Sale 1197 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 14-15 March, 2019
Category — 12c "Adriatic" 1869 Pictorial Issue, Essays & Proofs (Scott 117-E, 117P)
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
1722
E
S.S. Adriatic. Full size engraving of the Adriatic, large die proof on India, die sunk on 226 x 150mm card, National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom right, small toned spot outside of the India paper, Very Fine, this iconic engraving by James Smillie was the basis for the design of the 12c 1869 Issue, the 1874 Peru Postage Dues and several bank notes and stock certificates of the period, including the $10.00 Citizens Bank of Louisiana "Dix" note
E. 400-500
400
1723
E
S.S. Adriatic. Two collateral items featuring the full engraving of James Smillie's iconic Adriatic, which was the basis for the design of the 12c 1869 Issue, first is an insurance policy for the Adriatic Fire Insurance Company dated 1871, 25c Certificate (R44c) on front of document, stamp with faults but the policy is Very Fine, second is the same full size engraving on India, die sunk on 183 x 125mm card with full die sinkage, National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom of India and blind embossed seal at bottom of card, Very Fine, a wonderful pair of items for the 1869 Pictorial Issue collector
E. 500-750
275
Back to Top1724
E
12c Scarlet, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). Die sunk on 81 x 87mm card with full die sinkage, brilliant color, Extremely Fine, these essays are scarce and are often found without the complete die sinkage seen on this example
1,350
750
Back to Top1725
E
12c Dull Orange Red, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). Die sunk on 69 x 69mm card with full die sinkage, beautiful bright color, Very Fine, these essays are scarce and are often found without the complete die sinkage seen on this example
1,350
750
Back to Top1726
E
12c Blue, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). Die sunk on 67 x 73mm card with full die sinkage, National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom, rich color, couple inconsequential toning specks outside the die sinkage area, Very Fine, these essays are scarce and are often found without the complete die sinkage seen on this example, it is particularly elusive with the imprint
1,350
750
Back to Top1727
E
12c Gray Black, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). Die sunk on 58 x 61mm card with full die sinkage, intense color, couple inconsequential toning specks, Very Fine, these essays are scarce and are often found without the complete die sinkage seen on this example
1,350
550
Back to Top1728
E
12c Dark Red Brown, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). Die sunk on 57 x 61mm card with full die sinkage, wonderful depth of color, National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom, small spot of gum outside die sinkage area at left could be wiped, Very Fine, these essays are scarce and are often found without the complete die sinkage seen on this example, it is particularly elusive with the imprint
1,350
600
Back to Top1729
E
12c Green and Red Brown, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). One in each color, approximately 46 x 50mm, rich colors, Green with National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom, thin spot outside the design, Very Fine examples of these scarce essays, the imprint is particularly elusive
2,700
650
Back to Top1730
E
12c Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). Four large die essays, largest in Scarlet is 30 x 31mm and still affixed to card, one in Black 26 x 28mm, other two are in Blue and Yellow Brown and are closer to stamp size, a few inconsequential small thins as typical for India paper, Very Fine appearance, Scott Retail as full size
5,400
750
Back to Top1731
E
12c Small Numeral, Plate Essay on Stamp Paper, Perforated 12 (117-E2e, formerly 117-E1e). 12, including each of the ten Scott-listed colors, original gum, few small flaws, Fine-Very Fine, seven with 1998 P.F. certificates
View PDF of contents of this lot
1,500
900
Back to Top1732
E
12c Small Numeral, Plate Essay on Stamp Paper, Perforated 12 (117-E2e, formerly 117-E1e). Group of eight original gum blocks of four and horizontal pair with imprint (pair separated), range of colors with duplication of Blue and Red Brown, four of the blocks are position multiples with selvage, including two with bottom left corner selvage, mostly Fine with a few Very Fine (these almost never come centered), Scott Retail as singles
4,250
1,300
Back to Top1733
E
12c Typographed Small Numeral, Die Essays, Stamp Size (117-E3). Substantial assemblage of 19 stamp size essays, wonderful range of colors and paper types with very little duplication -- even where there is some duplication the shades vary, at least one with grill, some typical small flaws to be found with these fragile papersA BEAUTIFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE LARGE GROUP OF THE 1869 12-CENT ADRIATIC SMALL NUMERAL TYPOGRAPHED ESSAYS.
We have never before offered a group with this quantity and variety. While the perforated small numeral essays on grilled stamp paper can be found in abundance (117-E2e), each of these typographed essays are rare.
Three P.F. certificates accompany
View PDF of contents of this lot
7,600
5,500
Back to Top1734
E
12c Black, Typographed Small Numeral Die Essay on Card (117-E3a). 63 x 75mm, intense impression, signed "J. MacDonough" in pencil at bottom, very slight thinning from mount removal at top and bottom, Very Fine and rare signed by the manager of National Bank Note Co., who was deeply involved in the design work for the 1869 Pictorial Issue
750
600
Back to Top1735
E
12c Black, Typographed Small Numeral Die Essay on Card (117-E3a). 27 x 28mm, intense impression, Very Fine
750
325
Back to Top1736
E
12c Red Brown, Typographed Small Numeral Die Essay on Card (117-E3a). 60 x 54mm with uncleared surrounds, distinctly different color than the essay offered in the following lot, Very Fine and extremely rare
750
450
Back to Top1737
E
12c Brown Red, Typographed Small Numeral Die Essay on Card (117-E3a). 59 x 45mm with uncleared surrounds, Very Fine and extremely rare, ex Finkelburg and Dr. Heimburger
750
450
Back to Top1738
E
(12c) Black, Vignette Large Die Essay on White Ivory, Lithographed (117-E4a). 36 x 31mm, Very Fine and scarce lithographed essay
1,000
800
Back to Top1739
E
(12c) Black, Vignette Large Die Essay on White Ivory, Lithographed (117-E4a). 36 x 31mm, very slight thinning at top from mount removal, Very Fine and scarce lithographed essay
1,000
475
Back to Top1740
P
12c Green, Large Die Proof on India (117P1). Die sunk on 153 x 227mm card with full die sinkage, showing National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom, fresh color, Very Fine full size die proof
900
425
Back to Top1741
P
12c Green, Large Die Proof on India, Small Die Proof on Wove (117P1, 117P2). Large die proof die sunk on 63 x 71mm card with full die sinkage, National Bank Note Co. imprint at bottom, fresh and Very Fine, ex Finkelburg, small die proof from a Roosevelt Presentation Album on original gray card backing, fresh color, Very Fine
1,250
400
Back to Top1742
P
12c Green, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proof on Wove (117P2a). 25 x 25mm, rich color, typical light toning as seen on nearly all genuine Panama-Pacific proofs, Very Fine and extremely rare, while the quoted numbers of 3-5 produced probably apply to the 12c 1869, we have encountered only two others since 2000 (one contained in a set), with 1991 P.F. certificate
3,000
2,700
Back to Top1743
P
12c Green, Plate Proof on India (117P3). Bottom imprint and plate no. 17 block of ten, brilliant color, single tiny pin prick indent near bottom but free of the usual thins and other flaws typically encountered with India paperEXTREMELY FINE. A CHOICE AND RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ON INDIA PAPER.
A Power Search review found only two others offered in our sales (outside of a set) since 2006 -- both from the Dr. Heimburger collection in 2013. His bottom plate block, with significant faults, realized $3,000 hammer
2,250
2,000
Back to Top1744
P
12c Green, Plate Proof on India (117P3). Four position blocks of four, including bottom left margin on original card backing, top right margin and two right margin with part arrow, fresh and Extremely Fine, the bottom left was cut recently from the Lilly sheet remainders and is particularly choice, one P.S.E. certificate accompanies, Scott Retail as four normal blocks of four
760
650
Back to Top1745
P
12c Green, Plate Proof on Card (117P4). Block of eight with full left arrow margin and two blocks of four, one with left margin, brilliant color distinctly different from that seen on the India paper in the previous lot, fresh and Extremely Fine, the block of eight cut from the Lilly sheet remainders, Scott Retail as four normal blocks of four
View PDF of Highlights of this lot
1,060
800
Back to Top1746
S
12c Green, "Specimen" Overprint., Ty. A (117SA). With additional tiny manuscript "X", clear to wide margins, small internal paper wrinkle near top not mentioned on accompanying certificateVERY FINE FOR THIS EXTREMELY RARE "SPECIMEN" OVERPRINT.
We have encountered only two other examples of the 12c 1869 with "Specimen" overprint and this is by far the finest centered of the three. The other two have perfs cutting well in on two sides.
With clear 1991 P.S.E. certificate
2,500
1,100
Back to Top