The Continental Banknote issues
The Continental Bank Note Company won the contract to print U.S. postage
stamps and official stamps from National in 1873. They held it until
1879, when it was lost to the American Bank Note Company.
Continental prepared its own plates for the lower value stamps, adding
secret marks to most to distinguish their printings from the preceding
National printings. Typically, plate
number 1 was assigned to one value in each series, plate 2 to another
value, and so on. When they printed a new series of stamps, plate
number 1 was assigned again. However, they re-used the
National plates for the higher values. National and Continental
printings can also be distinguished by their paper types.
Scott
156, 1¢ Franklin,
captured plate number 142
Scott
156P3, 1¢ Franklin proof on India paper, plate number 125
Scott
156TC, 1¢ Franklin trial
color,
plate number 299
Scott
156TC3, 1¢ Franklin trial
color,
plate number 12
Scott
156TC4, 1¢ Franklin trial
color, plate number 26
Scott
157, 2¢ Jackson, brown, plate number 164, mixed fonts with "No." in script and
plate number in Roman type
Scott
157, 2¢ Jackson,
script plate number 242
Scott
157 var, misperfed to top, captured plate number (1)61
Scott
157P3, 2¢ Jackson proof on India paper, plate number 164
Scott
157P4, 2¢ Jackson proof on card,
plate number 4
Scott
157TC3, 2¢ Jackson trial
color,
plate number 6
Scott
157TC4a, 2¢ Jackson trial
color, plate number 2
Image courtesy of Kelleher Auctions, from the Gerald Nylander collection
Scott
178, 2¢ Jackson, orange,
plate number 163
Apparently the original brown color was too close to the brown used on
the 10¢ Hamilton, so the 2¢ Jackson was re-issued in orange.
Photographically cropped from one of only four known plate blocks.
Scott
178a, 2¢ Jackson, orange,
imperforate error,
plate number 161
Scott
178Pa, 2¢ Jackson proof, plate number 161
Scott
158, 3¢ Washington,
partial plate number 17_ , mixed fonts with "No." in script and plate
number in Roman type
Scott
158, 3¢ Washington, script plate number 219
Scott
158 var, 3¢ Washington,
plate number 167
This Massey Patent double-paper variety with punched holes in the
backing paper was another attempt to prevent the removal of cancellations
and re-use of stamps.
Scott
158E2, 3¢ Washington essay
on pink varnished paper,
plate number 286
Scott
158P3, 3¢ Washington
proof on India paper, plate number 170
Scott
158TC, 3¢ Washington trial
color,
plate number 9
Scott
158TC3, 3¢ Washington trial
color,
plate number 7
Scott
158TC3a, 3¢ Washington trial
color, India proof on card, plate number 11
Scott
179TC4, 5¢ Taylor trial
color,
plate number 243
Scott
159, 6¢ Lincoln,
plate number 21
Scott
159 var, 6¢ Lincoln, brown rose, plate number 305
Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, from the Bill Gross collection
Scott
159P3, 6¢ Lincoln proof on India paper,
plate number 26
Scott
160, 7¢ Stanton,
plate number 22
Scott
160P3, 7¢ Stanton proof on India paper, plate number 22
Scott
160P4, 7¢ Stanton proof on card,
plate number 22
Scott
161, 10¢ Hamilton,
plate number 25
Scott
161P3, 10¢ Hamilton proof on India, plate number 23
Scott
162, 12¢ Clay, captured plate number 137
Scott
162P3, 12¢ Clay proof on India paper, plate number 137
Scott
163, 15¢ Webster, plate number 31
Scott
163P4, 15¢ Webster proof on card,
plate number 31
Scott
164P3, 24¢ Scott proof on India paper,
plate number 21
Scott
165, 30¢ Hamilton, plate number 22
Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, from the Bill Gross collection
Scott
165P3, 30¢ Hamilton proof on India paper, plate number 405
Scott
166, 90¢ Perry,
plate number 23
Scott
166P3, 90¢ Perry proof on India paper, plate number 23
Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries
Scott
166P4, 90¢ Perry proof on card, plate number 23
1875 Special printing
Generally fewer than 100 of each denomination exist. Only one
plate number example is known of each of these very rare stamps. The
plate number examples were originally in strips of four, but were
eventually separated into singles.
Scott
167, 1¢ Franklin special
printing, plate number 127
Scott
168, 2¢ Jackson special
printing, plate number 161 (of 75 examples thought to exist,
this is the only plate number)
Scott
169, 3¢ Washington special
printing, plate number 1xx
Scott
170, 6¢ Lincoln special
printing, plate number 18 (unique plate number single of the
35-40 copies thought to exist)
Scott
171, 7¢ Stanton special
printing, plate number 22
Scott
172, 10¢ Jefferson special
printing, plate number 25 (the 5 does not show)
Scott
172, 10¢ Hamilton special
printing, plate number 12
Scott
173, 12¢ Webster special
printing, plate number 31
Scott
174, 24¢ Winfield Scott special
printing, plate number 24
Scott
175, 30¢ Hamilton special
printing, plate number 22
Scott
177, 90¢ Perry special
printing, plate number 23 (unique plate number single of the
40-45 examples thought to exist)
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This page last updated January 12, 2024.
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