| 1855 Skilling Banco |  Top |
| Item # |
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Mint Hinged  US$ |
Used US$ |
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248212 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
Scott #1, Facit #1c Blue Green, Thin Paper [1855 3 Skilling Banco] THE FIRST STAMP OF SWEDEN. Mint, without gum as always, with Fine centering and perforations that must be considered to be perfect on this stamp. This color is, by a small amount, the least costly (Facit 2024 SEK 90,000) of the three colors listed by Facit. Furthermore, Facit only prices this color in Mint. All catalogs only value the Mint stamps of the Sweden #1-5 as without gum. Accompanied by a 2002 Helena Obermüller Wilén "HOW" color certificate stating (translated): "Unused without gum. This stamp does not exist with original gum. Stamp is genuine. No defects. No repairs. A very beautiful and fresh example of a very rare stamp." HOW has assigned a quality rating of "3,3,(-)" [the "-" is the lack of gum] -- this is an extraordinary quality rating for this stamp. HOW is the premier certificate to have for the skilling banco stamps. The stamp is also accompanied by a 1960 certificate from the Friedl Expert Committee, which is signed by both legendary gentleman, Herbert Block and Edwin Mueller; the stamp is signed on reverse in pencil by Bloch, as was his custom (and the certificate states this fact and also repeats that penciled signature). The picture on that Friedl certificate (it is embossed to the certificate) has been taken from an auction catalog; I strongly expect that the photo would be from one of the venerable Mercury Stamp Company auction sales -- which were operated by Bloch and Mueller. Most recently this stamp was in the John A. Haggstrom collection. An outstanding example, with wonderful color, and without any defects. This is the nicest Mint example I have had of this stamp in 50 years. [Layaway payment terms can be arranged for this item.] |
9000.00 |
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248214 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
Scott #1, Facit #1b Bluish Green, Thin Paper [1855 3 Skilling Banco] THE FIRST STAMP OF SWEDEN. Used with VF centering, which is extraordinarily nice for this stamp. The cancellation is extremely light, but is the rectangular style that was still in use at the time that this stamp was issued. The cancellation is clearly dated 21 June, but the year is not visible. Since the stamp was issued 1 July 1855, this cancellation must be from 1856 or later. [The town name consists of at least 5 or 6 letters, and up to 8 letters. The second letter appears to be (A or Ä or Å) and is directly above the 8 of 18. The total width of the rectangle is "medium". Based on the position of the "A", the overall length, the rectangular postmarks still in use, and my interpretation of the other faint letters, there are 10 possible town names this could be. My best guess is DALARÖ, however, the other possibilities are: BÅSTAD, GAGNEF, HALMSTAD, LAHOLM, MALUGN, SÄTHER, WADSTENA, WARBERG, and WAXHOLM.] Accompanied by a 1991 Helena Obermüller Wilén "HOW" color certificate stating (translated): "Stamp is genuine. No defects. No repairs. A beautiful and fresh example with good centering. Good example." HOW has assigned a quality rating of "2,4,1" [the "1" is the lightness of the cancellation -- which some people would consider to be wonderful, but not for a collector of cancellations]. In my experience this is an extraordinary quality rating for this stamp, especially the "4" for the centering. HOW is the premier certificate to have for the skilling banco stamps. The stamp is also pencil signed (as was his custom) by the legendary expert Sjöman with "20920" indicating that he must have prepared a written certificate for it (but that certificate is not present). Most recently this stamp was in the John A. Haggstrom collection. The 2024 Facit value is SEK 50,000 however I believe that this quality is above the Facit standard for that valuation level. An outstanding example, with wonderful color, and without any defects. I believe that this is the best centered and most lightly canceled example that I have had of this stamp in 50 years. [Layaway payment terms can be arranged for this item.] |
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SOLD |
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247023 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
1 [1855 3 Skilling Banco] FIRST STAMP OF SWEDEN. Used with typical Average-Fine centering, but with expertly made repairs and perforation "improvements" that most people would not be able to detect, except that the overall margin sizes are smaller than they should be. Otherwise this is a completely genuine example, NOT a reprint or forgery. Neat and crisp "CAR..." cancellation, perhaps CARLSKRONA? WONDERFUL BLUE-GREEN COLOR with extremely sharp and clear printing details. The vast majority of #1 on the market are either damaged or repaired (even if not so described). Facit 2023 value for sound examples is SEK 50,000 = about $5000! This is a nice looking example, even if the margins are too small, at a very reasonable price. Accompanied by 2023 Jay Smith certificate with "lifetime guarantee" (details available). |
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749.00 |
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248308 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
2 Blue, Thin Paper (Scott Classic 2a) [1855 4 sk First Issue Coat of Arms] Mint, without gum, with Average-Fine centering. The paper is slightly aged and there is a small tear at upper right, but this is reasonable looking example of a stamp that is rare in Unused condition. There are no repairs. This is Facit #2a1 from the first July 1855 printings -- a first printing from the first Swedish stamp issues. The Sweden Skilling Banco stamps (Scott #1-5) are extremely rare with gum and are not expected to have gum. Both Facit and Scott only value these stamps without gum. Facit Classic 2024 SEK 14,000 (4/2024 US$1400) for this printing and as the least costly printing. |
295.00 |
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247024 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
4 (Scott 4e, Facit 4f) [1855 8 Skilling Banco] Yellow Orange with Dense Background and "Thick" (i.e. not thin) Paper. Used with F-VF centering. Bright color and perfect perforations (quite unusual thus). Light rectangular boxed town 18 September 185(7?) cancellation that is likely (HA)LMSTA(D); while the year date is light and the 7 is on the edge of the perforations, I am 98% sure it is 1857. Accompanied by an APS 1998 certificate as #4 "genuine in all respects" (at that time Scott had not yet assigned sub-numbers to the various colors). Also accompanied by a 2023 Jay Smith certificate with "lifetime guarantee" (details available). While most skilling banco stamps in the marketplace have defects or repairs, this is an outstanding example in completely sound quality -- and is very scarce thus. |
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495.00 |
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248309 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
4 (Scott Classic #4f), Facit #4f Dull Yellow [1855 8 sk First Issue Coat of Arms] Mint, without gum, with Fine centering (by American standards). A wonderful example with strong, clear color and perfect perforations. This is excellent centering for a Mint example of this stamp -- it is rare in Unused condition. [There is a little bit of confusion in the catalog listings for this Facit/Scott #4f. Facit lists this as part of the "medium thick paper" stamps, and Scott has followed upon that distinction. However, most experienced collectors would probably classify this example of the stamp as being on (very) thin paper. One could consider this example to be a thin paper variety of #4f. Furthermore, there are several errors in the Scott values for the different Mint colors/printings of this stamp: Scott should have only three of the eight (not six of the eight) with Mint values, as Facit does -- the others are too rare to value -- and Scott should have them all priced at around the same values of about $5000-5500. I have reported these problems to Scott editors.] The Sweden Skilling Banco stamps (Scott #1-5) are extremely rare with gum and are not expected to have gum. Both Facit and Scott only value these stamps without gum. Facit Classic 2024 value is SEK 50,000 (4/2024 about US$5000) for this printing and as the least costly printing. Accompanied by a Helena Obermüller-Wilén (HOW) 1990 color photo certificate which states [translated] "Facit #4f. Dull Yellow. Centering medium-good. Unused without gum; should not have [not normally found with] gum. Stamp is genuine. No defects. No repairs. A remarkably beautiful and fresh stamp that occurs only rarely uncanceled. Signed by Sjöman. Very good example." HOW assigned a Swedish quality rating of "3,3,-" [the dash because it is without gum], which is excellent for this stamp. HOW is still the best certificate for these issues. Also pencil-signed and numbered on the reverse by Sjöman and accompanied by a photocopy of a Sjöman 1971 certificate. I believe that this certificate copy was obtained from an archive of Sjöman-issued certificates. Sjöman agreed in all respects with the HOW opinion and stated [translated] "A very beautiful and rare object." and using the 1971 SFF quality rating system he said, "A very good example almost to [praktex] magnificent example." From the Haggstrom collection. An outstanding example of a stamp that is only rarely available in Unused / Mint condition. |
4200.00 |
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248310 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
5 (Scott Classic #5a), Facit #5b Orange-Red, Thin Paper [1855 24 sk First Issue Coat of Arms] Mint, without gum, with VF centering. A wonderful example with strong, clear color and overall freshness. The perforations look a little rough, but this is typical of the so-called 1855 perforation machine and is not a defect. [The "1855 perforations" are almost always rough due to the worn-out teeth on the machine.] This is excellent centering for a Mint example of this stamp -- it is rare in Unused condition. [There is a little bit of confusion in the catalog listings for this Facit #5a / Scott #5b: There are several errors in the Scott values for the different Mint colors/printings of this stamp: Scott should have only two of the five (not four of the five) with Mint values, as Facit does -- the others are too rare to value -- and Scott should have them all priced at around $9000 for Scott #5 and $7500 for #5a. I have reported these problems to Scott editors.] The Sweden Skilling Banco stamps (Scott #1-5) are extremely rare with gum and are not expected to have gum. Both Facit and Scott only value these stamps without gum. Facit Classic 2024 value is SEK 75,000 (4/2024 about US$7500) for this printing. Accompanied by a Helena Obermüller-Wilén (HOW) 1990 color photo certificate which states [in English] "Facit #5b. Orange-Red. Medium centering. Unused without gum. Shall never have gum [not normally found with gum]. The stamp is genuine. Defects: One corner is slightly creased and with a short perf. No repairs. A very beautiful and rare item. As unused a rare item. Fine copy." HOW assigned a Swedish quality rating of "1,3,-". [The 1 because of the mentioned perforation tooth, which most collectors would not consider a problem on an 1855-perforation stamp; the dash because it is without gum.]. In this context, the statement that this is a "Fine copy" is intended as positive compliment. HOW is still the best certificate for these issues. From the Haggstrom collection. An outstanding example -- with exceptionally nice centering -- of a stamp that is only rarely available in Unused / Mint condition. |
6200.00 |
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