15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). The complete set of imprint and plate number blocks of eight, the plate numbers and imprints from both colors overlap inverted in relation to each other (as one would expect), bright colors, large margins, each with small thin spot in outer edge of sheet margin from mounting, 15c faint diagonal bend

EXTREMELY FINE. THE CELEBRATED SET OF IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCKS OF EIGHT OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE PLATE PROOFS ON CARD. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RARITIES OF CLASSIC UNITED STATES AND OF THE 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE.

All examples of the 1869 Pictorial Invert proofs come from the sheets in the Earl of Crawford collection. The title Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient titles, created in 1398. A fascinating biography of James Ludovic Lindsay (1847-1914), the 26th Earl of Crawford, written by David Beech, was recently published as a supplement to The London Philatelist. Mr. Beech notes that "later generations have described him as the father of 'scientific philately'...he was to draw much from his other interests including astronomy and photography, applying the principles of categorization and context. Such was Lord Crawford's reputation as a man of science that his interest in philately did much to improve the perception of the subject in the minds of the public."

Lord Crawford also served as president of The Royal Philatelic Society London from 1910 to 1913, taking over the position from King George V. He amassed the largest philatelic library in the world; it was donated to the British Library and a decades-long effort to publish a digital inventory of the holding is about to be unveiled by The Royal Philatelic Society London at the World Stamp Show--NY 2016.

According to a November 9, 1915 New York Times article, Lord Crawford purchased two important proof holdings. One, comprising 54,000 items, was purchased from Henry G. Mandel, an old employee of the American Bank Note Company, who had saved many of the original proofs, samples and rejected designs. The other was a collection of sheets and proofs owned by J. A. Petrie of New Jersey.

When Lord Crawford passed away in 1913, his extensive U.S. collection was sold intact to Nassau Street stamp dealer, John A. Klemann. The invert proof sheets were subsequently broken into singles, two sets of blocks of four and two sets of plate blocks of eight (from the left and right sides of the pane). The other set of plate blocks was offered in the March 28, 1950, auction of the Ackerman collection as individual lots, and the set was broken. The 90c from the other set was offered in the 2009 Spink-Shreves sale of the Ainsworth collection, where it realized $75,000 hammer. The other three denominations have been off the market since 1950.

The only intact set of plate blocks, offered here, was offered in a May 16, 1962, H. R. Harmer auction on behalf of a New England collector. It was purchased by a collector who kept the set until offering it in the Siegel 1972 Rarities sale. In 1981 this set was offered for sale by private treaty in a four-page color brochure produced by Quality Investors. It was then offered in the "Lafayette" collection, where it was purchased by a dealer and placed privately. Its next appearance at auction was in the 2009 Spink-Shreves auction of the Robert H. Cunliffe collection, where it was acquired by a collector, who is the current owner and consignor.

Ex Earl of Crawford, a New England collector, "Lafayette" and Cunliffe. A rare opportunity to acquire one of the greatest sets of 1869 Pictorial Issue items in existence.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables