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)
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.
