Sale 1388 — The Boardwalk Collection of Outstanding United States Stamps–Part One–19th Century Issues
Sale Date — Wednesday-Thursday, 23-24 September, 2026
Category — Essays and Proofs
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Hybrid Large Die Proof on India, Dot in "P" and Scar on Neck (9X1P1b). Mounted on India and die sunk on 147 x 216 mm card, Very Fine
New York N.Y., 5c Black, Large Die Proof on India (9X1P1). Affixed to 52 x 77mm card, without the scar on the neck and the dot in "P", albino imprint of half the medallion at bottom, small India paper tear at lower right, still Very Fine and scarce large die proof from the 1845 state of the die
5c Red Brown, 10c Black, Hybrid Large Die Proofs on India (1P1, 2P1). Mounted on India and die sunk on cards measuring 146 x 216mm, 10c with trivial light toned spot at far top right corner of card, Very Fine
10c Black, Large Die Proof on Glazed Paper (2P1i). 43 x 51mm, fresh and Very Fine, a scarce proof
5c Orange Brown, 10c Black, Reproduction, Small Die Proofs on Wove (3P2-4P2). Affixed to 66 x 132mm piece of gray card from a Roosevelt presentation album, "1847" label between, fresh and Very Fine, only 85 were produced and very few sets remain with the "1847" label, Scott value as cut-down proofs
5c Orange Brown, 10c Black, Reproduction, Small Die Proofs on Wove (3P2-4P2). Removed from Roosevelt album card but free of the thins that can result from such removal, Very Fine, accompanied by Nos. 3P4-4P4, also Very Fine
1c-90c 1851-57 Issue and Reprints, Plate Proofs on India and Card (35P3, 36BP3, 38P3, 40P3-47P3, 40P4-47P4). Includes original 10c, 12c and 30c values on India (12c affixed to card), these are scarcer than the Reprint proof emissions and catalogue $1,250 each, 10c with fault at top, otherwise Very Fine, 30c with 1976 P.F. certificate calling it a Small Die Proof 38P2, also sets of the Reprints on both India and Card, Very Fine
Certificate
1976 PF No. 54233 View Cert
1c-90c 1857 Reprints, Small Die Proofs on Wove (40P2-47P2). Each on original gray card backing from a Roosevelt album, fresh and Very Fine set, only approximately 85 were produced
90c Deep Blue, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proof on Wove (47P2a). Large margins, rich color, usual slight toning which is a characteristic of most genuine Panama-Pacific proofs, Very Fine and rare, it is believed that for most issues between three and five of each were produced, ex Southgate, Wunderlich, Rose and Dupuy, 1985 P.F. certificate no longer accompanies
Certificate
1985 PF
1c-90c 1861 First Designs and Colors, Plate Proofs on India (63-E11b/72-E7e, formerly 55P3-62BP3). Eight plate proofs representing each of the denominations that exist as a First Design or First Color (the 2c and 15c were issued later so they do not exist as First Designs), brilliant colors, 1c thinning as often seen with this fragile paper, overall Very Fine, these are much scarcer than the 1861 Regular Issue plate proofs
1c-90c 1861-66 Issue, Small Die Proofs on Wove (63P2/78P2). Complete page from a Roosevelt presentation album, with label "LAST 1861" at center surrounded by ten proofs, 2c Black Jack Die II, bright colors, the page with complete borders is fresh and without creases or bends
VERY FINE. A VERY CHOICE AND SCARCE COMPLETE PAGE OF THE 1861 ISSUE SMALL DIE PROOFS FROM A ROOSEVELT PRESENTATION ALBUM.
Only 85 albums were produced and few sets of the desirable 1861 Issue proofs are intact on their entire original page. Scott value without premium for the complete page.
1c-90c 1861-66 Issue, Small Die Proofs on Wove (63P2/78P2). Complete set which has been cut to the full size of the proofs and still affixed to card backing, brilliant colors, Very Fine, only 85 Roosevelt albums were produced
1c-90c 1861-66 Issue, Plate Proofs on India and Card (63P3/77P3, 63P4/78P4). 33 plate proofs, comprising complete sets on India and card with duplication, including all three 3c colors on India (Rose, Lake and Scarlet) with couple extras, several other values on India also with extras, card set includes the better 24c Red Lilac and 3c Scarlet, a tiny flaw or two but overall a Very Fine and attractive group
National Bank Note Co., 90c Blue, Die Essay on India (72-E6). On 56 x 63mm card, bright shade, pencil "No. 15" at lower left, Very Fine and rare, ex Finkelburg, with 2005 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2005 PF No. 0423734 View Cert
3c Lake, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (66TC3). Bottom imprint and plate no. 55 block of eight, large even margins other sides, gorgeous deep color in the Lake shade
FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE PLATE BLOCK ON INDIA of the 3-CENT 1861 LAKE trial color.
Power Search contains only two other plate blocks offered in our sales since 1993.
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (112P1-122P1, 129P1). Complete set of 11 proofs including both 15c types, showing full die sinkage and cards in the range of about 70 x 85mm or larger, hybrids for the 3c, 6c, both 15c, 24c and 90c (latter two are only known as hybrid), seven show imprints at bottom, rich colors with the 10c just a bit of oxidation, several with scattered toned specks, overall Very Fine
90c Carmine & Black, Hybrid Large Die Proof on India (122P1). On 52 x 67mm card, imprint at bottom, Very Fine, this only comes as a hybrid, ex Laehder, with 1997 P.F. certificate
Certificate
1997 PF No. 0320537 View Cert
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Plate Proofs on India and Card (112P3-122P3, 129P3, 133P3, 112P4-122P4, 129P4). Complete sets on India and card, the India with both 15c types and also 1c No. 133P3 (tiny tear), card with 15c Ty. III as always, large margins and brilliant colors, Very Fine and choice sets
National Bank Note Co., 90c Washington, Plate Essays on Stamp Paper (122-E2b, 122-E3). First essay with Washington vignette is complete for all five Scott-listed colors, large margins, rich colors, one with small scissors-cut, Very Fine, ex Laehder, with 1997 P.F. certificates, second essay without portrait in three different colors, Very Fine
Certificate
1997 PF
90c Carmine & Black, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proof on Wove (122P2a). Strong vignette, Carmine frame is lightly printed and also slightly faded, small thin spot at top, Very Fine and rare, only approximately 3-5 are believed to have been produced, ex Ainsworth
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Plate Proofs on Card (123TC4-132TC4). Complete set (less the one unique 90c color combination), mounted on homemade quadrille pages, large margins to ample, deep rich colors, 6c Scarlet with small oily spot
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE COMPLETE SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PLATE PROOFS.
The Atlanta trial color plate proofs on card were prepared for display at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition in Atlanta. Only one sheet 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.
1c-90c National, Continental and American Bank Note Cos., Plate Proofs on India and Card (145P3/229P4). Assemblage of nearly 60 plate proofs on India and card for the Large and Small Bank Notes, including Nos. 145P3-155P3, 156P3-166P3, range of the later American Bank Note Co. emissions (does not include the rare No. 212P4), and Nos. 219P3-229P3 and 219P4-229P4, bright colors with a couple of the 15c showing oxidation, overall Very Fine
1c-90c 1873 Continental Bank Note Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (156P1-166P1). Full set of all values, die sunk on approximately 70 x 82mm cards, the sizes allow these to be easily mounted on album pages while retaining the full die sinkage for each, 15c slight oxidation, overall fresh and Very Fine
1c-90c Bank Note Issues, Small Die Proofs on Wove (157P2/218P2). 26 proofs off card from the Roosevelt presentation albums, each of the Large Bank Note issues included as appeared in the albums except for No. 145P2, a few of the Orange or Yellow show some slight oxidation, also a few minor translucencies with just one 10c showing a more significant corner thin, overall Very Fine or appear so, Scott value exceeds $4,500
12c Blackish Violet, Plate Proof on India (162P3). Bottom imprint, plate no. 137 and half arrow block of 14, intense color, large margins other sides, Extremely Fine
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (219P1-229P1). Complete set of 11 denominations, the 2c in Carmine, each die sunk on approximately 110 x 128mm cards with imprints at bottom, bright colors with just the 90c showing a hint of oxidation, overall Very Fine and scarce set fully die sunk
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (219P1-220P1, 222P1-229P1). Ten denominations, missing only the 3c, the 2c in Carmine, each die sunk on approximately 76 x 78mm cards with imprints at bottom, bright colors with just the 90c showing some slight oxidation, 8c India paper is mounted on its card using photo corners, overall Very Fine
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, Small Die Proofs on Wove (219P2, 220P2-229P2). Complete set of 11, removed from original gray card backing from Roosevelt album, Very Fine, only approximately 85 sets were produced
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proofs on Wove (219P2a-229P2a). Complete set of eleven, bright colors, usual overall toning as with nearly all genuine Panama-Pacific proofs, 3c small margin thin, 90c tiny corner nick far from design
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SET OF PANAMA-PACIFIC SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1890-93 SMALL BANK NOTE ISSUE.
From February 20 to December 4, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition was held in San Francisco, to commemorate Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean and to celebrate the opening of mankind's greatest engineering achievement, the Panama Canal. The Post Office Department decided to prepare a limited number of proof sets showing every United States stamp printed up to the time of the Exposition. A total of 413 different designs were made. Only two sets were officially prepared, but it is widely recognized that between 3 and 5 of most issues each were made. These included Officials, Newspapers and Periodicals, Philippines and other special use stamps.
This is only the third set of the 1890-93 Small Bank Notes to appear in our auctions since 1993 and our Rarities sales since 1964.
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on India and Card (230P3-245P3, 230P4-245P4). Complete sets on both India and card, brilliant colors throughout, large and even margins with only the $3.00 India close on one side, fresh and Very Fine sets, the India set is more elusive than the card set
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on India and Card (230P3-245P3, 230P4-245P4). Complete sets on both India and card, brilliant colors throughout, large and even margins nearly throughout, just a couple sides on India are full or ample, fresh and Very Fine sets, the India set is more elusive than the card set
1c-$5.00 1894 Bureau Issue, Large Die Proofs on India (247P1-250P1, 253AP1, 254P1-263P1). Set of 14 large die proofs, includes the 2c Carmine and the rare 2c Pink No. 248P1, 13 are die sunk, or in the case of the 50c-$5.00 affixed on approximately 75 x 80mm cards, the 2c Pink shows nearly full India paper and is off card (slight translucency at top from prior mounting), brilliant colors throughout with the 50c some slight oxidation, Very Fine, the 2c in sets like this is nearly always occupied by the Carmine shade alone, the Pink is rare and we have offered only a few others since 1993, Scott value counting both 2c as Carmine (Pink is unpriced)
1c-$5.00 1894-98 Bureau Issues, Small Die Proofs on Wove (247P2-263P2, 279P2-284P2). Complete set of 17 proofs, comprising the 1894 set as well as the four Change of Colors proofs as appeared on the Roosevelt album page, removed from card backing without causing faults, rich colors, Very Fine, only 85 were produced
1c-$5.00 1894-98 Issues, Panama-Pacific Small Die Proofs on Wove (247P2a, 253P2a-263P2a, 279BdP2a-284P2a). 21 proofs representing the complete set of the 1894-98 First Bureau Issue, including 13 proofs of the 1894 Issue with an extra 8c in a completely different shade (the 2c 1894 does not exist as a Panama-Pacific proof), also eight 1898 Change of Colors proofs including the 2c in both shades (Orange Red No. 279BdP2a and Carmine No. 279BfP2a), bright colors, slight toning as normally seen on genuine Panama-Pacific proofs, 50c slightly oxidized
VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE COMPLETE SET OF PANAMA-PACIFIC SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1894-98 BUREAU ISSUES, INCLUDING AN EXTRA 8-CENT 1894 IN A DIFFERENT SHADE AND BOTH 2-CENT 1898 SHADES.
From February 20 to December 4, 1915, the Panama-Pacific Exposition was held in San Francisco, to commemorate Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean and to celebrate the opening of one of mankind's greatest engineering achievements, the Panama Canal. The Post Office Department decided to prepare a limited number of proof sets showing every United States stamp printed up to the time of the exposition. A total of 413 different designs were made. Only two sets were officially prepared, but it is widely recognized that between three and five of each were made for most issues. These included Officials, Newspapers and Periodicals, Philippines and other special use stamps.
We have offered only a couple separate sets of the 1894 and 1898 Change of Colors Issues, but this is the first complete set of the full 1894-98 First Bureau Issue we have offered, and it is particularly desirable with the extra 8c in a different shade, which we have not encountered before, and both 2c 1898 shades.