Sale 1339 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Thursday-Friday, 12-13 December, 2024
Category — Essays and Proofs
5c Blue Green, Large Die Trial Color Proof on Bond (1TC1bf). 31 x 35mm, showing cross-hatching, fresh and Very Fine
Toppan, Carpenter, Casilier & Co., 1c Black, Die Essay on India, "Six Cents" (5-E2). Cut to shape as always, detailed impression, few creases or other faults associated with this fragile paper, appears Very Fine, according to Ashbrook's One-Cent book a 6c stamp was contemplated to pay the single-letter rate for distances over 3,000 miles, it appears that the 6c was changed to 1c because of the greater need for this value (see Robert Hegland's article in 1851 Sesquicentennial book for a discussion of this essay)
24c 1857 Reprint, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (45TC4). Blocks of four in all five issued colors, large to huge margins all around, Extremely Fine, it is believed that only two or three sets of blocks of four exist, Scott value as singles
1c Bright Blue, Reprint, Imperforate (40P5; formerly 40a). Horizontal pair, original gum, large margins to just clear, rich color, Very Fine and scarce, signed on back and light backstamp
1c-90c 1861-66 Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (63P4/78P4). Eleven, large margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine set, with original envelope, Scott value with no premium for the envelope
90c Black, First Design, Hybrid Die Essay on India, Thin Line Under Bottom Center Frame (72-E7b). On 74 x 87mm card with full die sinkage, showing layout lines around the design, fresh and Extremely Fine essay of early state of Die 447 without the leaf to the left of lower left "U", ex Liberman, with 1992 P.F. certificate
15c Black, Plate Proof on India (77P3). Block of twelve with top imprint selvage, affixed to card and so free from the faults that can plague this fragile paper, Extremely Fine, Scott value as three blocks of four
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Plate Proofs on India (112P3-122P3). Complete set of horizontal pairs, including both 15c types, large margins, Very Fine-Extremely Fine, Scott value as singles
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (112P4-122P4). Large margins, rich colors, Very Fine and choice set
3c Ultramarine, Plate Proof on India (114P3). Top left corner margin block of four, on card and so free from the defects that can plague this fragile paper, Extremely Fine, with 2013 P.F. certificate
12c Dark Red Brown, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). On 46 x 50mm card, rich color, Very Fine, before the discovery of an earlier state of the small numeral die reported by James E. Lee in Chronicle 236 (newly assigned by Scott as No. 117-E1), it was believed these represented the only state of the die, as a result these completed state die essays were moved to Scott No. 117-E2
12c Dull Orange Red, Small Numeral, Completed Die, Large Die Essay on India (117-E2c, formerly 117-E1c). On 30 x 31mm card, radiant color, Very Fine
12c Green, Plate Proof on India (117P3). Bottom imprint and plate no. 17 block of twelve with part arrow at left, large margins other sides
A RARE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 12-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. NONE ARE KNOWN FOR THE ISSUED STAMP AND SO A PROOF IS THE ONLY WAY TO COLLECT THIS AS A PLATE BLOCK.
This is rare even as a proof. Scott value as plate block of ten and two singles.
15c Brown & Blue, Ty. II, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proof on Wove (119P2a). 27 x 27mm, rich colors, usual faint toning, tiny pinhole at bottom left, Very Fine appearance, issued for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition, ex Dr. Heimburger, with 2024 P.S.E. certificate
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large margins, rich colors
EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 100 OF EACH WAS PRODUCED.
The card proof sheets of 100 of the four inverted high values of the 1869 Pictorial issue were prepared for and displayed at the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. They were printed in response to the publicity surrounding the actual inverted stamps that began to appear in the 1870’s. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued the inverts along with the trial color card proof sheets (the "Atlanta" trial color proofs) just before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and in 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press, finding no takers. In 1903 he sold them to James Ludovic Lindsay, the 26th Earl of Crawford, one of the great collectors of stamps, essays, proofs and philatelic literature at the turn of the 20th Century. In November 1915 the Earl of Crawford’s collection was purchased by John A. Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets.
Three with 2004 P.S.E. certificates.
24c Green & Violet, Plate Proof on India (120P3). Block of nine, large margins all around, rich colors, Extremely Fine, Scott value as block and singles
24c Green & Reddish Lilac, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (120TC3a). Block of four, brilliant colors, large margins, Very Fine and choice, unpriced in Scott as this trial color, Scott value for block of No. 120P3 is $625
24c Green & Reddish Lilac, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (120TC3a). Bottom left imprint and plate no. 24 block of ten, huge margins other sides, fresh colors, imprint lightly printed, closed tear and wrinkles
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE BOTTOM POSITION IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF TEN OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE IN THE REDDISH LILAC TRIAL COLOR.
The bottom position shows the reddish lilac plate number and is very scarce. Unpriced in Scott.
30c Ultramarine & Carmine, Plate Proof on India (121P3). Top left corner ultramarine imprint and plate no. 21 block of ten, large margins, radiant colors, pos. 2 small patched hole is barely noticeable
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE TOP POSITION ULTRAMARINE PLATE BLOCK OF THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE. NO ISSUED STAMPS ARE KNOWN FROM THE TOP PLATE POSITION, SO THIS PROOF IS THE ONLY WAY TO COLLECT THIS AS A PLATE BLOCK.
Scott value as plate block of eight and two singles.
National Bank Note Co., 90c Red Brown & Black, Lincoln Die Essay on India (122-E4a). Vignette mounted in place as always, large margins, rich colors, Extremely Fine, an attractive essay
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (219P4-229P4). Including 219DP4, large margins, rich color, Very Fine set
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Small Die Proofs on Wove (230P2-245P2). Complete set on two intact pages from a Roosevelt presentation album, deep rich colors
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE 1893 COLUMBIAN SMALL DIE PROOFS ON WOVE PAPER.
It is believed only 85 sets were produced for the Roosevelt presentation albums. Very few intact pages survive outside a complete album (which are also very rare).
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on Card (230P4-245P4). Large margins all around, deep rich colors, Extremely Fine set
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on Card (230P4-245P4). Large margins to full, rich colors, Very Fine set
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on Card (230P4-245P4). Large margins to full, rich colors, Very Fine set
2c Carmine, 2c Bright Deep Red, Ty. I, Large Die and Trial Color Proofs on India (250P1, 250TC1 unlisted). Two items, first finished design in issued Carmine, die sunk on 119 x 155mm card, pencil notation "Worked over by G.F.C. Smillie" and signed "James Kennedy", Very Fine and desirable with the two engravers on the card, second item is a very distinct color that the exhibitor and a color expert who signed on back call Bright Deep Red and P.S.E. calls Carmine, die sunk on 153 x 202mm card, card with horizontal crease, still Very Fine, unlisted in Scott as a finished Ty. I trial color, Scott value as two 250P1 die proofs
1c-$2.00 Trans-Mississippi, Bi-Color Large Die Essays on India (285-E8a to 293-E7a). Complete set, 1c thru 10c are hybrids, 50c-$2.00 non-hybrid, die sunk on approximately 204 x 153mm cards, proofs with fresh colors, some slight card toning outside the die sinkage areas, the 4c with faint toning on part of the India paper, overall Very Fine appearance
1c-$2.00 Trans-Mississippi, Large Die Proofs on India (285P1-293P1). On approximately 203 x 152mm cards with full die sinkage, rich colors, free of the toning specks often encountered
EXTREMELY FINE. A SCARCE AND BEAUTIFUL SET OF FULL-SIZE LARGE DIE PROOFS OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI ISSUE.
We have offered surprisingly few complete full-size sets over the years, as most have been cut down. This is easily one of the freshest sets we have offered. Overall the normal color die proof set is scarcer than the bi-color die essay set.
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on India (294P1-299P1). On approximately 200 x 150mm cards with full die sinkage, deep rich colors as fresh as the day they were printed
EXTREMELY FINE. AN ABSOLUTELY PRISTINE SET OF THE PAN-AMERICAN LARGE DIE PROOFS. EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST SETS IN EXISTENCE.
This set of die proofs stands out as one of the freshest, brightest sets we have ever encountered.
1c-10c Pan-American, Large Die Proofs on India (294P1-299P1). Approximately 160 x 116mm, deep rich colors, fresh and Very Fine set
1c-10c Pan-American, Small Die Proofs on Wove (294P2-299P2). On original gray card backing from a Roosevelt presentation album, Very Fine set, only approximately 85 were produced
1c-10c Pan-American, "Specimen" Ovpt. Ty. E (294S-E to 299S-E). Complete set, original gum, a couple tiny flaws including 1c slightly blunted perfs at top but better condition than often seen, overall Fine-Very Fine
1c-10c Louisiana Purchase, Specimen Ovpt. Ty. E (323S-E to 327S-E). Original gum, h.r., each with clear overprint at right, Very Fine set, each with 1982 P.F. certificate
20c Golden Gate, Large Die Proof on India (567P1). Die sunk on 203 x 152mm card, showing full die sinkage, pencil "Sch" and "F.P. Apl. 11-1923" at lower left, small blue crayon check mark at lower right and blue control no. 1211995 on back, Extremely Fine, ex Finkelburg, Scott value for normal large die proof
3c Statue of Freedom, Large Die Proof on Wove (989P1a). Die sunk on three-hole punched 152 x 202mm card with full die sinkage, vivid Bright Blue color, back with Bureau handstamp "Engraver's Stock Proof. Authorized by." with control no., "C" security punch taped in place and "C. Brooks" in pencil (vignette engraver), Very Fine and extremely rare, believed to be the only Large Die Proof of this issue in collector hands, ex Livingston, with 2008 P.F. certificate, listed in Scott but unpriced on Wove paper, Scott value as India paper
10c 1885-1902 Special Delivery, Small Die Proofs (E1P2-E6P2). On 198 x 135mm gray page from a Roosevelt presentation album, label below the 1888 Issue is missing (strangely it is missing from several pages we have handled over the years), with trace of binding from album at right, fresh and Very Fine, only 85 sets prepared and few remain on their original pages
1c-90c Interior, Plate Proofs on India (O15P3-O24P3). Blocks of four, large margins, affixed to cards to appear as top left corner examples, Very Fine and choice
2c Dull Brown, Post Office, Die Essay on Proof Paper (O48-E1b). 28 x 33mm, detailed impression, Very Fine, ex "Lake Shore" and Fekete
2c Brown Black, Post Office, Large Die Essay on White Ivory Paper (O48-E1c). 35 x 39mm, crisp impression, Very Fine, ex Fekete
3c Black, Post Office Official, Die Essay on White Ivory Paper (O49-E4c). 64 x 66mm, fresh and Very Fine, scarce in sound condition
1c-90c State, Small Die Proofs on Wove (O57P2-O67P2). On original gray cards from Roosevelt presentation album, fresh and Very Fine, ex Fekete
2c-$60.00 1875 Newspaper Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (PR9P1-PR32P1). On approximately 144 x 230mm cards with full die sinkage, detailed impressions, fresh and Very Fine, scarce complete set, also includes PR63P1 signed by Skinner, ex Schwenk