United States Stamps continued...

**1870-1871 National Bank Note Company continued...**
Lot	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description	CV or Estimate
261		141	#141, 15c Orange with grill, the mint example offered here is one of the most exciting Bank Note stamps we have ever had the pleasure to offer in our sales, as the Fifteen Cent 1870 National grilled Bank Note is widely regarded as one of the most elusive stamps in all of U.S. philately to find in mint condition, let alone in premium condition, with this example being perhaps the finest quality original gum example in existence, in fact, we have never offered a mint copy of this that has even approached the remarkable condition this stamp possesses, boasting outstanding centering within uncharacteristically large margins, and equally impressive is this stamp's absolutely sensational color that is both vibrant and intense on bright paper, lightly hinged, extremely fine gem; an enormous condition rarity for the collector assembling a truly great collection of gem quality original gum stamps; 1993 PSE and 2002 PF certificates. (Image)	5,750.00 SOLD for $18,000.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
262	O	141	#141, 15c Orange with grill, a desirable used single, very well centered within uncharacteristically large margins, intensely rich color and a sharp impression, circle of wedges and a portion of a red transit cancel, extremely fine for this; 2000 PF certificate. (Image)	1,200.00 SOLD for $1,000.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
263	O	141	#141, 15c Orange with grill, used, exceptionally well centered within large margins, bright fresh color, faint diagonal crease at bottom, otherwise extremely fine; clear 1959 PF certificate. (Image)	1,200.00 SOLD for $425.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
264	O	141	#141, 15c Orange with grill, used, strong color, unusually light cork cancel, nearly very fine. (Image)	1,200.00 SOLD for $450.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
265	O	142	#142, 24c Purple with grill, an outstanding quality used example of this rare and notoriously difficult stamp, the majority of which are found off center and/or faulty, this example however is completely fault-free, in addition to being incredibly well centered within exceptionally large margins, plus its color is much stronger than usual, fancy NYFM cancel (Ty. A20), extremely fine; 1995 APS and 1996 PF certificates. (Image)	6,250.00 SOLD for $4,825.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
266	O	143	#143, 30c Black with grill, used, well centered within much larger margins than normally associated with this value, strong rich color and a crisp impression on clean white paper, lightly cancelled, choice very fine; 1990 PF certificate. (Image)	2,500.00 SOLD for $2,200.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
267	O	144	#144, 90c Carmine with grill, a most impressive used example of this rare high value, possessing sumptuously rich color and an uncommonly strong impression, plus it is very well centered within exceptionally large margins, but most desirable of all is the stamp's cancel, which is one the lightest we have ever seen on this stamp (the vast majority are quite heavily cancelled), extremely fine; 2000 PF and PSE certificates. (Image)	1,700.00 SOLD for $1,900.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
268	O	144	#144, 90c Carmine with grill, used, very well centered within exceptionally large margins, rich color, a very fine and choice example of this scarce grilled high value Bank Note; 1993 PF certificate. (Image)	1,700.00 SOLD for $900.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
269	O	144 var.	#144 var., 90c Carmine with double grill, pretty used example of this rare variety which is listed but unpriced in the Scott catalog, quite well centered, deep luxuriant color, light face-free cancel confined to the bottom left corner, two well defined grill impressions, very fine and choice; the only premium quality example of this variety we have ever seen; 2002 PF certificate. (Image)	as normal grill 1,700.00 SOLD for $2,000.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
270		146	#146, 2c Red brown, incredibly well centered amid extravagantly large margins most uncharacteristic of this value, deep luxuriant color, full o.g., lightly hinged, an extremely fine gem; 1993 and 2002 PF certificates. (Image)	325.00 SOLD for $750.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
271		148	#148, 6c Carmine, incredibly choice mint example, being exceptionally well centered and margined, plus this stamp possesses incredibly intense color that is almost never encountered on this, sharp detailed impression as well on bright crisp paper, full o.g., lightly hinged, extremely fine; a gem mint example of this difficult stamp whose catalog value, in our opinion, does not adequately reflect the true scarcity of mint examples; 2002 PF certificate. (Image)	725.00 SOLD for $2,800.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
272		149	#149, 7c Vermilion, nicely centered within especially large margins, bright fresh color, full o.g., very fine; 2000 PSE certificate. (Image)	900.00 SOLD for $425.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
273		151	#151, 12c Dull violet, an exceptional mint example of this seldom offered Bank Note, excellent centering within large margins, strong color and impression, full o.g., extremely fine for this; an especially difficult stamp to find both mint and in this premium condition; 2002 PF certificate. (Image)	1,900.00 SOLD for $2,900.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
274		153	#153, 24c Purple, exceptional centering amid enormously large margins, spectacularly rich color unlike any other #153 we have seen, o.g., just the faintest hint of soiling at bottom, otherwise an extremely fine and eye-arresting stamp; 2002 PF certificate. (Image)	1,600.00 SOLD for $1,300.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
275	O	153	#153, 24c Purple, pretty used single, very well centered within large margins, bright color that is nicely contrasted by the blue cork cancel, extremely fine; 1990 PF certificate. (Image)	145.00 SOLD for $250.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
276		153	#153, 24c Purple, an exceedingly rare top right corner sheet-margin mint block of six (3x2), quite fresh and crisp, strong color, centered a bit to left but not objectionably so, pristine full o.g. that has been lightly hinged, couple of nibbed or short perforations at left, fine; any multiple of this stamp is a major rarity, with this block believed to be the largest surviving mint multiple; cataloged as a block of four and a pair. (Image)	13,500.00+ SOLD for $2,600.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
277		154	#154, 30c Black, the mint example offered here is among the few certified sound examples of Scott #154 still retaining its original gum, quite well centered, strong distinctive color and impression, full o.g., relatively lightly hinged, very fine; a stamp that is on virtually every serious collector's want list; 2002 PF certificate. (Image)	5,500.00 SOLD for $4,250.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
278		155	#155, 90c Carmine, a magnificent mint example of this very rare high value Bank Note, being far more elusive than its Continental and American Bank Note Company counterparts (Scott #166 and #191), especially in this extraordinary quality, possessing a spectacular overall freshness, with absolutely the most intense color we have ever seen on this stamp, and with a prooflike impression to match on brilliantly fresh paper, fabulously well centered as well, with large balanced margins all around, pristine full o.g. that has been only very lightly hinged, an extremely fine gem destined to realize a record price, and deservedly so; the finest mint #155 to appear at auction in years; 2002 PF certificate; ex-Billington. (Image)	4,250.00 SOLD for $5,750.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
279		155	#155, 90c Carmine, a handsome mint example of this scarce high value, featuring sumptuously rich National Bank Note color, crisp detailed impression as well, quite well centered and margined, slightly disturbed o.g., very fine; a stamp that is often missing in even very advanced collections; clear 1990 PSE certificate. (Image)	4,250.00 SOLD for $2,800.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM
280	O	155	#155, 90c Carmine, an outstanding used example, with lavishly large and perfectly balanced margins all around, strong rich color and a crisp detailed impression, even its cancel is lighter than normal, extremely fine; a handsome large-margined gem; 1999 PF certificate. (Image)	300.00 SOLD for $375.00 Closing..Mar-07, 12:30 PM