1877, 1¢ Trial Color Proofs. Group of 23 in a range of different card and printing colors; some faults, F.-V.F. and rare large group. Scott No. UX5TC.
USPCC No. S4TC; $5,750.

A RARE LARGE ASSEMBLAGE OF TRIAL COLOR PROOFS SUBMITTED FOR THE 1877-1881 POSTAL CARD CONTRACT.

As the Morgan Envelope Company in May, 1877 had possession of the two plates of 40 designs (and probably the die of the then current postal card), they were in a position to submit trial color proofs to conform with the P. O. D. requirement for bids to be submitted on May 16, 1877 for cards (a) in "one of uniform color" and (b) bi-color cards "with the face and the reverse of different colors." This list of trial color proofs are therefore attributed to the Morgan Envelope Company. All proofs were probably printed from the typograph die as the impression shows on the back when the card is held almost parallel with a strong light, even on the thickest cards. This impression is not generally visible on the issued cards. USPCC $5,750
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USPCC $5,750

1877, 1¢ Trial Color Proofs with "Essay". Group of 5 different card and printing colors, each with manuscript "Essay"; one with slight toning on face, a Very Fine and rare group. Scott No. UX5TC.
USPCC No. S4TC; $1,250+; Estimate $750 - 1,000.

The post office produced stamp and postal card trial color proofs to show at the 1881 International Cotton Exposition world's fair held in Atlanta, Georgia, from Oct. 5th to Dec. 31st, 1881. Each postal card shown was inscribed "Essay" in manuscript. The fair was planned to show the progress made since the city's destruction during the Battle of Atlanta and new developments in cotton production. USPCC $1,250+
Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

USPCC $1,250+
Est. $750-1,000

1877, 1¢ Trial Color Proofs on Double Color Cards. Unwatermarked. Group of 9 that appear to be in a range of different card and printing colors, Very Fine and scarce group. Scott No. UX5TC.
USPCC No. S4TCaa-ff; $3,150.

A RARE ASSEMBLAGE OF TRIAL COLOR PROOFS ON BICOLOR CARDS SUBMITTED FOR THE 1877-1881 POSTAL CARD CONTRACT. USPCC $3,150
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USPCC $3,150

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff, Production Specimen. Unwatermarked. Clear strike of blue "U.S. Postal Card Ag'cy. Springfield Mass., Sep. 17, 1875" double-oval datestamp over indicia, Very Fine. Scott No. UX5PS.
USPCC No. S4PSa; $300.

September 17th 1875 was the first day of production of the 1875 postal card by contractor Morgan Envelope Company. USPCC $300
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USPCC $300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff, Production Specimen. Buff card with 31 x 3mm red "Specimen" in roman letters with serifs at center of card; minor scuff on reverse, Very Fine. Scott No. UX5.
USPCC No. S4PSc; $300. USPCC $300
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USPCC $300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff, Printer's Waste. Showing 25 impressions on front and back from the only part sheet recovered; some creasing, Fine.
Scott No. UX5 var.; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff. Uprated with 3¢ green (158) tied by "Elmira, N.y. Jun 21" duplex to Chief of Police at Davenport Iowa, reverse with "Escaped - - $100.00 Reward" headline and printed notice datelined "N.Y.S. Reformatory, Elmira, N.Y., June 18th, 1879", original photograph affixed; light creasing, otherwise Very Fine and scarce early used reward postal card.
Scott No. UX5; Estimate $300 - 400.

Regulations required letter postage to be paid if anything is attached to a postal card. Sender properly affixed additional postage, although they overpaid the 3¢ letter rate (1¢ postal card was still valid). Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff. Unwatermarked. Cancelled by blue "Providence R.I., Feb 15" duplex with quartered cork cancel to New York N.Y., message side with "Return Goods by, New York and Boston Despatch Ex. Co. and Earl & Prew's Providence Ex." black on orange express label, Very Fine and rare use of an express label.
Scott No. UX5; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff. With face having purple illustrated advertising showing Ocean View Hotel on Block Island and sailing ships in harbor, part-printed message side datelined "Block Island, R.I., July 12, 1877", entered mails with "New Shoreham R.I., Jul 13" duplex to Pittsford Vt., docketed "Recd. July 17th 1877 at left, Very Fine and attractive illegal advertising on face.
Scott No. UX5; Estimate $200 - 300.

This is one of the first souvenir picture postal cards. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff. With all-over red "Griffith's Portable Folding Cots, Toledo, Ohio" illustrated advertising on face showing cots, entered mails with "Toledo O. '80" Leavitt machine cancel to Wyandott Mich., Apr 21, 1880 octagon receiving datestamp, Very Fine and rare illegal advertising on face.
Scott No. UX5; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff. Unwatermarked. With brown "J.R. Holcomb & Co., Mallet Creek, Medina Co., Ohio" illustrated advertising showing violin, with printed address lines, entered mails with purple "Mallet Creek, Ohio, Mar 17, 1880" duplex with encircled star fancy cancel to Washington N.Y., reverse with printed message, Very Fine and beautiful illegal advertising on face.
Scott No. UX5; Estimate $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

1875, 1¢ Black on Buff. With printed C.H. Stebbins Liquors illustrated building advertising on face, entered mails with "Woonsocket R.I., Dec 17" duplex to Boston Mass., 1879docketing at right, Fine and rare illegal advertising on face.
Scott No. UX5; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200