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PSE Set Registry > 19th Century Regular Issues > 1870 National Bank Notes without Grill (Used) >

Nick Kirke Collection

1870 National Bank Notes without Grill (Used)

Registrant's Email Address: kirke@philatelist.cz

Owner's Comments:
Personally, my favourite United States regular issue stamps. Austere, simple and BIG. I loved them as a child when all I could afford were the low values. Boring? You must be joking - as with the watermarks and perforation variations on the Washington Franklins here is the perfect hunting ground for the philatelic sleuth - and you do not need to be an expert. It doesn't take long to recognise the later 1873 Continental Banknote 'secret marks' stamps by heart, to recognise a lower value grill, to identify hard paper from the later soft papers, and to recognise the different colours of the last re-engraved issue stamps. Years ago when grading was in it's infancy I bid on a used National 6c with no grill in a William Weiss auction. It was graded 100J. A quite glorious stamp. I won it at a tad over 3k. WW was so concerned I would not believe I had to go so high to win it that he send me a copy, name deleted, of the underbidder's bidsheet. My, I do miss his auctions. Always something of interest whatever one's fancy. One of bigger challenges remaining with U.S. stamps is to discover if there was EVER a definitive secret mark placed upon the Continental 1873 15c value, Sc163. Scott catalogue mentions shading in the upper left triangle but this is inconsistant and might be caused by mere plate wear. William R. Weiss in his 15c book, 'The United States 15c Stamp of 1870-1890' concludes that a difference in colour is the most reliable determinant - the lighter shades of yellow/orange are more likely to be from the earlier National Bank Note Company Issues with the darker shades from the later Continental Bank Note Company.

Nick Kirke Collection
Item	Scott No.	Issue Date	Denom	Color	PSE Grade	Pop*	Pop Higher*	J Pop Higher*	Condition	Owner's Comments
1c			1c
2c			2c	NBN
3c			3c	NBN
6c			6c	NBN
7c			7c	NBN
10c			10c
12c			12c	NBN
15c			15c	NBN
24c			24c	NBN
30c			30c
90c			90c	NBN

* Pop (population) values are the number of stamps graded by Scott number and condition for each item listed.
Pop Higher values represent the number of stamps which are worth more points in the Registry, taking into account bonus points for Jumbos whereas 80J = 83, 85J = 88, 90J = 93, 95J = 97, 98J = 99, 100J = 102. J Pop Higher values are the number of Jumbos graded higher for each item listed.