1861 Issue - Essays and Proofs

Toppan, Carpenter & Co. designs submitted for the 1861 contract

72-E5b
90c die essay pulled on india paper and die sunk on card blotter. We know of just one other example this size. Ex-Finkelburg, Lake Shore, and Hansen. $2,500.00

First Designs or Premiere Gravures

Die and Plate Proof Sets of the 1861-67 Issue

63-78P1 Presentation large die proof set
A marvelous complete set that has been removed from a presentation album. The edges are gilded in gold on three sides. It starts with die proof of the National Bank Note Company mast head proof and then includes all 10 1861-67 issue large die proofs which were pulled on india paper and die sunk on card blotters. The 1c, 2c, 3c, 5c, 10c, and 12c have imprints and die numbers. The 15c has just the imprint. The 24c is now classified as a trial color by the Scott catalog. All are full size. Very very complete sets exist.$9,975.00

63-78P2 Roosevelt small die proofs - Second design set
Complete set of the second (issued) design set of Roosevelt small die proofs which are affixed to the original card backing. The 3c value is in the lake shade which is the color used for this set in the Roosevelt album. Great margins and color throughout. $1,800.00

63-E11c to 72-E7e Complete set of Premiere Gravure (First Design) India plate proofs
A complete set of the eight values as listed in Scott. Rich color, nice even margins, a fault free perfect set. Would take years to build this set one item at a time. Both the 24c and 30c values have PF certificates. $3,250.00

Individual india plate proofs of 63--E11c to 72-E7e are available. Just email us your want list.

63-78P3 1861-67 Issue - Complete 12 value set on india paper
This set contains the three-cent lake, Blackjack, and fifteen-cent Lincoln. Beautiful india paper plate proof set which is sound. Nice margins throughout. Few sets can match this quality. (EP50-24) $1,500.00

Individual india plate proofs of 63-78P3 are available. Just email us your want list.

63-78P3 Blocks of Four
The complete issued set on india paper which each value still attached to the original card blotter backing. This set is in absolute superb condition and comes from the famed Lilly sheets. Ex-Crawford, Ackerman & Josiah Lilly $2,750.00

63-78P4 1861-67 Issue - The complete set of 12 on card
A complete set of twelve plate proofs on card. Includes the rare 24c Red-Violet (70P4) which was only included in the first printing. Also included is the 3c Scarlet (74TC4) which was included in the third through fifth printings in place of the 3c Rose (65P4). A beautiful set with great color and margins throughout. (EP50-22) $1,200.00

Individual card plate proofs of 63-78P4 are available. Just email us your want list.

Proofs - The One-Cent Issue

63P1
1c Blue large die proof pulled on india paper and die sunk on card blotter. The blotter has been trimmed to within 1/4 inch of the sinkage. The proof shows an impression of both the die number "440" and the National Bank Note Co. imprint. $500.00

63P3
1c Blue plate proof on india paper, sound. $50.00

63P3 - Block of four
1c Blue plate proof on india paper block of four. $225.00

63P4
Plate proof on card. $40.00

Trial Color Proofs

We have one of the largest stocks of one-cent trial color proofs. If you don't see what you want just email us your want list.

One-cent Wyckoff Trial Color Plate Proofs
The Wyckoff patent was one of three patents used with the one-cent plate no. 27. The Wyckoff patent involved coating the paper with” china white” to create a barrier between the ink and the paper. This barrier caused the design to disappear if the stamp was washed to remove the cancel. This is one of the best examples of the many patents tested for the purpose of preventing reuse of postage stamps.

63TC5 & 6
A wonderful selection of these colorful blocks from our stock. The perforated varieties rarely come centered. These are as nice as these come. (EP45-04) The imperforate blocks are priced at $160.00 each and the perforated blocks are $200.00 each. Please order by type (imperf. or perf.) and color.

63TC5
1c imperforate trial color plate proofs on wove, Wyckoff patent. $40.00 ea.

63TC5 - Block of four
1c Blue trial color plate proof block of four on wove with OG, Wyckoff patent. $250.00

63TC5
1c Deep blue trial color imperforate plate proof. Wyckoff patent. $75.00

63TC5 - Block of four
1c Deep blue trial color imperforate plate proof block of four. Wyckoff patent. $300.00

63TC6
1c perforated trial color plate proofs on wove with OG, Wyckoff patent. You will only find these centered once in a blue moon. $50.00 ea..

63TC6
1c Blue perforated trial color plate proof, OG, Wyckoff patent. This proof is often confused with the issued stamp. The difference is in the surface of the paper. $125.00

63TC6 - Block of four
1c Blue perforated trial color plate proof block of four, OG, Wyckoff patent. This proof is often confused with the issued stamp. The difference is in the surface of the paper. $500.00

One-cent MacDonough Trial Color Plate Proofs

63TC5
1c Brown trial color plate proof, MacDonough patent. $35.00 ea.

63TC5
1c Brown trial color plate proof block, MacDonough patent. $150.00

One-cent Lowenberg Trial Color Plate Proofs

63TC5
Imperforate trial color plate proofs on wove, Lowenberg patent. $40.00 ea.

63TC6Perforated trial color plate proofs on wove, Lowenberg patent. $50.00 ea.

102TC Atlanta
1c Blue Atlanta trial color plate proof on card. $100.00

Essays

63-E3a1c Blue Toppan, Carpenter & Co. die essay on old proof paper. This is a progressive image of the design they submitted for their 1861 contract submission. Very scarce. $1,250.00

63-E9a
Toppan Carpenter complete design for the 1861 contract. Blue die essay on india paper cut to shape as always. PFC mentions small repair at the top. Cat. $600.00. (EP32-14) $300.00

63-E9a
Toppan Carpenter complete design for the 1861 contract. Blue die essay on india paper cut to shape as always. Sound. $600.00

63-E9a
Toppan Carpenter complete design for the 1861 contract. Black die essay on india paper cut to shape as always. Sound. Ex-Finkelburg $950.00

63-E11b First design Roosevelt small die proof
1c Indigo Roosevelt small die proof affixed to the original gray backing. Deep shade. Note that the Bureau used the 63 die to produce this proof since they did not have the die for the first design. $325.00

63-E11c
Superb indigo plate essay on india paper and still affixed to the original card. Exceptional quality. $395.00

63-E11c
Indigo plate proof on india. (880419). First india on card with PFC, $250.00, Second has a small thin at top, $150.00. Third small stain in head, (Sold) $150.00.

63-E11c - Ultramarine
First design ultramarine plate essay on india paper. $250.00 each

79-E29b, c, f, and e
Four of the seven listed 18 x 13mm points down grill essays applied to a die impression of the frame for the 1c 1861 issue. “b” is printed in Red-brown on pink paper, “c” is printed in Red on pink paper, “f” is printed in Red-brown on yellow paper, and “e” is printed in Red on transparent white paper. No more than one or two of each is known to exist. Ex-Finkelburg $2,000.00 each