Sale 1242 — The Gordon Eubanks Collection: United States 1851 to 1856 Imperforate Issue
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-13 October, 2021
Category — Three-Cent: Essays and Proofs
Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co., (3c) Black on India, Side by Side Die Essays, Labels Erased and One with Vignette Cut Out (11-E21). 53 x 46mm, mounted on 66 x 49mm card, minor flaw bottom right corner far from the designVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE CLASSIC UNITED STATES ESSAY, SHOWING THE EARLY DESIGN STAGES OF THE 3-CENT 1851 ISSUE PRODUCED BY TOPPAN, CARPENTER, CASILEAR & COMPANY.
The tessellated work in the frames of this essay is nearly identical to that of the 3c 1851 as issued (crosses in diamonds here are not seen on the issued 3c), as well as the 12c 1851 and Franklin Carrier. Undoubtedly this rare impression is a working essay of the final design. One other similar example is known, with the vignette present in the right frame (Scott 11-E19, Sale 1217, lot 512, realized $14,000 hammer). That example accompanied this example in the Brazer and Piller collections. This essay was last offered by us in 2015 and realized $27,000 hammer. This is one of the most important production essays of the 1851 Issue and of all U.S. classic philately.
Ex Dr. Chase, Brazer, Joyce and Piller (where illustrated on the front cover of the catalogue).
Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co., 3c Black, Die Essay on India (11-E22). 37 x 45mm, showing layout lines, intense shade and impressionEXTREMELY FINE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY ESSAY DESIGN SHOWING THE CORNER ROSETTES. AN IMPORTANT EXHIBITION PIECE.
Some students consider this to be one of the proof impressions of the die used for the Roosevelt and Panama-Pacific small die proofs. Others, including the late Clarence Brazer, consider this to be one of the die essays produced in 1851.
We have sold one in Black and one in the other listed color, Dusky Blue. However, those examples differed from the one offered here. This example shows clear die layout lines, while the others do not.
Ex Dr. Chase, Brazer, Joyce and Piller (where illustrated on the front cover of the catalogue). Scott value $10,000.00
3c Red, Type I, Plate Proof on India, Brush Stroke Obliteration (11P3). With bottom sheet margin, other sides large to full margins, rich color, Very Fine, in 1854 complete sheets of 200 3c India proofs from Plate 4 were sent by Toppan, Carpenter to Bemrose and Perkins Bacon in England for a perforating experiment, each firm received left and right panes, all of the proofs were cancelled with brush strokes to prevent use as postage
3c Black, Trial Color Proof on Wove Paper (11TC5). Clear margins to just touched, four vertical pen strokes neatly applied by printer, Very Fine and rare, we are aware of only three examples of this finished 3c design in Black, all with the vertical pen strokes (on one example the pen has been lightened), ex Finkelburg