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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.