1c-90c 1887-88 Bank Note Issue, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proofs (212P2a-218P2a). Complete set of seven proofs, deep rich colors, far less of the faint toning normally encountered with these proofs, 30c tiny thin spot

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE SET OF PANAMA-PACIFIC SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1887-88 AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY ISSUE. PERHAPS 3-5 ARE KNOWN, AND THIS IS THE ONLY INTACT SET WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED.

From February 20 to December 4, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition was held in San Francisco, to commemorate Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean and to celebrate the opening of mankind's greatest engineering achievement, the Panama Canal.

The Post Office Department decided to prepare a limited number of proof sets showing every United States stamp printed up to the time of the Exposition. A total of 413 different designs were made. Only two sets were officially prepared, but it is widely recognized that between 3 and 5 of each were made. These included Officials, Newspapers and Periodicals, Philippines and other special use stamps.

These proofs are rarely offered as a complete set. 30c and 90c accompanied by 1990 P.F. certificates (not mentioning the tiny thin on the 30c)

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