Sale 1179 — United States and Possessions
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 March, 2018
Category — Essays, Proofs and Specimens: 1869 Pictorial Issue
5c Washington, Large Lettering, Large Die Essay on India (115-E1a). Four of the five Scott-listed colors, lacking only Carmine to be complete, from 40 x 45mm to 32 x 32mm, two on original card, fresh and Very Fine, scarce, Power Search contains only two others without frameline and solid background
5c Orange, Blue, Large Lettering, Large Die Essay on Pink Bond (115-E1d). Two of the three Scott-listed colors, 32 x 38 and 29 x 30mm respectively, bright color on this unmistakable paper, lacking only the Brown color to be complete, fresh and Very Fine
5c Washington, Large Lettering, Large Die Essay on Glazed Paper (115-E1k). Four of the five Scott-listed colors, missing only Yellow, three showing full die sinkage and approximately 63 x 72mm, Blue 40 x 39mm, a couple with the usual mount removal translucencies at top or corners as usually seen with the glazed paper essays, Very Fine and desirable group
10c Black, Lincoln Die Large Essay on India (116-E1c). On 77 x 82mm card with full die sinkage, imprint at bottom, crisp impression, Very Fine and choice, this is only the second in Black we have offered since keeping computerized records, ex Ainsworth
10c Lincoln, Large Die Essay on Pink Bond (116-E1h). Three, complete for all Scott-listed colors including Red Brown, Red Orange and Yellow, two approximately 39 x 45mm, Red Orange is 24 x 26mm, bright colors, Fine-Very Fine
10c Black, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (116TC1). On 78 x 91mm card with full die sinkage, imprint at bottom, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful Trial Color proof in Black of the finished design, this is the first we have offered in this color showing the full die sinkage area since keeping computerized records and only the second showing full die sinkage in any color since our 1999 Finkelburg sale, ex Liberman
15c Scarlet, Small Numeral, Large Die Essay on India (118-E3; formerly 118-E1c). 32 x 40mm, with die imprint at bottom, small thin spot at topVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THIS STRIKING 1869 PICTORIAL ESSAY IN SCARLET.
This is the only example in this color we have offered since keeping computerized records. Ex Dr. Heimburger. Scott Retail as die sunk on card
24c Black on Dull Yellow Tinted, Small Numeral Plate Essay on India (120-E2e). Block of four, large margins, intense shade and impression, Very Fine and choice, ex Hansen, Scott Retail as singles
30c Red Brown, Burgoyne Large Die Essay on India (121-E1a). On 73 x 54mm card with full die sinkage, imprint at bottom, Very Fine and choice
30c Black, Burgoyne Plate Essay on India (121-E1q). Block of four with bottom sheet margin, large to huge margins other sides, Extremely Fine, Scott Retail as singles
30c Dull Red Violet, Burgoyne Plate Essay on Bond, Red Bands (121-E1s). Block of four, large to huge margins including sheet margin with partial registration marks at right, fresh and Very Fine, attractive multiple, Scott Retail as singles
30c Deep Blue & Deep Green, Large Die Trial Color Proof on India (121TC1). On 71 x 79mm card with full die sinkage, bright colors, India with usual two small hole punchesVERY FINE. THIS COLOR COMBINATION FOR THE 30-CENT 1869 TRIAL COLOR PROOF IS REPORTEDLY UNIQUE.
Eleven colors are listed in Scott Catalogue, and all are believed to be unique.
90c Washington, Plate Essay on Stamp Paper (122-E2b). Five blocks of four in four of the five Scott-listed colors (lacking Orange Red), including two in Dull Violet with one showing top right corner margin, large margins, Blue with bottom sheet margin, rich colors, free from the usual defects that can plague these essaysVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE GROUP OF BLOCKS OF FOUR OF THE 90-CENT SMALL NUMERAL WASHINGTON ESSAY, SCOTT 122-E2B.
Scott Retail as singles
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Hybrid Large Die Proofs on India (112P1-122P1, 129P1). Complete set of all values (15c Ty. III), approximately 147 x 225mm, fresh colors on pristine white cardsVERY FINE. A FRESH AND CHOICE COMPLETE SET OF LARGE DIE PROOFS FOR THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The 24c and 90c are only known as hybrids and the 15c is normally seen as a hybrid
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Hybrid Large Die Proofs on India, Presentation Album (112P1var-122P1var). Each stamp size and mounted on approximately 180 x 225mm cards with drawn in die sinkage area, bound into black leather gold-stamped presentation album, titled on front "PROOFS. United States Postage Stamps, Series of 1869, Engraved by the National Bank Note Company, New York.", inside cover with manuscript "President Grant" (not in his hand), covers have been professionally restored and appear pristine, toning on cards which is mostly minor except for 3c which has a block of darker toning not affecting the proof, 2c with 2c Trans-Mississippi mounted beneath proofVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE PRESENTATION ALBUM OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE LARGE DIE PROOFS.
Security printers' presentation albums were specially made for a variety of people, often potential customers or dignitaries. Most have been broken apart over the years for the value of the individual proofs. Intact albums are very rare.
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Small Die Proofs on Wove (112P2-122P2). Complete set including both 15c types, on original gray card backing, rich colors as fresh as the day they were printedVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE SET OF SMALL DIE PROOFS FROM THE ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM.
Only 85 albums were produced.
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1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3, 129P3). Blocks of four, virtually all with choice large margins, excellent colors, 10c with some waterstaining at top, 90c thin spotVERY FINE-EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A DESIRABLE SET OF BLOCKS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON INDIA PAPER.
This is a scarce set of blocks on India paper
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1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3, 129P3). Complete set of eleven on card backing, including both 15c, large margins, bright colors, 2c and 3c with small flaws in top margin, overall Very Fine
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large to full margins, deep rich colors on bright cardsVERY FINE-EXTREMELY 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
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Plate Proofs on Card (129TC1-132TC1). Complete for all four bicolor denominations (except for the one unique 90c), large margins, bright colors, h.r, a few with minor translucencies, one 24c with thin spot, one 90c small toned specksVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS FOR THE BICOLORED DENOMINATIONS OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.
The Atlanta trial color plate proofs on card were prepared for display at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta. Only one sheet of 100 of each value/color was printed.
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