Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Essays and Proofs: 1894-1902 Issues with Specialized 2c
1c Blue, Die Essay on White Card (247-E2b). 56 x 67mm at the narrowest part, rich color, showing two designs, one at left without corner triangles, design at right with experimental 15-line high triangle printed at top right only, pencil "No. 6 With little Antwerp Blue" at bottom, also with faintly inked impression at bottom of two 2c in same color, right design with corner triangles, horizontal crease causing some cracking as seen on virtually all examples of this essay, otherwise Fine, very scarce, ex Brazer and "Whitpain", Scott value for just the fully inked pair
1c Ultramarine, Die Essay on White Card (247-E2b). Two pieces approximately 50 x 38mm, first showing two designs, one at left without corner triangles, design at right with experimental 15-line high triangle printed at top right only, second piece with faintly inked impression of two 2c in same color, right design with corner triangles, first piece with horizontal crease causing some cracking as seen on virtually all examples of this essay, otherwise Fine, very scarce, Scott value for just the fully inked pair
2c Black, Large Die Essay on India (250-E1). On 73 x 77mm card with full die sinkage, with ABN Co. imprint and die no. C-224 at bottom and with crude pencil drawing of triangle at upper left of design, also a trace of part of a triangle at upper right and bump at top of Washington's head
FRESH AND VERY FINE. a LIKELY UNIQUE LARGE DIE ESSAY IN BLACK OF THE 2-CENT 1894 ISSUE AND THE FIRST RECORDED ATTEMPT BY THE Bureau of engraving and printing TO ADD TRIANGLES TO THE TOP OF THE DESIGN.
Ex Brazer and "Whitpain".
2c Red Lake, Composite Large Die Essay on India (250-E2). On 71 x 69mm card, showing two designs, one at left without corner triangles, design at right with experimental 14-line high triangles, manuscript "2 White 4 Ger Lake no. 1, 1/2 R & D Lake", torn and repaired, still Fine, probably unique, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Opal Red, Composite Large Die Essay on India (250-E2). On 59 x 52mm card, showing two designs, one at left without corner triangles, design at right with experimental 14-line high triangles, manuscript "Opal Red" and with "Maroon" crossed out, very dark color which might be more accurately called Opal Lake, slightly broken diagonal crease at top, otherwise Very Fine, probably unique, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Red Lake, Composite Large Die Essay on India (250-E2). On 78 x 69mm card, showing two designs, one at left without corner triangles, design at right with experimental 14-line high triangles, manuscript "M 2 Dup." at bottom, fresh and Very Fine, probably unique, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Trial Colors, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essays on India (250-E3 thru 250-E7). Exceptional study of ten large die/trial color essays on India, mounted on exhibit pages in date order based on BEP notations on each, the study was intended to show the progression of colors tried during the process of converting the ABNCo. die to the BEP die, but also showcases the varying stages of re-engraving and subtle design changes that took place throughout the process, a few minor faults may be encountered but overall these are fresh
VERY FINE. A UNIQUE STUDY OF THE 2-CENT 1894 LARGE DIE AND TRIAL COLOR ESSAYS, ARRANGED BY DATE OF PRODUCTION AND WITH BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING NOTATIONS.
We have categorized these as Nos. 250-E3 thru 250-E7, but the order of the essays here does not necessarily follow the Scott numbering sequence, and not all those numbers are necessarily included. The Scott illustrations for Nos. 250-E6 and 250-E7 are definitely present in this study, which was intended to show the color progression. We recommend reviewing the website PDF, in which the exhibitor offers his narrative of how these proceeded. Several are ex Brazer and/or "Whitpain."
2c Dusky Blue Green, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E3). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, die sunk on 73 x 75mm card, ABNCo. imprint and die no. C-224, fresh and Very Fine, a rare progressive and trial color essay of the 2c 1894 issue
2c Dusky Blue Green, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E3). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, 60 x 66mm off card, ABNCo. imprint and die no. C-224, pencil "35" at bottom left, fresh and Very Fine, a rare progressive and trial color essay of the 2c 1894 issue
2c Dusky Blue Green, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E3). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, die sunk on 84 x 91mm card, faint albino ABNCo. imprint, pencil "#35" at bottom, slight wrinkling of the India paper, still Very Fine, a rare progressive and trial color essay of the 2c 1894 issue, the albino imprint is indicative of wiping or wax filling, which may imply a decision by the BEP to move away from ABNCo. identification at this point in production
2c Light Carmine, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E3). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, die sunk on 75 x 75mm card, faint albino ABNCo. imprint, manuscript notation "O.K. to harden" and also "T.F.M." initials on card, back with note written by Clarence Brazer "Shadows on frame not etched. Lines on foliage not strengthened. Vignette oval line not strengthened. Dot, not lines over the corner of eye. Front collar not recut. Only one line on truncated scroll to left of right 2.", fresh and Very Fine, ex Brazer and "Whitpain"
2c Deep Red, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E3). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, 37 x 46mm off card, with die no. C-224 and "American Bank Note Co. N.Y." imprint, Very Fine, the color is more a Lake shade than Deep Red
2c Deep Red, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E3). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, 33 x 33mm, deep rich color, small imperfections at top from removal from card, otherwise Fine, ex "Lake Shore"
2c Light Red, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E4). Incomplete engraving of design with 18-line high Ty. I triangles (as adopted) engraved in upper corners, numerous lines not deeply etched, 57 x 58mm off card, faint albino ABNCo. imprint, Very Fine, a rare progressive and trial color essay of the 2c 1894 issue which if anything is a regression from the previous 250-E3 stage, with an overall weaker appearance, the albino imprint is indicative of wiping or wax filling, which may imply a decision by the BEP to move away from ABNCo. identification at this point in production
2c Medium Deep Red, Ty. I, Progressive Large Die Essay on India (250-E5). Incomplete engraving of design with experimental 19-line high Ty. I triangles engraved in upper corners, on 59 x 60mm card, ABNCo. imprint and die no. C-224, manuscript "A. B. N. Co. Die worked over and ornament put in" at top, also "No. 1." at lower left which refers to the first version of the triangles (Scott Ty. I, nos. "2" and "3" appear later on Ty. II and III essays), Very Fine and undoubtedly unique essay, ex Brazer, illustrated in Scott Catalogue
2c Light Carmine, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India (251-E1). Incomplete engraving with 18-line high Ty. II triangles, die sunk on 64 x 82mm card, pencil "Unfinished" at bottom, brilliant color, Very Fine, ex "Whitpain"
2c Carmine, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India (251-E1). Incomplete engraving with 18-line high Ty. II triangles, light impression, die sunk on 75 x 93mm card, Very Fine, ex "Lake Shore"
2c Dark Violet Red, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India (251-E1). Three items, first is incomplete engraving with 18-line high Ty. II triangles, die sunk on 70 x 88mm card, manuscript "Transfer from Roll taken from No. 1 so as to change portrait make cameo effect Unfinished", also "No. 2" (Ty. II triangle) at top, Very Fine and probably unique, a fantastic essay with notations as to changes to be made, the "cameo effect" refers to the etching at the top of Washington's head, the exhibitor identifies three stages and two other essays or die proofs are included with this lot demonstrating the cameo stages (exhibit page with explanation also included), first is ex Brazer and "Whitpain", Scott value as two large die essays and one large die proof
2c Deep Carmine and Carmine, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India (251-E1). Two, incomplete engraving with 18-line high Ty. II triangles, first 56 x 57mm, dark shade, second 33 x 34mm, much lighter shade, Very Fine, accompanied by exhibit page which details the numerous subtle design changes from the Ty. I die, Scott value as full-size
2c Dusky Gray, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India (251-E2). Unfinished engraving in hair and outline of head, die sunk on 76 x 97mm card, Very Fine and rare, this is the only example we have encountered, ex "Whitpain"
2c Light Carmine, Ty. II, Large Die Essay on India (251-E3). Die sunk on 55 x 73mm card, brilliant color, several pencil drawings including nose at top, eye at lower left and "(old) No. 2 Hard", these are indicative of the transition to the Ty. III die, some slight soiling, still Very Fine, a rare and desirable essay made from the hardened die, this has suggestions for strengthening sections of the engravings, ex Earl of Crawford and "Whitpain", illustrated in Scott Catalogue, accompanied by exhibit page explaining the transition to Ty. III die
2c Medium Deep Red, Ty. III, Large Die Essay on India (252-E1). Die sunk on 63 x 87mm card, this is the Ty. II die at its finished stage but with new Ty. III triangles, pencil notations "No 3" (for Ty. III triangle) and "Finished -Condition of No 2", additional notation at bottom from Clarence Brazer "252 E-A" with his color notation, Very Fine and probably unique, ex Brazer
2c Dark Violet Red, Ty. III, Large Die Essay on India (252-E2). Incomplete engraving essay showing transition from Ty. II to Ty. III triangle designs, including strengthened head and shoulder lines, die sunk on 70 x 95mm card, pencil "3--1" notation at bottom, Very Fine and scarce, ex Brazer and "Whitpain"
2c Dusky Blue Green, Ty. III, Large Die Essay on India (252-E2). Incomplete engraving essay showing transition from Ty. II to Ty. III triangle designs, including strengthened head and shoulder lines, die sunk on 66 x 95mm card, pencil "3" notation at bottom, Very Fine and scarce, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Dusky Blue Green, Ty. III, Large Die Essay on India (252-E2). Incomplete engraving essay showing transition from Ty. II to Ty. III triangle designs, including strengthened head and shoulder lines, die sunk on 63 x 92mm card, pencil "3 -- 3" notation at bottom, Very Fine and scarce, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Dusky Blue Green, Medium Red, Ty. III, Large Die Essays on India (252-E2). Two incomplete engraving essays showing transition from Ty. II to Ty. III triangle designs, including strengthened head and shoulder lines, first Dusky Blue Green, 50 x 66mm off-card, faint pencil "3-2" notation, Very Fine, ex Earl of Crawford and "Lake Shore", second Medium Red, 50 x 58mm, small thin spots, appears Very Fine
2c Light Carmine, Ty. III, "Fat George" Large Die Essay on India (252-E3). Die sunk on 60 x 87mm card, bright color, Very Fine and rare, from the so-called discarded die which has significant differences from the final Ty. III die and was never used for stamp production, the design shows a puffy-faced, heavier George Washington ("Fat George"), only three in this color are known, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Green, Ty. III, "Fat George" Large Die Essay on India (252-E3). 55 x 82mm off card, deep rich color, pencil "81 P.O." at bottom, slight translucency at top far from design, Very Fine and rare, from the so-called discarded die which has significant differences from the final Ty. III die and was never used for stamp production, the design shows a puffy-faced, heavier George Washington ("Fat George"), this example in Green is unique, ex Morris and "Whitpain"
2c Pink, Ty. I, Large Die Proof on India (248P1). Die sunk on 153 x 202mm card, brilliant color and strong impression of the finished Ty. I die, fresh and Extremely Fine, this is only the second example we have encountered of this rare die proof, listed but unpriced in Scott
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I, Large Die Proof on India (249P1). Die sunk on 153 x 202mm card, rich color and strong impression of the finished Ty. I die, some speckled toned spots on card at edges far from design, Very Fine and rare, unlisted in Scott
2c Carmine, 2c Bright Deep Red, Ty. I, Large Die and Trial Color Proofs on India (250P1, 250TC1 unlisted). Two items, first finished design in issued Carmine, die sunk on 119 x 155mm card, pencil notation "Worked over by G.F.C. Smillie" and signed "James Kennedy", Very Fine and desirable with the two engravers on the card, second item is a very distinct color that the exhibitor and a color expert who signed on back call Bright Deep Red, die sunk on 153 x 202mm card, Very Fine, unlisted in Scott as a finished Ty. I trial color, Scott value as two 250P1 die proofs
2c Carmine Lake, Ty. I-III, Large Die Proofs on India (250P1-252P1). Group of four large die proofs in varying sizes, largest is No. 250P1 die sunk on 152 x 201mm card, smallest is No. 251P1 cut down to 36 x 35mm, overall fresh and Very Fine
2c Deep Carmine, Ty. I, Plate Proof on Thin Wove Paper (250P var., unlisted). Irregular top right corner margin block of five, with about half of two additional stamps at left, deep rich color printed on a thin wove the exhibitor refers to as "calendar" paper, pencil notations at top "Nov. 29 x P. 110", creases and small margin tears, otherwise Very Fine and rare, unlisted in Scott which might call this printer's waste
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Large Die Proof Multiple on India (252P1). Fifteen die impressions laid out to appear as a sheet, affixed to 138 x 190m card, manuscript "Hard" at bottom, staining in corners of India paper from affixing, card with some toning -- none of these issues affect the designs
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE "SHEETLET" OF FIFTEEN IMPRESSIONS OF THE 2-CENT TYPE III BUREAU ISSUE, ALL OF WHICH WERE ENTERED FROM A SINGLE DIE. A MARVELOUS ITEM.
This was made from an experimental die. The Bureau ran the experiment to see whether multiple rolling-in from the die could make the transfer process faster. The tremendous pressure resulted in misaligned entries, so the concept was abandoned. Very few are known to exist. The only other example we have encountered was offered in our 2009 sale of the "Whitpain" collection (Sale 977, lot 156). That sheet had a notation stating "O.K. to harden Nov. 20/95". This sheet with the notation "Hard" probably indicates that it came from the next step in the process.
With 2021 P.F. certificate.
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Large Die Proof Multiple on India (252P1). Bottom left corner margin block of four, from the fifteen-die impression laid out to appear as a sheet, brilliant color, Very Fine, these were made from an experimental die — the Bureau ran the experiment to see whether multiple rolling-in from the die could make the transfer process faster, the tremendous pressure resulted in misaligned entries, so the concept was abandoned, see the previous lot for a full sheet
2c Carmine, Ty. III, Plate Proof on Gummed Stamp Paper, Imperforate (267P5; formerly 267a). Three multiples including left imprint and plate no. 319 strip of three, block of four and also a used pair, each with horizontal inverted reversed watermark, Very Fine, strip with 2015 P.E.E. certificate, Scott value as all unused
1c-$5.00 1894-98 Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (246P1-247P1, 250P1, 253AP1-260P1, 262P1-263P1). Set missing only the $1.00 value, varying sizes up to full-size and all but the 50c show at least the full die sinkage area, 50c cut down to outside the India paper, 6c-10c signed by engraver James Kennedy, 5c and 15c speckled toning spots, overall Very Fine or appear so
1c-$5.00 1894-98 Bureau Issue, Small Die Proofs on Wove (247P2/284P2). Complete set of 17 proofs on intact page from a Roosevelt album, one 5c and one 15c with some margin toning, otherwise very fresh
VERY FINE. A RARE COMPLETE PAGE OF THE 1894-98 BUREAU ISSUE FROM A ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM.
Only approximately 85 albums were produced, and many of the individual proofs have been removed from their pages. Scott value as singles without premium for the intact page.
1c-$5.00 1894-95 Bureau Issue, Small Die Proofs on Wove (247P2-263P2). 13 proofs, the complete set of the 1894 issue, on original gray cards from a Roosevelt album, bright colors throughout and very fresh, also includes the New Color No. 283P2 and two large Bank Note P2's (145P2 and 185P2)
EXTREMELY FINE COMPLETE SET OF THE 1894-95 BUREAU ISSUE SMALL DIE PROOFS FROM A ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM, PLUS A few extras.
Only approximately 85 albums were produced.
$2.00 Dark Blue, $5.00 Dark Green, Plate Proofs on Card (262P4-263P4). Both with full margins, rich colors, Very Fine
1c-$2.00 Trans-Mississippi, Bi-Color Large Die Essays on India (285-E8a to 293-E7a). Approximately 62 x 51mm India paper off card, with no hybrids, wonderful fresh colors, bright and pristine
VERY FINE SET OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI BI-COLOR LARGE DIE ESSAYS, easily displayed on two album pages.
Of the 166 sets printed in these colors, many were hybrids.
2c Copper Red, Plate Proof on Card (286P4). Deep rich color, large even margins, light diagonal crease at right, appears Extremely Fine, an exceedingly rare Bureau of Engraving and Printing plate proof and not to be confused with the readily available 1893 Columbian plate proofs, which were printed by a private bank note company, of the nine Trans-Mississippi denominations, only the 2c and $2.00 are found in plate proof form outside government archives--both are on card (no India paper proofs are known), it is estimated that five or fewer of the 2c Trans-Mississippi plate proof exists, at one point the vignettes for the 2c and $2.00 were switched, so perhaps this is the reason why plate proofs of these two denominations were released, Scott Value $10,000
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on India (294P1-299P1). On approximately 203 x 152mm cards with full die sinkage, rich colors, 10c with blue control no. 18216 on back, that proof with some very minor toned specks and left edge soiling, 2c with overall card toning which does not affect the India paper, overall Very Fine set
1c-$5.00 1902-03 Issue, Small Die Proofs on Wove (300P2-313P2). Complete set of 14, rich colors, each on original gray card backing from a Roosevelt album, 50c faint toning
EXTREMELY FINE COMPLETE SET OF 1902 ISSUE SMALL DIE PROOFS FROM A ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM.
Only approximately 85 albums were produced.
1894-1902 Bureau Issues, Proofs Balance. More than 30 items mounted on album pages, range of proofs including large die proofs, small die proofs (removed from card backing from a Roosevelt album), also range of imperforate plate proofs on stamp paper, couple card proofs as well, issues spans the early Bureau period including 1894-98, one 5c Trans-Mississippi, one 4c Pan-American and a few 1902 including $2.00 (312P2), no issue is complete, some small faults to be expected and one 50c No. 261P1 slightly oxidized, overall Very Fine or appear so