15c Red Brown, Ty. III Frame Only, Hybrid Die Proof on India (129-E7a). Stamp size and mounted on India paper which is die sunk on 87 x 110mm card with full die sinkage, detailed impression

VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE PROOF OF THE 15-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL FRAME WITH TYPE III CHARACTERISTICS.

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, 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 Dr. Heimburger

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