Actually it surfaced in the 2001 Rarities of the World sale and was offered again this year where we purchased it. In 2001 the sheet was part of another consignment of material from the estate of Falk Finkelburg (As a side note there have been several dispersals of Finkelburg material via Siegel auction sales since the premier sale in September of 1999.).

This sheet can be traced to the Earl of Crawford. It went from the Earl to Congressman Ernest R. Ackerman of New Jersey. His entire collection was bequeathed to the Smithsonian at the time of his death. However, the set of Earl of Crawford card and india proof sheets wound up at Harmer, Rooke & Company in 1950. Harmer, Rooke offered them in two sales: sale no. 841 was held on March 28th 1950 and contained the card proof sheets, sale no. 621 was held on June 5th 1950 and contained the india proof sheets. Max Ohlman bought the 190P4 sheet (lot no. 44). I believe he also bought the 193P4 sheet (lot no. 42 miss described as 183TC4). At some point in time, both sheets were acquired by Falk Finkelburg.

The fact that both of these sheets were produced from American Bank Note Company plates makes then special. Examples from these plates were not part of the five card proof printings that were released between 1879 and1894. These two sheets are the sole source for proofs for Scott Catalog nos. 190P4 and 193P4.

As we did with the 30 cent 190P4 sheet were are stamping the back of each proof with J.E. Lee, 193P4 and Pos. Underneath the Pos. we will write in pencil the position number of that proof on the sheet. This will insure that you have a copy from the sheet and not a 157P4. We will also provide a photocopy of The Philatelic Foundation certificate issued for the sheet. There will be two plate blocks of 12 available at $2,995.00 each. There will be seven sheet margin blocks available at $650.00 each and 48 singles available at $150.00 each. They are now being offered on a first come, first served bases.

We are coming to Sacramento, California, for the APS StampShow and will be in corner booth no. 437 on the left side of the main aisle at the Sacramento Convention Center. Since Sacramento is a two to three day drive from Illinois, we have chosen to fly. This restricts what we are able to bring to the show. Therefore, our booth will be shared with Richard Friedberg, one of America's leading revenue dealers, from Meadville, Pennsylvania. We know you will enjoy stopping by our combined booth.

Our stock will include essays, proofs, postal history and fancy cancels. Literature will be limited to new releases from the past year.

Please stop by!