Sale 1118 — The Don David Price Iconic Collection of U.S. Bicolored Issues
Sale Date — Tuesday, 15 March, 2016
Category — 1873 State Department Proofs
$2.00-$20.00 State Department, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs (O68TC4-O71TC4). Complete set of 28 (seven for each denomination), all color combinations represented, large margins, rich colors, few with thin spots from mountsVERY FINE. A RARE INTACT SET OF ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS FOR THE DOLLAR-VALUE STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES. SELDOM OFFERED AS AN INTACT UNIT.
A Power Search review shows that for the Atlanta Trial Color proofs, the 1c-90c values are normally offered as a unit of 431 proofs, but they are almost always lacking the rare and colorful dollar-value State Department issues. We have offered only one intact set of all 463 proofs since keeping computerized records.
This is also the only time we have offered all of the dollar values in one lot (they catalogue $1,000.00 apiece). Very few sets remain intact.
Ex Markovits
$2.00 Scarlet & Black, "Goodall" Trial Color Small Die Proof on India (O68TC2c). Large margins, bright colorsVERY FINE AND SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE $2.00 STATE DEPARTMENT GOODALL TRIAL COLOR PROOF IN SCARLET AND BLACK.
In 1879, President Albert G. Goodall of the American Bank Note Company, successor to the Continental Bank Note Company, ordered sets of small die proofs for display purposes.
With 2006 P.F. certificate
$2.00-$5.00 State, Plate Proofs on Card, Plett Type 3 "Specimen" Blue Handstamped Overprint (O68P4-S - O71P4-S). Large margins, rich colors, each with neat blue "Specimen" overprint struck diagonally on collar, $2.00 horizontal crease, otherwise Very Fine, these are the only recorded examples of this type of "Specimen" on the State Department dollar values, in the late 1870's and early 1880's the Post Office Department responded to requests for samples by sending out some of the card proofs that were available, in four recorded instances the receiving country applied the "Specimen" handstamp (see Chronicle 227 for article by Michael Plett), ex Markovits, $20.00 with 2010 P.F. certificate
$2.00 State, Plate Proof on Card (O68P4 var). Affixed to 49 x 60mm card which is signed by Charles Skinner, both card proof and card backing with horizontal crease, still Very Fine and unusual item signed by the engraver of the vignette, reportedly unique, with 2010 P.F. certificate