Sale 1239 — 2021 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Thursday, 24 June, 2021
Category — 1902 Pan-American Issue Essays and Proofs
1c Black, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Frame on Tracing Paper (294-E1). 108 x 82mm, showing pencil drawing of the frame partially completed, many design elements from this drawing were adopted for the final stamp, signed by designer "Ostrander Smith 1-9-0-0", issued stamp mounted at center for comparison, some flaws due to the fragile nature of the paper including pieces out in margin only, small tears, still Very Fine and unique, a wonderful essay, ex Rosenthal
1c Black, Preliminary Ink Drawing of Frame on White Card (294-E2). 170 x 135mm, showing the frame as adopted but with most elements incomplete, small ink stain at upper right, Very Fine and unique, with pencil note on back "Original finished ink drawing of design accepted and used for frame of the 1901 1c stamp by Raymond Ostrander Smith, Designer for the B.E.P. C. Brazer", ex Rosenthal
(1c) Black, Vignette Only Die Essay on India (294-E5 var). Four items, including three unlisted in Scott, first is 30 x 25mm photographic essay of the vignette reduced to stamp size showing clouds, ship and waves, unlisted in Scott; the next three items are die essays on India of vignette only, each shows a distinctly different level of completeness of the engraving, the first on 107 x 88mm card with full die sinkage showing faint lines especially on the hull of the ship, the second 94 x 78mm showing full die sinkage area with elements such as hull of ship more deeply engraved, third on 201 x 152mm card with full die sinkage and blue die no. 10685 on back, with lines more deeply engraved than the previous two essays (few toned spots on card)VERY FINE. A UNIQUE GROUP OF ESSAYS FOR THE VIGNETTE OF THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THESE BEAUTIFUL ESSAYS.
Scott lists only one state of completeness, with a note "incomplete engraving of vignette only". Each of these is believed to be unique. Ex Rosenthal.
1c Green & Black, Progressive Die Essay on India (Unlisted). On 107 x 88mm card with full die sinkage, showing notches at centers with axis marks to help align the two plates, differs from final design with long lines in the water, ship and sky unfinished, few scuffs on India well away from designVERY FINE. A UNIQUE ESSAY FOR THE ONE-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, SHOWING BOTH THE FRAME AND VIGNETTE TOGETHER.
Ex Rosenthal. Unlisted in Scott. The 2c is listed (see lot 589) and priced at $4,750.00
2c Black, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Frame on Tracing Paper (295-E2). 114 x 83mm, showing pencil drawing of the frame with outline letters, signed by designer "Ostrander Smith 1-9-0-0", issued stamp mounted at center for comparison and shows several elements were adopted in the finished design but several were not, some flaws due to the fragile nature of the paper including vertical split, still Very Fine, a desirable and unique pencil hand-drawn essay for the 2c frame, ex Rosenthal and on his exhibit page
2c Carmine & Black, Progressive Die Essay on India (295-E6). On 175 x 136mm card with full die sinkage, showing notches at centers with axis marks to help align the two plates, vignette incomplete near frame and on the train cars, frame color slightly oxidizedVERY FINE. A UNIQUE ESSAY FOR THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, SHOWING A CLEARLY IMCOMPLETE VIGNETTE. REPORTED TO BE UNIQUE.
Ex Rosenthal.
4c Deep Red Brown & Black, Progressive Die Essay on India (296-E3). On 108 x 90mm card with full die sinkage, showing notches at centers with axis marks to help align the two plates, vignette incomplete with lines missing at base of Capitol dome and above the driver's headVERY FINE. A UNIQUE ESSAY FOR THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, SHOWING THE INCOMPLETE VIGNETTE.
Ex Silberberg and Rosenthal. With 1974 and 1985 P.F. certificates
(5c) Black, Vignette Only Die Essay on India (297-E5, 297-E6). One of each, first is on 175 x 132mm card with full die sinkage, pencil frame drawn around vignette with "5ct" on card, the vignette is incomplete but still shows great detail, blue control no. 5465 on back, second on 202 x 150mm card with full die sinkage, showing vignette more strongly engraved, blue control no. 1169210 on backVERY FINE. A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE TWO UNIQUE ESSAYS FOR THE VIGNETTE OF THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Ex Rosenthal.
8c Black, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Frame on Tracing Paper (298-E2, 298-E3). Each 114 x 83mm, showing pencil drawing of the frame partially completed and with significant differences from the adopted design, each shows a significantly different design with changed lettering and placement of denominations, each signed by designer "Ostrander Smith 1-9-0-0", issued stamp mounted at centers for comparison, some flaws due to the fragile nature of the paper including pieces out barely affecting design on oneVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS BY DESIGNER OSTRANDER SMITH FOR THE FRAMES OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Ex Rosenthal and on his exhibit pages
8c Pan-American, Photo Reduction on Tan Paper (298-E6). 34 x 26 mm, showing original artwork photographically reduced to stamp size on photosensitive paper, fresh and Very Fine, this process was used as an aid to the engravers who produced the steel die, this is the only we have encountered, ex Rosenthal
8c Brown Violet & Black, Progressive Die Essay on India (298-E7). On 111 x 91mm card with full die sinkage, showing notches at centers with axis marks to help align the two plates, frame scroll and ornaments incomplete, vignette incomplete at right and in building at left in foreground, Very Fine, a unique essay combining both unfinished frame and vignette, ex Silberberg and Rosenthal, with 1974 and 1985 P.F. certificates
8c Violet & Black, Trial Color Small Die Proof on Wove (298TC2b). Wonderful color, full marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE SMALL DIE TRIAL COLOR PROOF OF THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. THIS MAY WELL BE UNIQUE.
Our digital library and other records do not contain any other examples. With 1986 and 2014 P.F. certificates. Scott value is out of date as this proof realized $6,250 hammer in our 2015 Rarities sale
10c Black, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Unadopted Design on Tracing Paper (299-E2). 150 x 110mm and attached to 171 x 135mm card, depicting radically different design than the one adopted with eagle and flags at center, denomination at top instead of bottom, lettering at bottom is remotely similar to that of the issued stamp, Very Fine, a remarkable unique essay for the 10c Pan-American Issue, essays exist for other denominations showing variances from the issued design but this one is by far the most different, ex Silberberg and Rosenthal, note on back reads "Original pencil sketch essay design not accepted for the 1901 10 cents stamp by Raymond Ostrander Smith, Designer for the B.E.P." and signed by Clarence Brazer
10c Yellow Brown & Black, Progressive Die Essay on India (299-E6). On 111 x 91mm card with full die sinkage, showing notches at centers with axis marks to help align the two plates, the frame is complete but the vignette is incomplete in mast, smoke stack and sky, fresh and Very Fine, a unique essay for the 10c Pan-American Issue showing both the frame the vignette, ex Rosenthal, with 1985 P.F. certificate
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on India (294P1-299P1). On approximately 204 x 152mm cards with full die sinkage, blue control nos. on back (15966, 16216, 16761, 16615, 16900 and 16956), rich colors, few cards toned mostly on backsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE SET OF LARGE DIE PROOFS FOR THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION ISSUE.
This set is especially desirable with the blue Bureau control numbers on back.
1c-10c Pan-American, Small Die Proofs on Wove (294P2-299P2). Each on original gray card backing from a Roosevelt album, rich colorsFRESH AND VERY FINE SET OF PAN-AMERICAN SMALL DIE PROOFS FROM A ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM.
Only approximately 85 albums were produced.