1908 1c green, 2c carmine, 3c deep violet, 4c brown, 5c blue, 6c orange, 8c green, 10c yellow, 13c blue green, 15c pale ultramarine, 50c violet and $1 violet black, the complete set of 12 large die proofs in issued colors, die sunk on full cards, each one "Approved, December 16, 1908" dated and signed by the postmaster general George von L. Meyer, few minor toned spots in places, really of no importance, mostly v.f. Only 4-5 sets are recorded, this is one of only two signed sets (catalogue value has not changed in many years) cat. $15250 (Cat No. 331P1-342P1) (Image)

Cat. $15250, Est.US$5,000

1908 1c green, 2c carmine, 3c deep violet, 4c brown, 5c blue, 6c orange, 8c green, 10c yellow, 13c blue green, 15c pale ultramarine, 50c violet, $1 violet black and $1 pink, the complete set of 13 small die proofs in issued colors on gray cards, v.f., stated to be the only known set of the 1908 Washington-Franklin issue to have been included in the "Roosevelt Album", cat. $9800 (Cat No. 331P2-342P2) (Image)

Cat. $9800, Est.US$5,000

1908 1c green-$1 violet black, Panama-Pacific small die proofs on yellowish wove paper, the complete set of 12, balanced margins, excellent colors, occasional minor toning on reverse as always, actually unusually v.f. Only six sets printed (In 1915 a limited special printing of 413 different small die proofs was created for the Panama-Pacific Exposition. They were printed on yellowish wove paper, and it is believed no more than five examples of each stamp were produced. This set of the 1908 Washington Issue may be one of only two or three still intact) (another set was sold in a Siegel auction in 2015, hammer $18,500 against Scott value at the time of $14,400) cat. $30000 (Cat No. 331P2a-342P2a) (Image)

Cat. $30000, Est.US$10,000

1908 1c black, retouched photo-essay on thick paper, removed from cardboard, v.f., one of only two known, cat. $3750 (Cat No. 331-E1) (Image)

Cat. $3750, Est.US$1,500

1908 2c black, wash drawing of frame design with vignette cut out, mounted over retouched glossy photo of Houdon bust of George Washington, design size 6 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches, "Two Cents" colored-in, undoubtedly unique, cat. $1250 (Cat No. 332-E1) (Image)

Cat. $1250, Est.US$500

1908 2c black, photograph of the wash drawing of entire design, denomination blank, part of design hand-painted in black ink, used as a master die for other values, v.f., unique, cat. $3250 (Cat No. 332-E1A) (Image)

Cat. $3250, Est.US$1,500

1908 2c black, retouched photo-essay on thick gray card, v.f., one of only two known, cat. $2000 (Cat No. 332-E2) (Image)

Cat. $2000, Est.US$500

1908 2c black, retouched photo-essay on thick gray cardboard (81x100mm), pencil "GVLM" (PMG) on top of backing card, v.f., one of only two known, cat. $2000 (Cat No. 332-E2) (Image)

Cat. $2000, Est.US$750

1908 Two Cents carmine, incomplete engraving of the die, some of the shading on leaves and lines in the head at right are unfinished, die on india, die sunk on card, penciled "Oct 15 - 1908" at lower right of the backing card, v.f., cat. $1250 (Cat No. 332-E3) (Image)

Cat. $1250, Est.US$500

1908 Two Cents carmine, incomplete engraving of the die, some of the shading on leaves and lines in the head at right are unfinished, die on india, v.f., cat. $1250 (Cat No. 332-E3) (Image)

Cat. $1250, Est.US$500

1908 2c brown, violet, green, brown, ultramarine, dark blue and green, seven different trial color die proofs, showing various combinations of ink and paper, fine-v.f., extremely rare, cat. $5250 (Cat No. 332TC1) (Image)

Cat. $5250, Est.US$1,500

1908 2c green, large die proof on green paper, affixed on full card, paper shows part of "& CO" watermark (for Crane Paper Company who supplied the colored papers), cat. $750 (Cat No. 332TC1) (Image)

Cat. $750, Est.US$500

1908 2c blue, large die proof on green paper, affixed on full card, paper shows part of "A N E" watermark (for Crane Paper Company who supplied the colored papers), cat. $750 (Cat No. 332TC1) (Image)

Cat. $750, Est.US$500

1908 2c dull violet, die proof on india, card mounted, manuscript "Lavender" at bottom, also 2c red brown on greenish paper, Trial Color die proof on india, both v.f., cat. $1500 (Cat No. 332TC1) (Image)

Cat. $1500, Est.US$500

1908 2c green on pink paper, large Trial Color die proof on india, card mounted, v.f., cat. $750 (Cat No. 332TC1) (Image)

Cat. $750, Est.US$250

1908 2c die used to make trial color proofs for the entire series, set of seven different, includes the change in color for One Dollar value, each with color noted in margin by Joseph Ralph, director of Bureau of Engraving and Printing, orange slightly oxidized, fine-v.f., extremely rare set, cat. $5250 (Cat No. 332TC1a) (Image)

Cat. $5250, Est.US$2,000

1908 2c Large Die on india, trial colors in light green, orange brown and violet black, first and last on reduced cards, fine-v.f., cat. $2550 (Cat No. 332TC1h,y,w) (Image)

Cat. $2550, Est.US$750

1908 3c, 4c, 5c, 6c, 8c, 10c, 13c, 15c, 50c, $1 black, ten different retouched photo-essays in black, each one mounted on gray card, dated and signed "J.E.R." (BEP director) in lower corner, v.f. and extremely rare set, cat. $20000 (Cat No. 333E2-342-E1) (Image)

Cat. $20000, Est.US$5,000

1908 Three Cents (value spelled out) violet, die printed directly on card, v.f., one of only two known, cat. $1250 (Cat No. 333-E1) (Image)

Cat. $1250, Est.US$500

1908 3c violet, plate proof on india, vertical block of ten (2x5), card mounted, v.f. The 10 subject die proof was an experiment to try to speed up the manufacture of printing plates. Only a few such plates were produced. The experiment failed and the use of the die was discontinued. A rarity, ex-Max Johl (Cat No. 333P) (Image)

Est.US$1,500

1908 Four Cents (value spelled out) orange brown, die printed directly on card, "Brown" in ink at bottom marking, v.f., cat. $1250 (Cat No. 334-E1) (Image)

Cat. $1250, Est.US$500

1908 5c (2), 8c (3), 10c (5), 13c (2), 50c (3) and $1, selection of 16 trial color proofs, various combinations in ink and paper, all stamp size, one shows "The Crane & " paper company on back, fine-v.f., undoubtedly unique group of 1908 Washington Trial Color combination die proofs (Cat No. 335TC1/342TC1) (Image)

Est.US$5,000

1908 Five Cents (value spelled out) blue, die printed directly on card, v.f., cat. $1500 (Cat No. 335-E1) (Image)

Cat. $1500, Est.US$500

1908 Six Cents (value spelled out) red orange, progressive essays, two different stages of engraving, each die printed directly on card, v.f., cat. $2500 (Cat No. 336-E1) (Image)

Cat. $2500, Est.US$500

1908 6c large die on india, in brown (issued color orange), serial number on reverse, v.f., unique (Cat No. 336TC1a-e) (Image)

Est.US$1,000