Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Confederate General Issue Essays and Proofs, Stamps and Sheets
1861, 10c Blue, Hoyer & Ludwig Lithographed Essay (C.S.A. E11). Enormous margins, pretty pastel color, faint horizontal bend does not even qualify as a crease, Extremely Fine appearing example of this desirable essay, with clear 1980 P.F. certificate
1861, 10c Blue, Hoyer & Ludwig Lithographed Essay (C.S.A. E11). Pair with enormous margins including upper right sheet margin, faint pressed creases, couple tiny staining specks, Extremely Fine appearing pair of this desirable essay, Scott value $900
1861, 2c Corn, 5c Wheat and 10c Cotton, Black Lithographed Essays, A. Hoen & Co., Baltimore Md. (C.S.A. E8, E9, E10). Each has margins all around, intense shades, some thinning which is more apparent on the 10c, but not affecting the appearance of any
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE HOEN & CO. LITHOGRAPHED ESSAYS.
An article by the late Calvet M. Hahn in the Confederate Philatelist (March-April 2000) discusses these essays, which were printed by the Baltimore firm A. Hoen & Co. Postmaster General John H. Reagan considered the Hoen proposal very promising, but acceptance of it would depend on Maryland joining the Confederacy, which of course never happened. Only a small handful of sets are recorded.
10c Blue, Hoyer & Ludwig, Plate Proof on Wove (2P5). Ample to large margins, deep rich color and exceptionally detailed impression, corner crease at top left, Very Fine example of this rare proof, these originate from a book kept by George Offutt, Chief of the Post Office Department's Contract Bureau, with 1973 C.S.A. certificate
5c Light Blue, De La Rue, Die Proof on Glazed Card (6P1). 93 x 61mm, faint toning at edges and at two corners from mounting, appears Very Fine, C.S.A. Catalogue value $2,500
5c Blue, De La Rue, Die Proof on Glazed Card (6P1d). 93 x 61mm, in a noticeably darker shade than the example offered in the previous lot, faint toning at edges as often found. Very Fine, C.S.A. Catalogue value $2,500, Scott value as Light Blue $600
2c Black, With Framelines, Trial Color Die Proof on Wove (8TC1e). Large margins all around showing most of outer framelines on all sides, intense shade and impression, two thin spots and light vertical crease
VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT JACKSON TRIAL COLOR PROOF IN BLACK.
All of the known examples of the 2c Engraved essay/proof have framelines, unlike the issued stamp. For this reason we believe they should be classified as essays. The Scott listings for this and the even rarer example in Blue were clarified in the 2014 Specialized Catalogue. However, they are still listed as trial color proofs, and we have maintained that tradition here to avoid confusion.
Ex Felton and Freeman. C.S.A. Catalogue value $4,000 for an example cut close showing no framelines.
1c Light Yellow Brown, Trial Color Plate Proof on Wove (14TC5). Full margins to clear at top right, bright color, Very Fine, initialed by Raymond Weill and with copy of 1976 P.F. certificate for two panes of 100
10c Dark Blue, Hoyer & Ludwig (2b). Positions 14-15/24-25 noted on back, block of four, original gum, h.r., large to huge margins all around, lovely bright color, couple narrow thins, light gum bends visible on front in cross-lighting, top pair each with tiny toned spot, Extremely Fine appearance, a scarce and desirable large-margined original-gum block of the 10c Hoyer & Ludwig Issue, ex Hastings
10c Indigo, Paterson (2c). Exceptional intense shade and clear impression, large margins to full at top and bottom, bold Livingston Ala. circular datestamp, slight offset on back not mentioned on accompanying certificate, we noted a slight thin spot in our 2001 sale of the Hall collection but it is barely if at all detectible and also is not mentioned on the P.F. certificate
VERY FINE AND CHOICE. THE TRUE INDIGO IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF ALL CONFEDERATE COLOR VARIETIES. THIS IS EASILY ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES EXTANT.
Ex Knapp (acquired from the Herman collection in 1919) and Hall. With 2002 P.F. certificate.
2c Green (3). Position 31R, Left Top Knot variety, original gum, huge margins to full at lower right, bright color, narrow thin spot at top, appears Extremely Fine appearing example of this major plate variety, Scott value as normal
Confederate States Stamp Balance. Balance of mostly used stamps with both Postmasters' Provisionals and General Issues, some good Scott numbers including Provisionals with Memphis 56X2, Mobile 58X1-58X2, Nashville 61X5, three different New Orleans including 62X1, 62X2 and 62X4, General Issues with No. 2 Stone Y, No. 5, unused block of No. 8, No. 14, some faults to be expected on several including the better stamps, overall Fine-Very Fine or appear so
5c Blue, Local (7). Pane of 100 with sheet margin all around, dry gum applied by brush as always, stamps Mint N.H., few light wrinkles and few stamps toned from gum, some faults in the wide left sheet margin, including a tear, otherwise Very Fine
2c Brown Red (8). Complete uncut sheet of 200 comprising two panes of 100, sheet margin all around, unused (no gum), folded vertically in gutter and also in right pane between 6th and 7th vertical rows, faint toning specks in margins, three stamps with small stains
VERY FINE. A RARE COMPLETE SHEET OF THE TWO-CENT BROWN RED ANDREW JACKSON STAMP.
As the C.S.A. Catalog notes, there are several varieties on the plate. This complete sheet, containing both panes of 100, is an excellent opportunity for further study.
Scott value more than $20,000 as original gum.
10c Greenish Blue, Die A (11c). Complete uncut sheet of 200 comprising two panes of 100, "No. 1 Archer, Bank Note Engravers, Richmond, Va." imprints at bottom, original gum, many stamps Mint N.H., bright color, a dozen or so h.r., few faults including small edge tears and creases, folded in half for storage and at one time folded into quarters, Very Fine appearance and more than acceptable condition for a full sheet of 200
10c Blue, Dies A, B (11-12). Two multiples, first Die A pane of 100, "No. 2" and Keatinge & Ball imprint at bottom left, Mint N.H., small toned spots, Very Fine appearance, second item is Die B bottom imprint and plate no. strip of six, also Keatinge & Ball, Plate 3, typical gum creases, Very Fine
10c Blue, Die B (12). Complete sheet of 200, each pane of 100 with "No. 3" and "Keatinge & Ball Bank Note Engravers, Columbia S.C." imprint at bottom, original gum, most are Mint N.H., some creases and folded in center for storage, some h.r. reinforcing minor splits along fold, overall Very Fine and scarce complete sheet of 200
10c Blue, Die B (12). Pane of 100 with "No. 3" and "Keatinge & Ball Bank Note Engravers, Columbia S.C." imprint at bottom, typical dark gum, h.r. in corners, single light horizontal crease, Very Fine, a particularly nice example of this scarce pane, ex Felton