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)
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.
