Sale 1283 — Commemoratives, Featuring Morton Trans-Mississippi, Brody Jamestown and Haber 1909 Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday, 19 April, 2023
Category — 1907 Jamestown Issue: Essays and Proofs
1c-5c Jamestown, Franklin D. Roosevelt Small Die Proofs on Wove (328P2-330P2 var). Complete set, approximately 32 x 24mm on soft wove paper, brilliant colors, small translucency at top of 2c and 5cVERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE SET OF SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE JAMESTOWN ISSUE, PRODUCED DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
According to research by essay-proof authority James E. Lee and an article by Clarence Brazer in the Essay-Proof Journal, three sets of full-size unmounted die proofs on wove paper were produced in the 1930s by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) -- covering issues from the 1898 Trans-Mississippi through the 1934 Mother's Day. One set, with proving room numbers on the face, remained full size and became part of the Hugh M. Southgate collection (thought to be part of a trade with the BEP) and then the Caroline Prentiss Cromwell collection. That set is offered in lot 1548. The other two sets were trimmed to small die proof size. One of the trimmed sets was given to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The other probably went to Alvin Hall, director of the BEP. Today we know of a fourth set of small die proofs, which Greg Manning Auctions sold on behalf of The Philatelic Foundation in 1973.
