Scotts #205C US stamps

#205C - 1882 Gray Brown 5¢ Special Printing

5¢
Gray brown

Subject: James Garfield
Number recorded: 22
Perforations: P12
Printer: American Bank Note Co.
Paper: Soft porous paper, without gum
Scott #: 205C
Date Issued: See below

Value

Used
No sales recorded
No postmark with gum (MH)
$32,500 - $42,500
Full perfect gum, no postmark
no trace of stamp hinge mark (MNH)
No sales recorded

Printed by Steam Press

#205C was printed by the ABNC0's new Hoe & Co. steam driven printing press seen on the bottom engraving. A photo of a the first nineteenth century steam press is at top. These steam driven cylinder presses were still around at around the turn of the century although not in the form shown in the images above. The steams press was probably chosen to test the machine.

Date printed

It is believed that these special printings were available prior to the date of issue. In the case of #205C the date printed was probably prior to April 10th, 1882, the date of issue for #205 They were available at the offices of the Third Assistant Post Master General

205 vs 205C

I have deliberately chosen a gray brown #205 for comparison. Although Scott states that 205 is yellow brown and 205C is gray brown, #205 comes in all shades of brown including gray brown. Because of this the color of the stamp should not be used as a determining factor when identifyig 205C.

Having said all this, it is believed that all copies of #205C are accounted for and all have certificates.