresh paper, centered a bit to right but perfs well clear
VERY FINE. ONLY 41 EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 202, ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. THIS IS A RARE SOUND AND WELL-CENTERED EXAMPLE.
Our census of Scott 202, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/202, contains 43 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 41 available to collectors. The 90c 1880 Special Printing on soft paper is notorious for its condition. Thins or more serious faults affect about half of the known examples. Most of the sound examples are centered to the right.
Census no. 202-UNC-11. Ex Caspary, Lilly and from our 1985 Rarities sale. "W.H.C." (Warren H. Colson) backstamp. With 1966 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1966 PF No. 23892 View Cert
2c Scarlet Vermilion, Special Printing (203). Without gum as issued, vivid color, old certificate mentions a tiny thin spot which is all but invisible, small natural inclusion at top
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT SCARLET VERMILION 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 203. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL BANK NOTE SPECIAL PRINTINGS WITH ONLY 20 RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
Our census of Scott 203, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/203, contains 20 examples, including one in the Miller collection owned by The New York Public Library, leaving 19 available to collectors. Many are off-center.
Census no. 203-UNC-16. Ex "Troy" collection (1983 Christie's sale). With 1983 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1983 PF No. 0119103 View Cert
5c Deep Blue, Special Printing (204). Without gum as issued, intense color on bright paper, choice centering, area of slight thinning at top
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT 1880 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 204. ONLY 19 ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 17 AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
Our census of Scott 204, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/204, contains 19 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 17 available to collectors. Ten are sound.
Census no. 204-UNC-11. From our 1977 Rarities sale. With 1969 P.F. certificate.
Certificate
1969 PF No. 31481 View Cert
5c Gray Brown, Special Printing (205C). Without gum as issued, deep rich color and proof-like impression, outstanding centering for any Bank Note stamp, much less for a rare Special Printing
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 23 RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT GARFIELD 1882 SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 205C, GRADED XF 90 BY P.S.E.
The American Bank Note Co. Special Printing on soft paper was made in 1880 to supply the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office with specimens of stamps for sale to collectors, as part of the Special Printing program. The 7c and 24c stamps had been discontinued when the 1879 Issue regular issue was printed by American on soft paper. Except for those two values, the others on soft paper (with gum) were available in post offices. For this reason, few collectors or dealers felt compelled to order the Special Printing stamps from the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office before the program ended in July 1884. At that point, any unsold stamps were destroyed.
In 1882 the 5c Garfield replaced the old 5c Taylor design, resulting in a new stamp (Scott 205) and a new Special Printing (Scott 205C). This Special Printing was the subject of an article by William E. Mooz in Chronicle 153 (February 1992). Mooz had a well-reasoned theory that a small delivery of the Special Printing (400 stamps) was available from the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office before the stamp was issued. Of these, it is possible that only 100 looked like the 5c Garfield stamps recognized as Special Printings today. Mooz offered evidence and analysis to show that the majority of 2,463 5c Garfield stamps sold as Special Printings were actually regular issues.
Our census of Scott 205C at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/205C contains 23 examples, including one in the Luff reference collection at The Philatelic Foundation. Its rarity matches or exceeds Scott 180 (23 known) and 211D (28 known). This is easily one of the finest.
Census no. 205C-UNC-19. With 1981 P.F. and 2008 P.S.E. certificates (XF 90). Only four grade higher at P.S.E. — all at 95. Five others share this desirable grade. Scott value $42,500.
4c Deep Blue Green, Special Printing (211D). Without gum as issued, intense color and sharp proof-like impression on bright paper, choice centering and margins
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE SOUND AND CENTERED EXAMPLE OF THE 4-CENT 1883 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY SPECIAL PRINTING, SCOTT 211D. ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL SPECIAL PRINTINGS — ONLY 28 ARE RECORDED.
The Third Assistant PMG supply records indicate that when the Special Printings program was discontinued in July 1884, 55 copies of the 2c 1883 Special Printing (211B) and 26 copies of the 4c 1883 Special Printing (211D) had been sold. The 2c stamps now classified as Scott 211B actually come from an 1885 steam-press printing and are not the same stamps sold through the Third Assistant PMG.
Our census figures for Scott 211D, available at https://siegelauctions.com/census/us/scott/211D, pose an enigma. Only 26 copies of Scott 211D were sold, but 28 different examples are identified in our census. Even if two of the stamps are disqualified, a 100% survival rate is extraordinary. Eight of the 28 come from two blocks of four that were divided into singles. One block (PFC 4853) contained census numbers 211D-UNC-08, 06, 11 and 15. The other block was offered in the Caspary collection (PFC 7405) and contained census numbers 211D-UNC-14, 25, 17 and 05.
Census no. 211D-UNC-01. Ex Gleysteen and Lessmann (Sale 638). With 1942 A.P.S. and 1972 P.F. certificates.