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Nick Kirke Collection - The Number One Finest Set of All Time

1870 National Bank Notes without Grill (Used)

Weighted GPA : 97.09
% Complete:  100.00%
Set Rating: 97.09
% Jumbo: 27.27

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 145  1870  1c  Dark ultramarine  95  Used   
2c 146  1870  2c  Red brown  98  Used   
3c 147  1870  3c  Green  95  10  Used   
6c 148  1870  6c  Carmine  100J  Used   
7c 149  1871  7c  Vermilion  98J  Used   
10c 150  1870  10c  Brown  98  Used   
12c 151  1870  12c  Dull violet  95  Used   
15c 152  1870  15c  Bright orange  95  Used   
24c 153  1870  24c  Purple  95J  Used   
30c 154  1870  30c  Black  98  Used   
90c 155  1870  90c  Carmine  98  Used   

* 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.