1c-10c Pan-American, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proofs on Wove (294P2a-299P2a). Large margins, rich colors, virtually free from the toning that is endemic to this issue, each with tiny hinge thin or translucency at top not mentioned on accompanying certificates

VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE COMPLETE SET OF PANAMA-PACIFIC SMALL DIE PROOFS FOR THE PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION SERIES. A RARITY OF THE HIGHEST ORDER.

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.

The Pan-American issue was the first new stamps of the 20th century. The slogan of the fair was "commercial well being and good understanding among the American Republics", a theme not very different from that of the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915, for which these proofs were produced.

Ex Wunderlich. This set was offered in our 2001 Rarities sale. The last set we offered before that was in our 1983 Rarities sale. Each with clear 1985 P.F. certificate

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