Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Essays and Proofs: 1870-88 Issues
National Bank Note Co., 24c Dim Blue Green, Engraved Vignette Inside Pencil and Watercolor Frame on Card, Model Essay (153-E2). Engraved vignette cut to shape and mounted inside watercolor frame design on top of pencil details, with "U.S. Postage" in ink, on 74 x 111mm card with pencil "24c" and "24" at top, diamond hole punch at top and pinholes at corners of design, gorgeous color and striking appearance, slight scuffs on card far from design
very fine. a unique engraved vignette and watercolor frame model essay for the 1870 24-cent national bank note company issue. a spectacular rarity of the bank notes and essays and proofs.
Scott value $3,250 is based on a decades-old auction realization and bears little relevance to the rarity of this essay.
National Bank Note Co., 90c Perry, Dull Dark Violet Engraved Vignette Inside Dull Red Violet Pencil and Watercolor Frame on Card, Model Essay (153-E2). Engraved vignette cut to shape and mounted inside watercolor frame design on top of pencil details, blank labels at top and bottom with "90" only at bottom, on 74 x 111mm card with pencil "90c" twice at top, diamond hole punch at top and pinholes at corners of design, gorgeous complementary colors, slight scuffs on card far from design
very fine. a unique engraved vignette and watercolor frame model essay for the 1870 90-cent national bank note company issue. a spectacular rarity of the bank notes and essays and proofs.
Scott value $3,250 is based on a decades-old auction realization and bears little relevance to the rarity of this essay.
1c-90c National and Continental Bank Note Cos., Plate Proofs on India and Card (145P3-155P3, 156P3-166P3, 156P4-166P4). Three sets of plate proofs plus a couple extra trial color proofs, National on India paper, Continental on India and card, nice margins throughout, a few typical India paper flaws and a couple proofs may be misidentified, overall Very Fine
National Bank Note Co., 2c Scarlet, Unadopted Design, Large Die Essay on White Glazed Paper (146-E7b). 39 x 46mm, brilliant color, shallow thin spots in corners as almost always seen on the glazed paper essays and proofs, still Very Fine
3c-24c National Bank Note Co. Issue, Plate Proofs on India (147P3, 151P3, 153P3). Horizontal pairs with bottom plate nos., affixed to original card backing with embossed National Bank Note. Co. garter at the bottom, each with spots of toning and 12c left proof with small nick, otherwise Very Fine, each is unique
3c Green on Deep Carmine Varnished Paper, Imperforate, Schnoble Patent (158-E2). Bottom sheet margin pair, unused (no gum), large margins other sides, Very Fine, a striking experimental paper variety, with 2012 P.F. certificate, Scott value as singles
Large Bank Note Issues, Imprint and Plate No. Proofs (156P3, 158TC4, 210P4). Three imprint and plate no. multiples, first No. 156P3 strip of six, also No. 158TC4 bottom plate block of 12, corner creases slightly broken at bottom right, finally No. 210P4 strip of six, Very Fine appearance, the strips are unpriced in Scott
1c-90c Continental Bank Note Co. Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (156TC4-166TC4, 179TC4). Complete set of 12 denominations in all five colors, including the 5c (Scott 179TC4), all have large margins, brilliant colors
EXTREMELY FINE SET OF ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS FOR THE 1871 CONTINENTAL BANK NOTE 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 50 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 cut up into one set of blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four, pairs and singles. These are often offered either by denomination or in other smaller groupings. It is difficult to assemble the complete set. This Extremely Fine set is one of the choicest we have encountered
30c Black, Greenish Black, Large Die Proofs on India (165P1). Die sunk on approximately 81 x 94mm cards, distinct differences in color as reflected in the two shades of issued stamp, Black with central toned spot, otherwise Very Fine, rare in both colors, ex Brazer and Finkelburg and hinged on his cards
1877 Philadelphia Bank Note Co. & 1903 Schernikow Essays (182-E/190-E). Large accumulation of essays with Philadelphia Bank Note Co. designs, largely Schernikow essays with good representation including the complete range of side-by-side designs in numerous colors, also numerous single die essays and plate essays, both in a great many colors, a couple of sheets including the earlier Philadelphia Bank Note Co. perforated sheet of sixteen 2c-30c values, Very Fine and extensive collection which is better viewed on our website PDF than listed item-by-item, conservative Scott value well in excess of $5,000
1c-90c American Bank Note Co. Issues, Plate Proofs (182P/218P). 49 plate proofs, mix of both India paper and card including some multiples, nearly everything from the period represented except does not include the ultra rare No. 212P4, also includes a No. 205P2 removed from card backing, a few typical India paper flaws may be encountered, overall fresh and Very Fine assemblage
Continental Bank Note Co., Large Die Essays (182-E4c/190-E3a). Seven different mostly on ivory or white glazed paper, including Nos. 182-E4c, 184-E11c, 184-E12b in Blue and Black, 184-E13b in Blue and Black, finally 30c design No. 190-E3a on proof paper (slight staining), some of the typical translucencies, overall Very Fine appearing and attractive group of these scarcer essays
1c Gray Blue, Plate Proof on India (182P3). Bottom imprint and plate no. 336 block of twelve, brilliant color, large margins, Extremely Fine plate block
Philadelphia Bank Note Co., 3c-90c Washington, Plate Essays on Stamp Paper, Perforated (183-E2/191-E2). 13 single denomination essays and one 12c/30c pair, fresh colors, some perf faults, overall Fine-Very Fine
Continental Bank Note Co., Die and Plate Essays (184-E11 to 184-E13). Assemblage of 21 essays, No. 184-E11 is a cut down large die essay on India, rest are essentially either plate or perforated plate, three different designs and a wide range of colors, also includes an example of the Azariah B. Harris 1879 Coupon Essay (184-E8c), a few small faults but overall Very Fine appearance and attractive, Scott value is conservatively approximated
Continental Bank Note Co., 3c Indian Maiden, Large Die Essay on White Glazed Paper (184-E15c). 32 x 37mm, Black, small edge translucency as usual, still Very Fine, a beautiful essay with the "Portage" spelling
1c-90c 1883-88 Bank Note Issues, Small Die Proofs on Wove (210P2-218P2). Intact page from a Roosevelt presentation album including outer border, nine proofs and four yeardate labels, rich colors, Very Fine, scarce as only approximately 85 albums were produced and most sets have been cut apart over the years
2c Chestnut Brown, Red Brown, Large Die Trial Color Proofs on India (210TC1a). On approximately 58 x 77mm India paper and die sunk with cards cut down to just outside the die sinkage areas, the Chestnut Brown in a beautiful deep shade, we are categorizing the Red Brown as the listed trial color proof shade as it is much lighter and brighter than 210P1 Red Brown die proofs we have encountered (also lighter than the issued stamp color), that proof with die no. and imprint, Very Fine and seldom offered, Power Search contains only two others and none in these colors
American Bank Note Co., 1c Black, Franklin Facing Right, Large Die Essay on Ivory Glazed Paper (212-E4b). 63 x 71mm showing full die sinkage, signed in pencil at bottom by engravers George Seymour and Alfred Jones, diagonal crease through the essay, otherwise Very Fine, Scott value as normal
Large Bank Note Issues, Paper Essays. 23 stamps in singles and some pairs mounted on album pages, interesting range of experimental papers including pale violet laid, pale rose laid, other tinted, ribbed, also a few Douglas Patent items including imperforate pair, typical faults, overall Fine, four certificates accompany
Large Bank Note Issues, Large Die Proofs Balance. Ten large die proofs including one essay, several are full size and others are cut down, the essay is No. 149-E6 in Orange, slight color oxidation on that, large die proofs include full-size Nos. 145P1and 156P1, others including a trial color proof of No. 151TC, some typical faults and a No. 162P1 with toned spots, overall Very Fine or appear so
Large Bank Note Issues, Small Die Proofs Balance. 13 from a Roosevelt Presentation album, range of issues with none complete, eight are on original card backing and the others removed from card, nice condition with one 2c slightly oxidized, overall Very Fine
American Bank Note Co., Washington Design Die Essays, Revenue Essays. Five essays with "ABNC" in corners, minor translucencies as often encountered, Very Fine appearance, these are probably samples of the ABNCo. engraver's and printer's handiwork, the central vignette is attributed to the work of Danforth, Bald & Co. (see Nos. 11-E10-11-E13), also six Revenue essays including Turner Nos. 2 in a few varieties including one with four images, also Turner No. 25, one essay is toned, overall Very Fine
Bank Note Company Ephemera. Two items, first is a 150 x 115mm sheet of proof paper with numerous engraved date ranges for Regular Issues and Officials, in Dark Carmine, reportedly originates with Edward Mandel, second items is a 234 x 119mm engraved card for American Bank Note Company, 70 Broad Street New York, hole punch at top with a small tear in that location, otherwise Very Fine, interesting pair of items