Sale 1209 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 22-23 October, 2019
Category — Essays, Proofs and Specimens: 1845 thru 1869 Issues
Gavit & Co., 5c Franklin, Black Die Essay on White Glazed (1Xa-E1e). 45 x 75mm, intense shade, usual slight translucencies outside the design, Very Fine
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Large Die Essay on India (9X1-E1a). On 152 x 225mm card with full die sinkage, card with some slight toning and tiny tear at left far from design, Very Fine, scarce in this large size, ex Farrington
5c, 10c 1847 Reproductions, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (3TC4, 4TC4). Complete sets of blocks of four in all five colors, vivid colors, each with ample to full margins -- these were well cut from the sheets without any margins touching the designsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SET OF BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS FOR THE 5-CENT AND 10-CENT 1847 REPRODUCTIONS.
The Atlanta trial color plate proofs on card were prepared for display at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta. Only one sheet of 50 in each color was printed. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition (along with the 1869 invert card proof sheets). Petrie claimed that he rescued the proofs just before they were to be burned. They were cut up into one set of blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four, pairs and singles. These are often offered either by denomination or in other smaller groupings. It is exceedingtly difficult to assemble a complete set of blocks.
Scott Retail as singles
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5c Red Brown, 10c Black, Reproductions, Plate Proofs on Card (3P4-4P4). Large margins to full, intense impressions, Very Fine
5c Black, Trial Color Plate Proof on India, "Specimen" Ovpt. (1TC3S). Positions 89-90R1, horizontal pair, right stamp double transfer Type B, large margins to barely in at top, right stamp two small creases (one ending in small tear), Fine-Very Fine, scarce, ex Marasse, with 1995 P.F. certificate
5c Red Brown, 10c Black, Proofs on India, "Specimen" Ovpt. (1PS-2PS). Black and Red overprints respectively, card mounted, 10c cut-down large die proof, 5c might also be, 10c with scuff and tear, otherwise Very Fine-Extremely Fine, the 10c is most likely from the American Bank Note Co. archival sheet reconstruction
1c-90c 1857 Reprints, Plate Proofs on India and Card (40P3-47P3, 40P4-47P4). Complete sets on India and card, brilliant colors, full to large margins including a couple with sheet margins, fresh and Very Fine-Extremely Fine, particularly choice quality sets
1c-90c 1857 Reprints, Plate Proofs on Card (40P4-47P4). Blocks of four with matching bottom sheet margins, ample to large margins other sides, brilliant colors on dazzling white cards as fresh as the day they were printedEXTREMELY FINE BOTTOM MARGIN BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 1857 ISSUE REPRINT PLATE PROOFS ON CARD -- CUT FROM THE LILLY SHEETS.
The complete sheets of India and card proofs from the Josiah K. Lilly collection, which were formerly in the Earl of Crawford and Ackerman collections, were dispersed in Siegel Sale 321 in September, 1967. The sheets were divided into panes of 100 (or half sheets of 50, depending on the plate format) after the sale. One set of panes remains essentially intact in a private collection. The other set of panes has been further subdivided into smaller multiples over the years. This exceptionally fresh sheet margin set comes from that division.
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90c 1875 Reprint, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (47TC4). Blocks of four in Scarlet, Brown and Blue, each with large margins, fresh and Very Fine, scarce as blocks, Scott Retail as singles
30c Deep Red Orange, First Design, Plate Essay on India (71-E2b; formerly 61P3). Block of four, large margins all around, few faults including repaired tear, appears Fine, extremely rare, this is the only recorded multiple of the 30c Deep Red Orange Plate Essay, ex Finkelburg and "Lake Shore", Scott Retail as singles
90c Washington, Schernikow Large Die Essays on Proof Paper (72-E1a, 72-E2a, 72-E3a). Three of first and third, seven of second, mostly between 45 x 47mm and 65 x 65mm, seven show full die sinkage, wide range of colors, few with insignificant faults, overall a Very Fine and desirable group of Schernikow essays, showing three distinctly different states of the die
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 90c Blue, Die Essay on India (72-E5b). Die sunk on 80 x 84mm card with full die sinkage, deep rich colorVERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THE 90-CENT TOPPAN, CARPENTER 1861 ISSUE ESSAY DIE SUNK ON CARD KNOWN TO US. A RARE AND DESIRABLE CLASSIC ESSAY.
Ex Finkelburg, "Lake Shore" and Hansen.
90c Blue, First Design, Plate Essay on India (72-E7e, formerly 62P3). Block of four, full to large margins all around, rich color, small faint translucency at top as typical with this fragile paper, Very Fine and extremely rare, this is believed to be the only block extant, ex Finkelburg and DuPuy, Scott Retail as singles
1c 1861 Issue, Lowenberg, Wyckoff and MacDonough Patents, Trial Color Plate Proofs on Wove (63TC5, 63TC6). 26 proofs organized by patent on a stock page, nine are Lowenberg, 16 are Wykoff and one McDonough (which only comes in two shades of Brown), wonderful range of colors with more than 75% completion of all known colors without duplication, also a mix of imperforate and perforated, Fine-Very Fine and an outstanding group of these fascinating patents, Lowenberg and Wyckoff used different types of coated paper and MacDonough used glycerin based ink, accompanied by an identification chart and list of all known colors compiled by Essay-Proof expert James E. Lee, for a discussion of these essays see Lee's Chronicle article (No. 209, pp. 40-43, copy accompanies lot)
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15c Black, Large Die Proof on India (77P1). Die sunk on 73 x 86mm card with full die sinkage, imprint at bottom, Very Fine
15c Black, Large Die Proof on India (77P1). 58 x 71mm, with imprint at bottom, fresh and Very Fine
1c-90c 1861 Issue, Plate Proofs on India (63P3, 73P3, 65P3, 66P3, 76P3, 68P3, 69P3, 77P3, 78P3, 71P3, 72P3). Complete set of all ten values, including both 3c colors, large margins, rich colors, 5c with small internal flaw, otherwise Extremely Fine
30c Orange, Plate Proof on India (71P3). Bottom imprint and plate no. 7 block of eight, large margins to clear, radiant color, Very Fine and choice, a scarce plate block and an excellent alternative for a plate block collector -- a full plate block of eight is not known for Scott 71 without "Specimen" overprint, it is only known as an imprint and plate number strip of four (two known)
1c-90c 1861-66 Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (63P4/78P4). Nine, including 3c Scarlet (74P4), large margins, Extremely Fine
1c-90c 1861-66 Designs, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs (102TC4-111TC4). Complete set of the Scarlet color, large margins to full, radiant color, Very Fine
1c Scarlet, Die Essay on White Ivory (112-E5b). 50 x 54mm, radiant color, fresh and Very Fine and scarce, this design was also essayed for envelopes and wrappers
1c Black, Die Essay on White Ivory (112-E5b). 64 x 68mm, showing full die sinkage, detailed impression, Very Fine, this fancy design was also essayed for envelopes and wrappers, ex Earl of Crawford and Brazer
3c Blue, Small Numeral Die Essay on India (114-E4a). Die sunk on 64 x 57mm card with full die sinkage, bright color, small rust spots near edge of die sinkage area are inconsequential, Very Fine and extremely rare in this color, this is the only example in Blue we have offered since keeping computerized records more than 25 years ago, ex Earl of Crawford (with his notes on back) and Finkelburg
3c Green, Small Numeral, Plate Essay on Stamp Paper, Perforated 12, Grilled (114-E6d). Two multiples, first block of 12 with top National Bank Note Co. New York imprint, slightly disturbed original gum, some perf separations in selvage, Fine-Very Fine and rare with the imprint, second is a block of four, original gum, Fine-Very Fine, Scott Retail for singles with no premium for the imprint
30c Dull Red Violet, Burgoyne Plate Essay on Bond, Red Bands (121-E1s). Block of four, large margins all around, rich colors, fresh and Very Fine, an attractive multiple, ex Dr. Heimburger, Scott Retail as singles
3c Ultramarine, Large Die Proof on India (114P1). Die sunk on 63 x 58mm card with full die sinkage, National Bank Note. Co. imprint at bottom, deep rich color, Very Fine
3c Ultramarine, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proof on Wove (114P2a). 25 x 25mm, deep rich color, tiny translucency in top margin, typical light toning as normal with Panama-Pacific proofs, Extremely Fine and rare, it is generally accepted that 3-5 of each denomination were produced
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3). Blocks of four, 15c Type II, all with large margins, excellent colors, a couple tiny flaws including 6c with light crease at top and 10c with tiny scuff, 15c small scissors-cut in top margin between proofs -- normal for these fragile India paper proofs and actually far better than usually encounteredVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE SET OF BLOCKS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON INDIA PAPER.
1869 Pictorial plate proofs on India are particularly desirable as they were contemporary with the issue, rather than printed later
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1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on Card (112P4-117P4, 120P4-122P4, 129P4). Complete set of ten values, 15c Type III, large margins throughout, bright colors, Very Fine-Extremely Fine set
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on Card (112P4-117P4, 120P4-122P4, 129P4). Large margins, bright colors, Very Fine set, accompanied by original envelope in which these were given away
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large margins, rich colors on bright cardsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 100 OF EACH WAS PRODUCED.
The card proof sheets of 100 of the four inverted high values of the 1869 Pictorial issue were prepared for and displayed at the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. They were printed in response to the publicity surrounding the actual inverted stamps that began to appear in the 1870’s. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued the inverts along with the trial color card proof sheets (the "Atlanta" trial color proofs) just before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and in 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press, finding no takers. In 1903 he sold them to James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford, one of the great collectors of stamps, essays, proofs and philatelic literature at the turn of the 20th Century. In November 1915 the Earl of Crawford’s collection was purchased by John A. Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets.
1c-12c Black, 1869 Pictorial, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (123TC4-128TC4). Set of the single color proofs through the 12c in Black, large margins, Very Fine, Scott assigns a premium for Black above the other single colors
3c Scarlet, Atlanta Trial Color Proof (125TC4). Large margins to in at bottom, radiant color, showing clear doubling of design at top, small scrape at top left, appears Very Fine, this is the only variety we have encountered on the Atlanta Trial Color Proofs and is one of only two we record (both with bottom margin in), it is unusual to find printing varieties as greater care was (supposedly) taken when striking proofs and essays, with 1991 P.F. certificate describing this as a partial double impression