1c Blue, Type I, Large Die Proof on India (5P1). 32 x 40mm India on card, bright color, showing clear layout lines from the die

VERY FINE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED PROOFS OF THE ONE-CENT 1851 ISSUE DIE, OF WHICH TWO ARE IN BLUE (THIS IS THE FINER). THIS DIE WITH THE CANCELLATION DOT IN OVAL WAS PROBABLY USED DURING THE PRODUCTION PHASE OF THE 1875 REPRINT AND DISTRIBUTED CIRCA 1910.

This die impression shows the so-called cancellation dot in the oval at left, which was applied to the die in 1860 and reproduced on all subjects in Plates 11 and 12. It also shows two small dots below "C" of "Cents" and a strong horizontal layout line at upper left, which are not found on Plates 1 through 12, but are found on the 1875 Reprint plate. Neinken opined that this impression and the few others like it were pulled from a die prepared for the 1875 Reprint (see Neinken, page 19).

The only other example of this die proof in Blue has a manuscript "X" across the design. There are three in Black. One was offered in our sale of the Eubanks collection (Sale 1242, lot 1). The others were offered in our Wagshal sale (Sale 994, lot 602) and in our 2015 sale of Essays and Proofs (Sale 1113, lot 2093). On one of the Black proofs there is further evidence of provenance, a pencil note on back "From J. E. Ralph. [signed] J. M. Bartels". J. E. Ralph of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is known to have distributed die proofs in 1910.

Ex Dr. Chase, Emerson, Finkelburg, Liberman, Wagshal, Merlin and Eubanks. Scott value $5,000.00

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