3c Black Trial Color Proof on Wove Paper (11TC5). Margins all around, three vertical pen strokes neatly applied by printer, plated by Dr. Chase as Position 18R4

VERY FINE. THE BETTER OF ONLY TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE FINISHED 3-CENT DESIGN IN BLACK. A STRIKING RARITY.

Ex Brazer, Joyce and Piller. The Scott Retail value has not changed since this example was offered in our 1993 Piller sale

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3c Red, Ty. I, Plate Proof on India, Brush Stroke Obliteration (11P3). Block of four, sheet margin at top, margins completely clear on other sides, rich color, slightly split crease in selvage well outside the top stamps, couple tiny India paper imperfections as normally found

VERY FINE. A SCARCE BLOCK OF FOUR FROM THE ORIGINAL PROOF SHEETS SENT IN 1854 FROM TOPPAN, CARPENTER & COMPANY TO GREAT BRITAIN FOR USE IN EARLY EXPERIMENTS TO PERFORATE UNITED STATES STAMPS.

In 1854 complete sheets of 200 3c India proofs from Plate 4 were sent by Toppan, Carpenter to Bemrose and Perkins Bacon in England for a perforating experiment. Each firm received left and right panes. All of the proofs were cancelled with brush strokes to prevent use as postage.

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