Sale 1305 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 13-14 December, 2023
Category — Essays and Proofs: 1861-68 Issues
Unknown Author, 8c Black on Bond Paper, Eagle Essay (Brazer 57aEb). Design depicting an eagle surrounded by a field of stars, "Specimen" at top, "8" in each corner and "E Pluribus Unum" at bottom, small corner thin spots and small corner tear, Fine appearance and extremely rare, this is the only example of the Black essay we have encountered, it is reportedly one of only two known and possibly the only one in this color, we offered the other color, Orange, in our sales of the Fekete and Drews collections (Sale 1195, lot 185), with 2010 P.F. certificate calling it Brazer 56-aEb (in error)
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 1c Franklin, Schernikow Die Essays (63-E1 to 63-E9). 13 essays, showing each of the four stages of the die represented with a variety of colors, on old proof paper, colored card and bond, most full-size, very few condition issues as usual, Very Fine or appear so
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., (3c) Washington, Schernikow Die Essays (65-E1 to 65-E3). 12 different, showing each of the three different design stages in a range of sizes, colors and papers, including proof paper, colored bond and card, a small fault or two may be found but overall a fresh and Very Fine group
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 5c Jefferson, Schernikow Die Essays (67-E1 to 67-E4). 11 different, showing each of the four different design stages in a range of sizes and colors, mostly on proof paper, one on colored card, a couple typical flaws but overall a fresh and Very Fine group, perhaps the most distinctive of all the Schernikow denominations
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 12c Washington, Schernikow Die Essays (69-E1 to 69-E3, 69-E3l). 14 different, showing two different Schernikow design stages in a variety of sizes, colors and papers, plus a contemporary 1861 Essay (69-E3l, Scott value $1,000), fresh and Very Fine group, the 1861 essay is particularly scarce
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 24c Washington, Schernikow Die Essays (70-E1 to 70-E4). 12 different, showing each of the four different design stages in a range of sizes, colors and papers, including the scarcer 70-E2f, fresh and Very Fine group
Toppan, Carpenter & Co., 90c Washington, Schernikow Die Essays (72-E1 to 72-E5). 8 different, showing each of the four different design stages in a range of colors and papers, fresh and Very Fine group
Toppan, Carpenter & Co, 1861 Issue Die Essays, Cut to Shape (63-E9a/72-E5a). Nine essays representing each of the designs/colors for the 1861 Toppan, Carpenter & Co. submissions, except missing only the extremely rare 3c, including both colors of the 1c, 5c, 24c and 90c, Scott numbers include 63-E9a (Black and Blue), 67-E4b (Black and Brown), 69-E4c, 70-E4b (Black and Lilac) and 72-E5a (Black and Blue), each showing full designs all around, rich colors, a few small paper translucencies as usual for these
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE group OF THE 1861 TOPPAN, CARPENTER & COMPANY FULL DESIGN ESSAYS. VERY RARELY OFFERED WITH THIS LEVEL OF COMPLETION.
The wide availability of the 1903 reprints produced by Ernest Schernikow sometimes lures collectors into the sense that these original 1861 Toppan, Carpenter essays are common. A footnote in Scott states "examples on 1861 paper and in 1861 colors are rare." This set represents nearly the full set of designs and colors submitted for the 1861 contract. This set is missing only the 3c, which is the rarest of the group (Toppan, Carpenter did not produce a 10c or 30c design for the contract).
1c Bowlsby Patent Coupons, Plate Essays (63-E13c/63-E13g). Nine original-gum essays covering each of the listed plate essay varieties, including both Red and Blue, with imperforate on pelure and white (63-E13c, 63-E13d) imperforate grilled (63-E13e), perforated including all around and between in both colors (63-E13f), perforated all around and imperf between in both colors (63-E13g), finally perforated all around and rouletted between in both colors (63-E13h), Fine-Very Fine group
1c 1861-68 Issue, Wyckoff Patent, Trial Color Plate Proof on Surface Starched Wove Paper, Perforated (63TC6). Four bottom imprint and plate no. 27 strips of four, original gum, h.r., brilliant colors in Dark Brown, Green, Yellow Orange and Rose, a couple proofs actually have decent centering (Scott prices these with two sides cutting into the design), fresh and Fine, a most attractive group of imprint and plate no. strips, Scott value as singles ($800) does not convey the desirability of these position strips
1c 1861-68 Issue, Lowenberg, MacDonough and Wyckoff Patents, Trial Color Plate Proofs on Wove (63TC5, 63TC6). 41 proofs spread across the three patents, including two matching side imprint blocks of four, the single MacDonough Patent color is Brown (the only way that comes), the rest includes a nice range of colors, both imperforate and perforated, Fine-Very Fine group, each was an attempt to produce a stamp that could not be reused, for a more extensive discussion of these see James E. Lee's article in Chronicle 209 (pp. 40-43), Scott value approximately $1,700
1861-68 Issue Essays, Unknown Authors (73-E3 to 73-E6). Album pages with approximately 20 items including complete sheets of nine, range of essays including Nos. 73-E3 to 73-E6, plus a few others, the complete sheets of nine with some edge nicks, otherwise Very Fine
1c-90c 1861 First Designs and Colors, Plate Proofs on India (63-E11c/72-E7e). Eight plate proofs plus the No. 56 stamp, each a First Design or First Color except we lean to the 30c being No. 71P3 normal color, group includes First Design plate proofs for 1c, 3c, 3c (stamp), 5c, 10c, 12c and 90c, the 24c appears to us as a First Color but unlisted in Scott as a plate proof on India so counted as No. 70P3, brilliant colors and attractive margins, a couple small India paper flaws including 1c with tiny tear at top and No. 56 with small oxidized spot, overall an attractive and Very Fine group
1857-61 Issues, Roosevelt Small Die Proofs on Wove (40P2/71P2). Five small die proofs including four on original card backing from a Roosevelt Presentation album, 1c is from the 1857 Issue (40P2), others from 1861 including First Designs for 3c (65-E15d) and 12c (69-E6b, off card), regular 1861 designs for 10c (68P2) and 30c (71P2), Very Fine group, Scott value pricing No. 68P2 the same as No. 71P2 (for some reason the 10c is not priced)
1c Blue, Plate Proof on India (63P3). Top imprint block of eight, brilliant color, large margins all around, Extremely Fine position block, Scott value $450 as two blocks of four without premium for the imprint
1c-90c 1861 Issue, Plate Proofs on India, Card (62BP3/77P4). Strong assemblage of 28 plate proofs, nearly all are India or card proofs plus a 3c proof on stamp paper, complete set of India including 3c Lake and Scarlet, as well as 10c First Design (62BP3), complete set on card including 3c Scarlet and the better 24c Red Lilac (which came only from the 1879 printing), couple extra Black Jacks, mostly full to large margins, just a couple touched on a side, a couple small flaws may be found but overall fresh and Very Fine sets
2c Black, Die II, Large Die Proof on India (73P1a). On 37 x 48mm card, die no. 1030 at bottom, intense proof shade showing the star on cheek and dots in upper left scroll, Very Fine, the Die I large die proof is exceedingly rare with probably fewer than five known in any size, this Die II proof is also very elusive and is frequently found as a hybrid (this example is not a hybrid)
2c Black Jack, Die I, Trial Color Plate Proofs on India (73TC3). Nine in a range of colors, most with full margins and fresh, one is cut in with faults and another with waterstaining, otherwise Fine-Very Fine group
3c Scarlet, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proof on Wove (74P2a). Brilliant color, paper toning as with all Panama-Pacific proofs, small thin spot at left, Very Fine appearance, rare, with 2013 A.P.S. certificate
1867-68 Issue, Re-Use Prevention Essays (79-E8/79-E28). Wide range of essays on album pages, well over 70 including some in blocks, some more interesting include varieties of the "Music Box" grill, chemical paper, network ovpt. (79-E26d), couple John M. Sturgeon essays (79-E10), wide range of Lowenberg (79-E8) and lithographed essays from the 3c 1861 die, shield essay (79-E28c), others, some typical flaws to be found but overall an extensive and interesting collection
National Bank Note Co., 3c Liberty, Die and Plate Essays (79-E30i, 79-E30k). Ten of the 64 x 90mm die essays, four imperforate (one cut down) and six perforated, with National Bank Note Co. imprints at bottom, range of colors, also includes five single essays in the 79-E30m-q range, three imperf and two perforated, brilliant colors, a few small thins or translucencies on the larger essays, overall Very Fine or appear so
National Bank Note Co., (Unstated Value) Vignette Die Essay on White Glazed, "United States" Vignette Die Essay on White Glazed (79-E35e, 79-E36). One of the first in Blue, 41 x 43mm, thin spots as usual, appears Very Fine, four of the "United States" variety (79-E36), largest is Black, 55 x 65mm showing die sinkage, other three are cut down to approximately 29 x 34mm, in Black, Green and Blue, the latter with typical small thin spot, overall Very Fine appearing group
5c-90c Lowenberg Decalcomania Plate Essays (79-E65 thru 79-E73). Seven printed on goldbeaters or onion skin, including 5c, 12c 24c (two, in different shades), 30c and 90c (two), nice condition for this extremely fragile paper, Very Fine
12c Z. Grill, Thorp Patent Experimental Trial Color Essays on Tinted Papers (85E-E1). Eight, nice range of shades and papers identified on album page, including one with selvage showing No. 85C-E2, mixed centering, couple small flaws, overall Fine and attractive group of these distinctive Z Grill essays
1c-90c 1861-66 Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Proofs on Card (102TC4-111TC4). 50 total, complete sets for all five colors, also an additional complete set of the 12c, large to full margins throughout, bright colors, 1c Black and the extra 12c Black with toning, 90c Black small margin stain at top
VERY FINE. A RARE COMPLETE SET OF ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS FOR THE 1861-66 ISSUE DESIGNS. VERY FEW INTACT SETS ARE KNOWN.
The Atlanta trial color plate proofs on card were prepared for display at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta. Only one sheet of 50 in each color was printed. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, at the close of the exposition (along with the 1869 invert card proof sheets). Petrie claimed that he rescued the proofs just before they were to be burned. They were cut up into one set of blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four, pairs and singles. These are often offered either by denomination or in other smaller groupings. It is difficult to assemble the complete set.
1861-68 Issue, Essays and Proofs Balance. Balance of more than 25 items with many better, essays include the Toppan, Carpenter submissions cut down to stamp size (much rarer than the later Schernikow emissions, see lot 2039 for the full set), including 5c, two 12c and two 24c (67-E4b in Brown, 69-E4c and 70-E4b both in Lilac), two different 90c plate essays (72-E7f, g), proofs with a range of Roosevelt small die proofs, including four 1c, plus 5c, 10c, 12c, 15c, 24c, 30c and 90c, large die proofs including 1c, 10c, 30c and 90c, a few other plate proofs two of which are faulty, otherwise condition is nice essentially throughout, Very Fine and valuable group, Scott value in excess of $8,000