Sale 1118 — The Don David Price Iconic Collection of U.S. Bicolored Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 15 March, 2016
Category — Post Office Announcement, 15c 1869 Pictorial Essays and Proofs
Post Office Department Announcement of 1869 Pictorial Issue. Printed notice dated March 1, 1869, from A. N. Zevely, Third Assistant Postmaster General, describing 1869 Issue and specifically noting denomination change from 5c to 6c and size of 1c-12c sheets (150 vs. 100), sent to postmaster at Douglas Kans., fresh and Very Fine, a wonderful frontispiece for an 1869 Pictorial Issue collection
15c Blue, Vignette and Ty. III Frame in Single Die, Large Die Proof on India (118TC1). Die sunk on 70 x 53mm card, showing full die sinkage (barely), India cut short and with imprint printed directly on card, signed in pencil "James Smillie Jr." (vignette engraver), his initials "JSJ" also written in pencil partly under the India paperVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE PROOF IMPRESSION IN BLUE FROM THE UNIFIED DIE FOR THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS RARE PROOF IS SIGNED BY JAMES SMILLIE, ENGRAVER OF THE "LANDING OF COLUMBUS" VIGNETTE.
There are three types of the 15c 1869 Pictorial Issue stamps. Type I (Scott 118) does not have the diamond-shaped ornament at the top of the blank area where the vignette is printed, and it has shading lines in the otherwise blank area, which were entered by hand on each plate position. Type II (Scott 119) has the diamond ornament and shading lines, which were engraved on the die before the Type II frame plate was made. To make the frame plate for the 1875 Re-Issue, the original Type I die was used, but no shading lines were entered on the plate. Yet another die was used to make certain proof impressions, such as the one offered here, in which the frame and vignette were unified into a single die (Scott lists these as both essays and proofs with a 118 or 129 designation).
Ex Finkelburg. Scott Retail for unsigned trial color proof has not changed in 17 years.
15c Orange Brown, Die Essay on Orange Safety Paper, Type 9 Underprint (129-E3). 32 x 32mm, fresh and bright colors, small thin at top, appears Very Fine, the 15c Type III are among the very few 1869 Safety Paper essays where we have encountered more than one example (we have offered others of this color and underprint type in our Brazer and "Lake Shore" sales), ex Earl of Crawford and Juhring, Brazer listed this essay in vertical underprint format only, this is repeated in Scott Catalogue though the photo in Scott is in horizontal format, three of the four we have encountered have the underprint in horizontal format
[15c] Dark Blue, Vignette Only, Hybrid Die Proof on India (118-E1a). Mounted on India and die sunk on 70 x 71mm card, showing full die sinkage area, faint toned spots, small thin at bottom left from mount removalVERY FINE. A RARE PROOF IMPRESSION OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL VIGNETTE.
This vignette proof shows the frame around the vignette, which indicates it was cut from a plate proof and mounted as a die proof. The border was entered on the plate, not on the die.
Ex Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg
15c Red Brown, Ty. III Frame Only, Hybrid Die Proof on India (129-E7a). Stamp size and mounted on India paper which is die sunk on 87 x 110mm card with full die sinkage, detailed impressionVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PROOF OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL FRAME WITH TYPE III CHARACTERISTICS.
There are three types of the 15c 1869 Pictorial Issue stamps. Type I (Scott 118) does not have the diamond-shaped ornament at the top of the blank area where the vignette is printed, and it has shading lines in the otherwise blank area, which were entered by hand on each plate position. Type II (Scott 119) has the diamond ornament and shading lines, which were engraved on the die before the Type II frame plate was made. To make the frame plate for the 1875 Re-Issue, the original Type I die was used, but no shading lines were entered on the plate. Yet another die was used to make certain proof impressions, in which the frame and vignette were unified into a single die (Scott lists these as both essays and proofs with a 118 or 129 designation).
Ex Dr. Heimburger
15c Red Brown, Ty. II Frame Only, Die Proof on India (119-E1a). On 57 x 46mm card, bright color, small surface scrape at leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PROOF OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL FRAME FROM THE DIE WITH TYPE II CHARACTERISTCS.
There are three types of the 15c 1869 Pictorial Issue stamps. Type I (Scott 118) does not have the diamond-shaped ornament at the top of the blank area where the vignette is printed, and it has shading lines in the otherwise blank area, which were entered by hand on each plate position. Type II (Scott 119) has the diamond ornament and shading lines, which were engraved on the die before the Type II frame plate was made, as seen on this die proof impression. To make the frame plate for the 1875 Re-Issue, the original Type I die was used, but no shading lines were entered on the plate. Yet another die was used to make certain proof impressions, in which the frame and vignette were unified into a single die (Scott lists these as both essays and proofs with a 118 or 129 designation).
Ex Mason, "Lafayette", "Lake Shore" and Dr. Heimburger.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Hybrid Large Die Proof on India (129P1 var). Stamp size and mounted on India paper which is die sunk on 82 x 94mm card with full die sinkage, Very Fine, this proof of the design as it appears on 1875 Re-Issue stamps is only known as a hybrid creation, using the plate proof on India
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Hybrid Large Die Proof on India (129P1 var). Stamp size and mounted on India paper which is die sunk on 111 x 144mm card, dramatic vignette shift, tiny thin spots on back from mount removal, still Very Fine, this proof of the design as it appears on 1875 Re-Issue stamps is only known as a hybrid creation, using the plate proof on India -- in this case, the impressions are drastically misaligned -- with 2011 P.F. certificate as sound
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Plate Proof on India (119P3). Bottom sheet margin imprint and plate no. 23 strip of five, huge margins all around, Extremely Fine and rare strip, ex Kuphal, with 1998 P.F. certificate
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Small Die Proof on Wove (129P2). On original gray card from a Roosevelt presentation album, fresh colors, Very Fine
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Plate Proof on India (129P3). Block of four, huge margins all around, vignette shifted strongly to the right, bright colorsVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE 15-CENT TYPE III PLATE PROOF MULTIPLE WITH A STRONGLY SHIFTED VIGNETTE.
From our 2005 Rarities sale.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Plate Proof on India (129P3). Block of 20, vignettes shifted significantly to the right, large margins, faulty at top left affecting two stamps significantly and two others slightly, otherwise Fine-Very Fine, a scarce large multiple, Scott Retail as four blocks of four and four singles
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Plate Proof on India (129P3). Two, large margins, each with dramatically shifted vignette, both strongly to left, Very Fine-Extremely Fine
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III, Plate Proofs on Card (129P4). Five, on exhibit page with each identified as a separate printing in different shade and on cards of varying thickness (1879, 1885, 1890, 1893 and 1894), Very Fine, ex Schueren and Dr. Heimburger