Sale 1391 — United States Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Thursday, 13-15 October, 2026
Category — Essays and Proofs
5c and 10c Albino, Large Die Proofs on India (1TC1a var-2TC1a var). 39 x 44mm and 37 x 41mm, no trace of color whatsoever but the designs and cross-hatching are quite clear, a couple slight translucencies as normal, Very Fine and most unusual, some of the 1847 die proofs were printed thru a mat to mask the cross-hatching (it appears albino in such cases, usually faintly), while allowing the stamp design to print unencumbered, these appear to have been printed entirely thru a mat, unlisted, Scott value as normal color die proofs on India
5c Red Brown, 10c Black, Plate Proofs on India (1P3-2P3). Full and even margins, Very Fine set, from the Nathanael Greene collection
1c-90c 1857 Reprints, Plate Proofs on Card (40P4-47P4). Full to ample margins with a few sides clear, rich colors, Very Fine set
1c-90c First Designs and Colors, Plate Proofs on India (55P3/62P3). Eleven, including 1c, 5c, 10c, 12c, 24c, 30c and 90c, two each of 5c, 10c (different shades), 24c, a second 30c is the normal color and not the August color, large margins to full, few minor faults as often associated with this fragile paper, Very Fine and scarce group
ADDENDA: FIRST 30-CENT IN PDF SCAN IS THE NORMAL 1861 COLOR, NOT THE AUGUST COLOR
American Bank Note Co., (3c) Blue, Plate Essay on Wove (65-E7Ad var). Block of seven with selvage on three sides including wide top and right selvage showing edge of the plate, few faults including creases and tears, otherwise Very Fine and very rare, Scott lists this as Green on white wove and notes one is recorded (complete bottom row), that color is listed but unpriced in Scott
3c Brownish Red, Trial Color Plate Proof on Wove Paper with Sensitive Ink (65TC). Original gum, wonderful depth of color, Fine, with 2022 P.F. certificate
Certificate
2022 PF No. 589354 View Cert
1c, 2c, 3c, 12c 1868 E. Grills (86, 87, 88, 90). Each with exceptionally strong grill impression, original gum, rich color and deep shade, scissors-separated with straight edge(s)
THESE FOUR 1868 E GRILL STAMPS WERE FOUND TOGETHER AND DESCRIBED BY BRAZER AND FINKELBURG AS TRIALS FROM THE NEW E GRILL DEVICE.
Certain characteristics of these four stamps suggest that they were trial products grilled in early 1868 after the E Grill device was created. These distinguishing characteristics are 1) the uniform and very strong grill impressions; 2) the shades of the 3c and 12c; 3) scissors-separated perfs; and 4) the discovery of these four denominations together. This "set" is accompanied by Falk Finkelburg's original album page identifying these as "Trial Essayed...The Only Ones Known".
Scott value as normal stamps is $10,700.
Unknown Author, (Unstated Value) Dull Violet on White, Blue on Bluish, Die Essays (79-E12a, 79-E12b). Both 23 x 28mm, fresh and bright colors, few adherences on back, second faint toning spots at bottom left
VERY FINE EXAMPLES OF THESE RARE LIBERTY HEAD ESSAYS, WHICH MAY BE UNIQUE.
The creator of this essay, printed using lithography, is unknown. They bear some similarity to Liberty Head coins of the period engraved by James B. Longacre. These represent both of the Scott-listed colors, and as far as we know are unique. An excellent opportunity for additional research.
Ex Finkelburg and "Lake Shore".
National Bank Note Co., 3c Liberty, Die Essay on Wove Stamp Paper, Gummed (79-E30i; formerly 79-E13l). 19, each with imprint at bottom, apparently complete for all Scott-listed colors plus a few more (Scott lists 15 colors), a few minor flaws including four with nicks at bottom, Very Fine or appear so, a scarce large group of these die essays, rarely seen in this depth and an excellent opportunity to acquire the complete set
National Bank Note Co., 3c Liberty, Spencer Patent, Rainbow Plate Essay on Wove, Perf 12 (79-E30o; formerly 79-E30r). Four vertical pairs and two singles which originally formed a vertical pair, each a different color, original gum, h.r., few small faults, Very Fine apparance, a rare group of the Spencer Patent Rainbow essays—complete for all Scott-listed colors—ex Finkelburg and accompanied by his original page, Scott value as singles
1c-90c 1869 Pictorial Issue, Atlanta Trial Color Plate Proofs on Card (123TC4-132TC4). Complete set (less the one recently listed unique 90c color combination), large margins, deep rich colors
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. It is difficult to assemble the complete set of an issue as offered here.
1c-90c 1870-73 Bank Note Issues, Plate Proofs on India, Card (145P3-155P3, 156P4-166P4). India set includes additional shades of 6c, 12c and 24c, card set includes additional 7c, large margins, bright colors, No. 156P4 small thin, still fresh and Very Fine sets, the National Bank Note set is not known on card
Continental Bank Note Co., 3c Black, Columbia Portrait, Large Die Essay on India (147-E1c). On 36 x 40mm card, crisp impression, fresh and Very Fine example of this rare Columbia essay, which was produced by Continental Bank Note Company, Scott Catalogue notes the design was derived from concurrent tax paid revenues, we are aware of only one other in Black plus one each in Scarlet and Green
2c Black, Trial Color Plate Proof on India (157TC3). Mostly complete sheet of 182 on card backing, the left pane of 100 is complete including top and bottom plate no. 6, the right pane contains both top and bottom plate no. 6 blocks, while the right five vertical columns have varying degrees of subtractions, bottom sheet margin shows wear and faults including affecting the left pane's plate block, some other faults to be expected but mostly sound outside the bottom row, couple crayon notations including magenta arrow at bottom right and green X between two proofs nearby, interestingly there are no imprints in this state of the plate (we offered a plate block of a similar nature in Sale 1374), overall an extremely rare and impressive multiple
1c-90c 1890-93 Issue, Plate Proofs on Card (219P4-229P4). Including 219DP4, large margins, rich colors, Very Fine set
1c-$5.00 Columbian, Plate Proofs on Card (230P4-245P4). Large even margins, beautiful rich colors, Very Fine and choice set, wonderful quality
$5.00 Head of Freedom, Large Die Proof on India (573P1). Hybrid die proof as are all known contemporary examples, India paper cut to shape and mounted on larger piece of yellowish bond, die sunk on 97 x 111mm card with full die sinkage, beautiful deep rich colors
EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE LARGE DIE PROOF OF THE $5.00 1922 HEAD OF FREEDOM ISSUE.
We know of five or six $5.00 1922 Issue large die proofs on India.
$5.00 Head of Freedom, Large Die Proof on India (573P1). Hybrid die proof as are all known contemporary examples, India paper cut to shape and mounted on larger piece of yellowish bond, die sunk on 150 x 200mm card with full die sinkage, typed "Approved: February 7, 1923." and signed by Postmaster General Hubert Work, pencil "1198125" on back, some very faint toning and slight wrinkling of bond paper
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE LARGE DIE PROOF OF THE $5.00 1922 ISSUE, SIGNED BY POSTMASTER GENERAL HUBERT WORK.
We have offered only one other signed, which also had pencil notation "1198125" on back. However, that was a slightly different proof, so this was likely prepared at the same time. Accompanied by a letter dated March 1, signed by Harry S. New, stating that the set of die proofs prepared by his direction was presented to President Calvin Coolidge.
Ex Fekete. Scott value without postmaster general's signature.
3c Minerva, Harris Automatic Press Company Offset Essay on Hard White Wove Paper, Watermarked (TD28-TD29). Horizontal pair of first and single of second, large margins, Very Fine, scarce, Harris installed one of their presses in the BEP to demonstrate production of stamps by the offset method, the design was a variation on the 2c 1903 Issue, the presses were not adopted at that time but were used for printing some Revenue stamps, particularly Tax Paids, Scott value as singles
1c-50c Postage Due, Small Die Proofs on Wove (J1P2-J7P2, J22P2-J28P2, J31P2-J37P2). Two intact pages from a Roosevelt presentation album, first with labels for "1879" and "1891", second with label for "1894", bright colors, fresh and Very Fine, this is a complete set of all small die proofs for the Postage Due issues, approximately 85 of each were produced and very few remain on their pages
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
Essays and Proofs Balance. Small group mostly on dealer's pages, including Nos. 298P1, LO1P2 on gray card, few other better, overall Fine-Very Fine