Sale 1118 — The Don David Price Iconic Collection of U.S. Bicolored Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 15 March, 2016
Category — 1901 Pan-American Issue Essays and Proofs
1c Pan-American, Reduction of Frame Design Drawing (294-E3). Reduced by Bureau of Engraving and Printing to stamp size, mounted on 59 x 38mm black card, Very Fine, ex "Lake Shore", listed but unpriced in Scott
1c Pan-American, Reduction of Frame Design Drawing (294-E4). Reduced by Bureau of Engraving and Printing to stamp size, from second state of the frame drawing with additional details added to columns at sides, mounted on 59 x 38mm black card, Very Fine, ex "Lake Shore", listed but unpriced in Scott
4c Pan-American, Reduction of Frame Design Drawing (296-E2 var). Similar to Scott listing except reduced by Bureau of Engraving and Printing to stamp size, mounted on 59 x 38mm black card, Very Fine, ex "Lake Shore", unlisted in Scott (even though similar essays are listed for the 1c)
5c Pan-American, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Frame on Tracing Paper (297-E2). 129 x 101mm, depicting frame with battle axe and elongated shield with "5", signed "R. Ostrander Smith" and dated "1900", affixed to thin card to stabilize this fragile paper, some flaws including piece out at center (not affecting any design) and covered by black mount containing Mint N.H. block of four of the issued stamp, few perf separations, Very Fine, a unique pencil drawing essay signed by the designer, illustrated in Johl on p. 18, the block with 1983 P.F. certificate
8c Pan-American, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Frame on Tracing Paper (298-E4). 124 x 100mm, depicting elongated shields with denominations at sides suspended from ribbons, lettering and other frame elements, signed "R. Ostrander Smith" and dated "1900", affixed to thin card to preserve this fragile paper, few faults including small pieces out, stamp affixed at center in mount for display, appears Very Fine, a unique pencil drawing essay for the 8c Pan-American which is signed by the designer, illustrated in Johl on p. 19
10c Pan-American, Preliminary Pencil Drawing of Frame on Tracing Paper (299-E3). Design 114 x 83mm, pencil drawing of frame design as adopted, signed "R. Ostrander Smith 1900" at lower right, few small faults, Very Fine, a unique pencil drawing essay for the 10c Pan-American which is signed by the designer
4c Pan-American, India Ink Drawing of Frame on Thick White Card (296-E2). On 169 x 135mm card, ink drawing of frame as adopted, issued stamp mounted at center for displayVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN ESSAY OF THE ADOPTED FRAME FOR THE 4-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Pencil note on back from Clarence Brazer.
5c Pan-American, India Ink Drawing of Frame on Thick White Card (297-E3). On 170 x 135mm card, ink drawing of frame as adopted, bright and freshVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN ESSAY OF THE ADOPTED FRAME FOR THE 5-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Pencil note on back from Clarence Brazer.
8c Pan-American, India Ink Drawing of Frame on Thick White Card (298-E5). 170 x 112mm, design of frame as adopted except "T" of "At" omitted in bottom label, Brazer's notes on back and with issued stamp mounted at center, small pinhole at bottom leftVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN ESSAY OF THE ADOPTED FRAME FOR THE 8-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. A WONDERFUL EXHIBITION ITEM.
Illustrated in Johl. Ex Brazer and Rosenthal.
10c Pan-American, India Ink Drawing of Frame on Thick White Card (299-E4). 170 x 114mm, design of frame as adopted, issued stamp mounted at center, small pinhole at bottom leftVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN ESSAY OF THE ADOPTED FRAME FOR THE 10-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE. A WONDERFUL EXHIBITION ITEM.
Note from Clarence Brazer on back.
[2c Pan-American] Photograph of Empire State Express Locomotive Vignette (295-E). 70 x 55mm, photograph labelled "Empire State Express" depicting the train as used in the 2c design, Very Fine and wonderful collateral item, the subject was photographed by A. P. Yates of Syracuse while the train was going 60 miles per hour, it is fascinating to compare this with the stamp design to see which elements were changed by the engraver, such as inclusion of the train's line on its side and the shape of certain elements of the cars and telegraph poles, unlisted in Scott
2c Pan-American, Ink and Wash Drawing Model of Frame as Adopted on White Card (295-E4). 127 x 97mm card mounted on 171 x 135mm card, showing wonderful detail of the design in fine ink line and wash, female figures at sides are engraved (probably taken from a proof such as the one offered in the lot 170) and pasted into place with additional elements such as torches and wings drawn in, nicely centered issued stamp mounted at center for displayVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN INK AND WASH COMPOSITE ESSAY OF THE ADOPTED FRAME FOR THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE.
Pencil note on back from Clarence Brazer.
[2c Pan-American], Large Die Proof of Partly Adopted Design Elements (295-E). On 125 x 152mm card with full die sinkage, depicting winged female figures and ornamentation at sides of oval, most of which were adopted for use on the issued stamp, some toned spots, Very Fine and attractive item, a torch was added to the outside hands of the figures for the issued design, a closer version of the design shown here was used for the 1901 Series legal tender $10.00 banknote, Johl notes it was likely the stamp design was copied from the currency issue
[2c] Pan-American, Large Die Progressive Proof on India, Vignette Only (295-E4A). On 201 x 152mm card with full die sinkage, design as adopted but with minor differences (side of coal tender and passenger cars not as heavily engraved), manuscript "Tint 4750/Black 5569" and dated in pencil "Nov. 22-/00", blue control no. 5569 on backVERY FINE. THIS VIGNETTE-ONLY PROOF FOR THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE IS LIKELY UNIQUE.
The 2c depicts the Empire State Express, which was photographed by A. P. Yates of Syracuse while the train was going 60 miles per hour. This is the only vignette-only 2c Pan-American proof listed in Scott. The date at bottom is more than five months before the stamps were issued on May 1, 1901.
2c Pan-American, Large Die Proof on India, Frame Only (295-E5). On 109 x 89mm card with full die sinkage, design of frame is complete as adopted, fresh and brightVERY FINE. THIS FRAME-ONLY PROOF FOR THE 2-CENT PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE IS LIKELY UNIQUE.
This is the only printed frame-only essay listed in Scott for the 2c Pan-American.
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on India (294P1-299P1). On approximately 200 x 150mm cards with full die sinkage, each with blue control no. on back, deep rich colors, 5c small toned spot at right, 10c small toned spot at far edge of cardEXTREMELY FINE SET OF THE PAN-AMERICAN LARGE DIE PROOFS. DESIRABLE WITH THE BLUE CONTROL NUMBERS ON BACK.
Not all sets have the blue control numbers.
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on Wove (294P1 var-299P1 var). Block sunk on approximately 203 x 152mm cards, pencil control numbers on backVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE SET OF LARGE DIE PROOFS ON WOVE PAPER OF THE PAN-AMERICAN ISSUE, WHICH WERE PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.
According to an article by Clarence Brazer, three sets were printed. One set -- each off card and with a blue control number on the face side -- is the so-called "Southgate" set, which was sold in our Sale 1040 (realized $24,000 hammer). Brazer notes that the other two sets -- including issues up to the 1933 Century of Progress -- were trimmed to small die proof size (about -3/16-inch margins) and mounted on loose leaf pages. One of these two sets was arranged in four albums and given to Franklin D. Roosevelt (the source of this Pan-American set). The other is said to have been presented to a friend and has not become available to philatelists. The margins on the set offered here are larger than noted by Brazer, who may have been mistaken as to the margin size.
Ex President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Each with purple "Ex Roosevelt, Gimbels" backstamp. Unlisted in Scott
1c-10c Pan-American, Small Die Proofs on Wove (294P2-299P2). On original gray card backing which is reduced to proof size, rich colors, Very Fine set, approximately 85 sets were produced