Essays

George T. Jones Essays

112-E1b
George T. Jones Grant essay (no value) on India paper in black with light violet overprint. The overprint is missing from the top two-thirds of the essay. Full margins to just touching, rich color, and light creases. Essay depicts Ulysses S. Grant, who was a living presidential candidate at the time of the bidding process for the 1869 contract. Ex-Heimburger $3,250.00

 
One-cent

112-E1b
1c Franklin plate essay on stamp paper, OG, imperforate and not grilled, in buff or orange-brown. Please specify color. $100.00 each

112-E2 
1c Black die impression of the vignette, cut to shape, and mounted on (35x40mm) card. scarce essay with PF certificate. SCV: $300.00 Net: $675.00

112-E4c
1c Franklin plate essay on stamp paper, OG, perforated and not grilled, in buff. $100.00 each

112-E4c
1c Franklin plate essay on stamp paper, OG, perforated and not grilled, block of four in buff. Ex-Young $400.00 each, block of eight $800.000

112-E4d
1c Franklin plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated and grilled 9x9 mm. Please order by position. $110.00 each

Two-cent

113-E3e
2c Post rider plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, fine-very fine. Please order by position. $45.00 each

113-E3e
2c Post rider plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, very-fine. This is as good as the centering gets. Please order by position. $80.00 each

113-E3e
2c Post rider plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, blocks of four. Rose, violet, and orange. Very well centered for these! Please order by color. $325.00 each

Three-cent

114-E6b
3c Locomotive plate essay on stamp paper, OG, imperforate and not grilled. Pale rose, dark red-brown, and red-brown. Please order by color. $85.00 each

114-E6b
3c Locomotive plate essay on stamp paper, OG, imperforate and not grilled. Pale rose block of four. Please order by position. $350.00 each Sheet margin single with pencil notation as to color, creased, OG. $50.00 All Ex-Young

114-E6c
3c Locomotive, plate essay on stamp paper, OG, perforated and not grilled, in ultramarine. Very scarce. $500.00 each

114-E6d
c Locomotive plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, fine-very fine. Please order by position. $45.00 each

114-E6e
3c Locomotive plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, very-fine. This is as good as thecentering gets. Please order by position. $80.00 each

114-E6e
3c Locomotive plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, position blocks of four (Violet, blue, orange, and rose).. Please order by color. $300.00 each

114-E6e
3c Locomotive plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, block of six (black-brown) $300.00, and blocks of four(Black-brown, red-brown, blue, green). Please order by position. $300.00 each Blocks of four of orange and yellow, $400.00 each.

114-E7a + 114-E7b 
3c Ultramarine allover grill essay with squares points up, imperforate block of four with bottom right essay with portion of National Bank Note Company datestamp.PF certificate states: “tropicalized OG.” SCV: $3,200.00. Net: $2,500.00

Five-cent

115-E1b
5c Washington die essay pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotter. Strong impression, beautiful vivid examples. Orange and carmine. $750.00 each

115-E1b   
5c Dusky blue pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotter, VF. SCV: $600.00. Net: $500.00

115-E1i 
5c Washington, Black die essay pulled on green veined marbled white card. this is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring & Lopez $3,000.00

115-E1i 
5c Washington, Green die essay pulled on purple veined marbled white card. this is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring & Lopez $3,000.00

115-E1i
5c Washington, Black die essay pulled on green veined marbled white card. This is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring & Lopez $3,000.00

115-E2c
5c Washington plate essays on wove paper, OG, imperforate. Please order by color. $80.00 each

115-E2c
5c Washington plate essays on wove paper, OG, imperforate, blocks of four. $300.00 each

115-Ed
5c Washington plate essays on wove paper, OG, perforated 12. $200.00 each

115-Ed
5c Washington plate essays on wove paper, OG, perforated 12, blocks of four in orange. Note the missing perforations in the left margins. Blocks $800.00 each, pair $400.00

 
Ten-cent

116-E1j
10c Lincoln, Orange-red die essay on green veined marbled white ivory card. This is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring &Lopez $3,000.00 

116-E1j
10c Lincoln, Black die essay on green veined marbled white ivory card. This is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring $3,000.00

 116-E2a
10c Signing the Declaration, Black die essay pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotter. There is a tinge of blue in the black ink. Very rare! Ex-Finkelburg $4,250.00

116-E2a 
10c Signing the Declaration, Orange yellow die essay pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotter. Very rare! Ex-Finkelburg $4,250.00

116-E1c
10c Lincoln, Brown-red die essay with National imprint pulled on India paper and die sunk on 68x75mm card blotter. Ex-Heimburger $1,000.00

116-E1c
10c Lincoln, Black die essay with National imprint pulled on India paper and has been removed from the card blotter. $750.00

116-E1j
10c Lincoln, Brown die essay on red-violet veined marbled white ivory card. This is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring & Lopez $3,000.00

116-E1k
10c Lincoln, Ultramarine plate essay on stamp paper, OG, imperforate. $125.00 each

116-E1k
10c Lincoln, Ultramarine plate essay on stamp paper, OG, imperforate left sheet margin block of four $500.00

116-E1k
10c Lincoln, Blue plate essay on stamp paper, OG, imperforate, block of four. $600.00

 
Twelve-cent

117-E2c
12c S.S. Adriatic, Green and Brown-rose (SOLD!) die essays of the complete design pulled on India paper, about die block size, sound. SCV: $1,350.00 each Net $675.00 each

117-E1e
12c S.S. Adriatic, plate essays on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, pairs. This value rarely comes centered. SCV: $250.00 Net $200.00 each

 
The Robert Young Collection of 1869 Plate Essay Imprint Blocks
We are pleased to offer a portion of the Robert Young Collection of 1869 Plate Essay Imprint Blocks. Bob spent over 30 years pursuing these blocks. Over the years he was able to create a census of the number of blocks that still exist. Based on his research Bob was able to deduce the number of sheets of each color that were produced. It is hoped that this information will soon be made available to collectors.

113-E3e
2c Post rider plate essay on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, bottom sheet margin imprint block of four with pencil notation in the selvage (“4”). Rare Ex-Young $750.00

114-E6d
3c Locomotive plate essay on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, top and bottom sheet margin imprint block of four in orange. Rare $750.00 each.  Bottom sheet margin imprint block of eight in black-brown. Rare $1,000.00 Bottom sheet margin imprint block of four in rose. Rare All Ex-Young $750.00

114-E6d
3c Locomotive plate essay on stamp paper, OG, perforated, and grilled 9x9 mm, top sheet margin imprint pair in orange. Rare $400.00 Top sheet margin imprint block of four in orange. Rare $750.00 Partial imprint block of four in green. $300.00 Top sheet margin imprint block of four in green with imprint separated $350.00. Rare all Ex-Young

Fifteen Cent

Twenty-four-cent

120-E2c
24c Declaration of Independence, Black plate essay of red-salmon tinted paper. $200.00

120-E2e
24c Declaration of Independence, Black plate essay of dull yellowish tinted paper. $200.00

 
Thirty-cent

121-E1m
30c Burgoyne, Orange die essay pulled on pale olive-buff paper. Typical size for this. SCV: $600.00 Net $400.00

 121-E1o
30c Burgoyne, Bright rose die essay (color unlisted) on very light red-violet veined marbled white ivory card. This is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring $3,000.00

121-E1o
30c Surrender of Gen, Burgoyne, Black die essay on red-violet veined marbled white ivory card. This is the first time since about 1977 that this has been publicly offered. The catalog is decades behind. Ex-Juhring & Lopez $3,000.00

121-E1p
30c Surrender of Gen, Burgoyne, Black plate essays on thin surface tinted paper. Please order by paper color. $175.00 each0

121-E1q
30c Surrender of Gen, Burgoyne, Black plate essay on India paper, sound. $300.00

121-E1q
30c Surrender of Gen, Burgoyne, Black plate essay on India paper, bottom sheet margin block of four, sound. Ex-Earl of Crawford $1,000.00

121-E1s
30c Surrender of Gen, Burgoyne, Dull red-violet plate essay on bond paper, with red ruled bands overprinted at the top and bottom. $300.00 each

121-E1s
30c Surrender of Gen, Burgoyne, Dull red-violet plate essay on bond paper, with red ruled bands overprinted at the top and bottom, block of four. $1,200.00

Ninety-cent

Ninety-cent Essays

122-E2a
90c Washington, Blue-green small numeral die essay pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotter. Rare! $2,500.00

122-E5a
90c Washington, Carmine, with frame design of the issued stamp, full size die essay pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotter. National Bank Note Company imprint at the bottom. Probably the only remaining full size example. Ex-Heimburger $5,000.00

122-E5a
90c Washington, Black, with frame design of the issued stamp, die essay pulled on India paper and still affixed to the card blotter. Ex-Finkelburg where it sold for $4,750.00 plus the tip. $5,000.00

122-E3
90c Dark blue frame plate essay pulled on India paper. Ex-Finkelburg and mounted on a portion of his exhibit page. $250.00

122-2b
90c Washington composite essays with black vignettes on stamp paper, imperforate. Please order by color. $275.00 each

Safety Paper Essays
Die essays on thin wove, under printed with various engraved safety paper designs in another color, probably with fugitive ink.

115-E9a
5c Washington, Carmine over black under-printing, type 17 design, sound. Ex-Juhring $3,250.00

115-E11b
10c Lincoln, Blue on brown safety paper with vertical orientation of the under-printing. Type 13 under-printing design. One of the finest safety paper examples. $5.500.00

115-E13a & b
5c Washington, Carmine over orange-brown under-printing, type 15 design. $3,250.00

115-E5a
5c Washington, Carmine Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper.
Type 1 Underprint, 33x31 mm, trivial corner crease at the bottom right. Very fine, only four different essays are recorded with this underprint. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,250.00

115-E5a
5c Washington, Orange Die essay on Brown Safety Paper
Type 3 Underprint, 32x30 mm, glowing die color, couple of minor thin spots. Very fine appearance. The underprints in brown are more scarce than the scarlet. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,250.00

115-E5a
5c Washington, carmine Die essay on Brown Safety Paper
Type 3 Underprint, 31x30 mm, gorgeous depth of color for both the die essay and the underprint, trivial thin spot at the top left.. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,250.00

115-E5a
5c Washington, Carmine Die essay on Orange-red Safety Paper
Type 3 Underprint, 31x31 mm, fresh and bright colors. Small thin spot, Very fine and rare. Ex-Finkelburg and Heimburger $3,250.00

115-E5c
30c Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, Carmine Die essay on Orange-red Safety Paper
Type 3 Underprint, 32x32 mm, underprint with horizontal orientation, lovely color, light hinge stain and thins, appears Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Brazer $3,500.00

115-E6a
5c Washington, Orange Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 4 Underprint, 28x28 mm, vivid color, tiny thin, Very fine, this is the only 5c die color known with this type of underprint. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Juhring $3,250.00

115-E7a
5c Washington, Orange Die essay on Black Safety Paper
Type 5 Underprint, 30x26 mm, underprint design ends at top of the die impression creating an interesting visual effect, typical hinge thin near top, appears Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Juhring $3,250.00

115-E5c
30c Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, Carmine Die essay on scarlet Safety Paper
Type 5 Underprint, 36x32 mm, vivid complimentary colors, slight translucency at the top does not even qualify as a thin, Very fine Ex-Earl of Crawford and Juhring $3,500.00

115-E8c
30c Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, Orange Die essay on Black Safety Paper
Type 6 Underprint, 45x38 mm, shows the full top and right trailing edge of the underprint pattern, thin spot, Very fine appearance. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,500.00

115-E12c
30c Surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, Black Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 14 Underprint, 42x40 mm, fresh and bright color, small thin spot. Very fine appearance and very rare. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Heimburger $3,500.00

115-E14a
5c Washington, Orange Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 16 Underprint, 32x31 mm, bright colors, thin spots at the top corners from mount removal, Very fine appearance, a beautiful design, the only 5c essay with this underprint. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,250.00

115-E16a
5c Washington, Black Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 18 Underprint, 32x28 mm, small thin spot at top, Very fine appearance and very rare. Ex-Finkelburg and Heimburger $3,250.00

115-E19a
5c Washington, Orange Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 24 Underprint, 30x31 mm, bright colors, faint narrow thin at top and corner stain , otherwise Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,250.00

115-E19b
10c Lincoln, Carmine Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 24 Underprint, 27x30 mm, rich color, small thin spot at top, Very fine appearance. Ex-Earl of Crawford, Finkelburg, Geisler and “Lake Shore” $5,500.00

115-E19b
10c Lincoln, Brown Die essay on Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 24 Underprint, 32x41 mm, showing edge of the underprint design at top, beautiful rich colors, small thin, minor wrinkling at top, Very fine appearance. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Brazer $5,500.00

129-E5
15c Landing of Columbus, Dark Blue Die Essay on Light Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 11 Underprint, 31x30 mm, horizontal underprint, wonderful depth of color, small translucent spot, Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford $3,500.00

129-E6
15c Landing of Columbus, Dark Blue Die Essay on Deep Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 12 Underprint, 30x30 mm, spectacular colors, fresh, and Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Finkelburg $3,500.00

129-E9
15c Landing of Columbus, Dark Blue Die Essay on Deep Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 10 Underprint, 28x28 mm, horizontal underprint, deep rich colors, and tiny translucency at top. Appears Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford and Kuphal $3,500.00

129-E9
15c Landing of Columbus, Blue-green Die Essay on Light Scarlet Safety Paper
Type 10 Underprint, 30x29 mm, vertical underprint, rich colors, minor translucency appears Very fine. Ex-Earl of Crawford $3,500.00

Proofs

Die Proofs

Roosevelt Small Die Proofs

1869 Plate Proof Sets

112P3-129P3 – Complete set of blocks of four
1c-90c, Includes both types of the fifteen cent, plate proofs on India paper, blocks of four. This is a premium set free of any of the typical India paper faults. $5000.00

112P3-129P3 – Complete set of India paper plate proof singles
1c-90c, Includes both types of the fifteen cent, plate proofs on India paper, XF set and sound. $1,850.00

112P4-129P4 – Complete set of card proof singles
1c-90c, Complete set of card proofs, great color throughout, especially the 3c and 6c which are usually washed out. Good solid margins throughout as well. A premium set. $1,000.00

1869 Inverted Card Proofs

History of the 1869 Inverted card proofs
The sheets of 100, of the inverted four high values of the 1869 issue were prepared for and displayed at the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie, MD, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued the inverts along with the trial color card proof sheets (A.k.a. The Atlanta trial color card proofs) just before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and found no takers. In 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press and again no takers. In 1903 he headed to England where he found a willing buyer in the Earl of Crawford. In November of 1915 the Earl’s collection was purchased by John Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York City. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets. As the story goes, the sheets were cut into top and bottom plate blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four (I believe that it may have been three sets of blocks, but two sets do still exist) a few pairs, some singles and retained a block of 30 for future division. There is no record as to when the blocks of 30 were cut up. However we do know that one of the twenty-four cent plate blocks of eight was cut in half leaving only one true set.

120P4a, 121P4a-122P4a & 129P4a- Top sheet margin copies
Set of four, 1869 inverted center plate proofs on card, each with a top sheet margin. Fresh bright colors, strong proof impressions and nice balanced margins. A very scarce position set.. $15,000.00

Plate Proof on Bond Paper

India Plate Proofs – Blocks & Singles

112P3 – Blocks
1c Franklin, Buff block of four on India paper, XF and sound. $250.00

113P3 – Block
2c Post Ride, Brown block of four on India paper, F-VF and sound. SCV: $175.00 Net $100.00

117P3 – Blocks
12c S.S. Adriatic, Green blocks of four on India paper, XF and sound. Two different shade available. $190.00 each

119P3 – Blocks
15c Landing of Columbus, Blue & brown, Type ll, blocks of four on India paper, XF and sound. $600.00 each

129P3 – Blocks  
15c Landing of Columbus, Blue & brown, Type lll (Reissue) blocks of four on India paper, XF and sound. $1,600.00 each

112P3 – Singles
1c Franklin, Buff plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $55.00 each

113P3 – Singles
2c Post Rider, Brown plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $40.00 each

114P3 – Singles
3c Locomotive, Ultramarine plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $45.00 each

115P3 – Singles
6c Washington, Ultramarine plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $45.00 each

116P3 – Singles
10c Eagle & Shield, Yellow plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $45.00 each

117P3 – Singles
12c S.S. Adriatic, Green plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $55.00 each

129P3 – Singles
15c Landing of Columbus, Blue & brown, Type lll (Reissue) plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $350.00 each

120P3 – Singles
24c Declaration of Independence, Green & violet plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $140.00 each

121P3 – Singles
30c Flags, Eagle & Shield, Ultramarine & carmine plate proof on India paper, XF, sound. $140.00 each

Card Proofs – Blocks & Singles

116P4 – Block
10c Eagle & Shield, Yellow plate proof on card, block of four, XF. $250.00 each

112P4 – Singles
1c Franklin, Buff plate proof on card, XF. $65.00 each

113P4 – Singles
2c Post Rider, Brown plate proof on card, XF. $50.00 each

114P4 – Singles
3c Locomotive, Ultramarine plate proof on card, XF. $85.00 each

115P4 – Singles
6c Washington, Ultramarine plate proof on card, XF. $85.00 each

116P4 – Singles
10c Eagle & Shield, Yellow plate proof on card, XF. $55.00 each

117P4 – Singles
12c S.S. Adriatic, Green plate proof on card, XF. $55.00 each

129P4 – Singles
15c Landing of Columbus, Blue & brown, Type lll (Reissue) plate proof on card, XF. $140.00 each

120P4 – Singles
24c Declaration of Independence, Green & plate proof on card, XF. $140.00 each

121P4 – Singles
30c Flags, Eagle & Shield, Ultramarine & carmine plate proof on card, XF.  The sheet margin copy has sold $170.00 each

 
Trial Color Proofs

Atlanta Trial Color Plate Proofs
History of the Atlanta trial color plate proofs
Sheets of all United States postage stamps from 1847 through the bank note issues, postage dues, newspaper and periodical, and the departments were prepared in five colors on card board for the Atlanta International Cotton Exposition in 1881. The sheets were somehow acquired by James A. Petrie, MD, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey at the close of the exposition. Petrie claimed that he rescued them before they were to be burned. For some years he tried to sell his find and found no takers. In 1895 he began to advertise them in the philatelic press and again no takers. In 1903 he headed to England where he found a willing buyer in the Earl of Crawford. In November of 1915 the Earl’s collection was purchased by John Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company in New York City. It was Klemann who eventually cut up the sheets. As the story goes, the sheets were cut into blocks of eight, two sets of blocks of four a few pairs, some singles.

124TC4e
2c Post Rider, Blue Atlanta trial color plate proof on card, bottom margin touches the design, brilliant color! SCV: $150.00 Net $50.00

126TC4c
6c Washington, Brown Atlanta trial color plate proof on card, with four nice margins, brilliant color! SCV: $150.00 Net $125.00

112P4 – Block of eight 
1c Buff plate proof on card, pristine horizontal block of eight. From the “Lilly” sheets. $400.00

Re-Issue of 1869

133P3 – Dark buff, from the re-issue sheet 
1c Dark buff plate proof on India paper and affixed to the original card blotter. From the “Lilly” sheet with PF certificate. This is the last block from a part sheet of 36. $500.00