1870-1890 LARGE BANKNOTE ISSUES Easy （1870 - 1890年的大钞票问题容易）.pdf

Introduction 1870-1890 LARGE BANKNOTE ISSUES –Easy Identification –By Bill Weiss Scott Payton INTRODUCTION The 1870-1890 Issues present many challenges to correct identification because there were multiple different issues by three different Banknote companies, using different paper types, and involving design and color changes. This article will attempt to simplify this subject by presenting the stamps in the order, by denomination, that collectors are most likely to encounter them, from most common, to scarcest (based on Scott Specialized Catalog USED prices). We will include every stamp issued between 1870-1889 in the text discussion of each stamp denomination, as well as in an individual matrix following each. Between these two and with the visual aid of the 1873 Issue secret marks and the 1882 Re-engraved designs, the positive identification of all of the large Banknote stamps should be easy. The 1873 Issue stamps (and the 1875 2c and 5c) exist with a “J” grill (1c-30c are reported) which is considered to be experimental in nature, therefore it is not included in our text article. For the purpose of this document, all numbers refer to Scott Specialized catalog number. The three Banknote printing companies produced the following Post Office Contract issues and their product is identified by certain unique characteristics as follows; NATIONAL BANKNOTE COMPANY – 1870 Issue with Grill 134-144, 134A-144A and without grill 145-155. Characteristics are; grilled or ungrilled, both on hard paper. Tip – The ability to identify hard and soft paper is important, so a few words on that subject; HARD PAPER – Stiff, whiter than soft paper, not translucent when held to light (the paper weave appears more “solid” than soft, which has a distinct mesh), appears whiter under UV long wave light (because it is less dense