15c Blue, Vignette and Ty. III Frame in Single Die, Large Die Proof on India (118TC1). Die sunk on 70 x 53mm card, showing full die sinkage (barely), India cut short and with imprint printed directly on card, signed in pencil "James Smillie Jr." (vignette engraver), his initials "JSJ" also written in pencil partly under the India paper

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE PROOF IMPRESSION IN BLUE FROM THE UNIFIED DIE FOR THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. THIS RARE PROOF IS SIGNED BY JAMES SMILLIE, ENGRAVER OF THE "LANDING OF COLUMBUS" VIGNETTE.

There are three types of the 15c 1869 Pictorial Issue stamps. Type I (Scott 118) does not have the diamond-shaped ornament at the top of the blank area where the vignette is printed, and it has shading lines in the otherwise blank area, which were entered by hand on each plate position. Type II (Scott 119) has the diamond ornament and shading lines, which were engraved on the die before the Type II frame plate was made. To make the frame plate for the 1875 Re-Issue, the original Type I die was used, but no shading lines were entered on the plate. Yet another die was used to make certain proof impressions, such as the one offered here, in which the frame and vignette were unified into a single die (Scott lists these as both essays and proofs with a 118 or 129 designation).

Ex Finkelburg. Scott Retail for unsigned trial color proof has not changed in 17 years.

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