Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Essays and Proofs: 1869 Pictorial Issue
National Bank Note Co., 1c-12 Small Numeral, Plate Essays on Stamp Paper (112-E4/117-E2). Extensive assemblage of mostly single essays with a couple pairs, including eleven 1c, nine 2c, nine 3c, seven 5c, four 10c and six 12c, wide range of colors with both imperforate and perforated, with and without grill, mostly original gum with a few no gum, a few small faults may be encountered but overall this is a fresh and choice collection, also includes a No. 133P3 pair
National Bank Note Co., 5c Red Orange Brown, Large Lettering, Large Die Essay on Clear White Bond (115-E1h). 34 x 33mm, rich color, Very Fine
National Bank Note Co., 15c Violet, Ty. III, Large Die Proof on India, Red "15" Overprint (129-E1a). 27 x 31mm, vivid colors, thin spots, appears Very Fine, this is the only example we have offered in this color combination since keeping computerized records and our extensive PDF archive of old auction catalogues does not contain any others
National Bank Note Co., 24c-30c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Small Numeral Plate Essays on Tinted Paper (120-E2c,e, 121-E1p). Three 24c and four 30c in different colors and papers, one 30c tiny corner nick, still Very Fine group of these essays
National Bank Note Co., 30c Orange, Burgoyne Large Die Essays on India and Yellowish Cloudy Bond (121-E1a, 121-E1j). First 69 x 49mm with imprint at bottom, just some slight color oxidation, otherwise Very Fine, second 46 x 34mm, Very Fine
National Bank Note Co., 30c Burgoyne, Plate Essays (121-E1p, 121-E1q, 121-E1r). Group of nine plate essays, six are on thin surface-tinted paper (121-E1p) in a variety of colors and paper tints, two of No. 121-E1q Black on India including one perforated, finally one 121-E1r Black on rough pitted card, Very Fine group
National Bank Note Co., 30c Dull Red Violet, Burgoyne Plate Essay on Bond, Red Bands (121-E1s). Vertical pair, large margins all around, rich colors, fresh and Very Fine, Scott value as singles
National Bank Note Co., 90c Washington, Plate Essays on Stamp Paper (122-E2b, 122-E3, 122-E4b). Group of twelve essays, first five are Washington design No. 122-E2b in different colors, next group of six are No. 122-E3 frame-only essays in different colors, finally Lincoln design No. 122-E4b on rough pitted thick gray paper, cracked along crease (all of this essay are faulty to some degree), Very Fine group
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Hybrid Large Die Proofs (112P1 var-117P1 var, 119P1 var-122P1 var). Stamp size and mounted on 187 x 223mm cards, with die area marked with hand-drawn frame, in black leather gold-stamped presentation binder with title "Proofs. United States Postage Stamps, Series of 1869. Engraved by the National Bank Note Company", some edge wear and slight binding separations but still intact
VERY FINE. A RARE AND DESIRABLE INTACT PRESENTATION BOOK OF THE 1869 pictorial large die PROOFS.
Various books or albums were created during the 1870s and later in the 19th century by Bank Note companies for sales samples or other presentation purposes. Very few remain intact like the 1869 Pictorial book offered here.
1c/90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Large and Small Die Proofs (112P2/122P2, 113P1, 117P1, 120P1). Nine proofs, large die on India for 2c and 12c, both cut down but still showing imprint, 24c is a hybrid large die proof, 1c, 6c, both 15c types, 24c and 90c small die proofs, three are on card backing from a Roosevelt Presentation album and the other three are removed from card, decently done with only the 90c showing some small thin spots, Very Fine group
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3, 129P3). Complete set of eleven proofs including both 15c types, also extra 1c and the better 24c 120TC Green & Reddish Lilac, large margins except 6c touched at top, brilliant colors, overall Extremely Fine, Scott value for just the set of 11 proofs (the 120TC is unpriced)
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial, Plate Proofs on Card (112P4-117P4, 120P4-122P4, 129P4). Large margins, bright colors, 10c with some very slight soiling at top, Very Fine set, accompanied by original envelope in which these were given away, Scott value without premium for the envelope
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Each with corner sheet margins, large margins other sides, deep rich colors on bright cards
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND CHOICE corner sheet margin SET OF the 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 1870s. 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.
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (123TC4-132TC4). Complete set (less the one unique 90c color combination, which is offered in the following lot), 78 in total, large even margins throughout, gorgeous colors, bright and pristine
EXTREMELY FINE. A PARTICULARLY CHOICE QUALITY SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PLATE PROOFS.
The Atlanta trial color plate proofs on card were prepared for display at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta. Only one sheet in each color was printed. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition (along with the 1869 invert card proof sheets). Petrie claimed that he rescued the proofs just before they were to be burned. They were later cut up into one set of blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four, pairs and singles. It is difficult to assemble the complete set of the 1869 Pictorials since the bicolor values come in many different color combinations.
90c Green & Black, Atlanta Trial Color Proof on Card (132TC4g). Large margins, struck in unique color combination and on the same distinctive card as the other Atlanta proofs
EXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS COLOR COMBINATION, AND IS THE KEY TO A TRULY COMPLETE SET OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS.
Color combinations are known in Green & Blue, Green & Brown and Black & Green (the opposite colors of this). Ex Finkelburg and "Vaquero". 2005 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies.