United States Stamps continued...

(39TC5a) 1857-61 90c rose lake plate proof on wove paper, very fine.

Cat. value $625.

Get Market Data for [United States 39TC5a] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(40TC4) 1857-61 1¢ Franklin Reprint Atlanta trial color proofs in all five colors, with only 50 of each color produced, this is a useful set for anyone focused on the 1¢ Franklin stamp, v.f.

Get Market Data for [United States 40TC4] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(40P2–47P2, LO1P2–LO2P2) Complete set of ten Roosevelt small die proofs on white wove paper, comprising the 1851–61 Issue values from 1¢ to 90¢ including both carrier issues (LO1P2, LO2P2), all individually die sunk and affixed to the original 273 x 173mm gray card page with gilt edges as issued in 1903. Each proof is fresh with vibrant color with the page itself in extremely fine condition overall.

These small die proofs were printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in March 1903 at the request of Postmaster General Edwin C. Madden, under President Theodore Roosevelt. Just 85 Roosevelt presentation albums were produced, each containing over 300 die proofs on 34 pages covering U.S. issues from 1847 onward. Most were distributed to friends and political allies of the Roosevelt administration. Only about 15 albums are believed to survive intact, with another 15–20 known broken into individual or partial pages.

A rare opportunity to acquire the complete 1851-61 Issue small die proofs page from the famous Roosevelt presentation album.

Get Market Data for [United States 40P2–47P2, LO1P2&nd] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(40P4-47P4, LO1P4, LO2P4) Complete set of 1875 Reprints plate proofs on card of the 1851–61 Issue, 1¢ to 90¢ (Scott 40P4–47P4), alongside two additional 1¢ Franklin Carrier plate proofs (LO1P4) and one 1¢ Eagle Carrier plate proof (LO2P4), all displaying rich colors and sharp impressions typical of this special printing. These plate proofs were issued in connection with the Post Office Department’s promotional efforts during the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia—the largest world’s fair held to date, with over ten million tickets sold in a country of just 46 million people. Between 1875 and 1884, the Office of the Third Assistant Postmaster General sold both demonetized “reprints” and valid “special printings” to collectors and fairgoers.

Accompanying this well-preserved group is a representative period envelope bearing the inscription “United States Postage Stamps, Issue 1851,” which was used by the Post Office Department to distribute these proofs in the last quarter of the 19th century. 

Get Market Data for [United States 40P4-47P4, LO1P4, LO2P4] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(40P2) 1857-61 1¢ bright blue Franklin 1903 Roosevelt Abum Reprint small die on white wove paper, very fine.

Cat. value $350.

Get Market Data for [United States 40P2] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(40P1/40P3) Group of 1857-61 1¢ bright blue Franklin reprint die proofs including (40P1) hybrid large die proof mounted on India and die sunk on card, some toning around edges and (40P3) horizontal pair and single plate proofs on India paper, overall a fine-vf. and useful group.

Cat. value $595.

Get Market Data for [United States 40P1/40P3] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(42P3) 1875 5¢ orange brown Jefferson plate proof on India paper sheet margin block of four, right stamp with a small thin spot and the bottom stamps with a light crease, still very fine appearance. 

With 2015 Professional Stamp Experts certificate, cat. value $550.

Get Market Data for [United States 42P3] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

An attractive and rare complete set of Toppan, Carpenter & Co. 1861 die essays with a representative set of the ultimately accepted National Bank Note Co. designs via the 1861-66 stamps. The six essays—(63-E9a) 1¢ blue (small repair at top, 2001 PFC), (65-E4c) 3¢ carmine, faded, (67-E4b) 5¢ brown, (69-E4c) 12¢ black, (70-E4b) 24¢ brown lilac, and (72-E5a) 90¢ dark blue—are cut to shape and show full designs all around with strong impressions. A few typical minor flaws are noted, but the group presents a very fine overall appearance. These essays represent the full set of complete stamp designs submitted by Toppan, Carpenter for the 1861 postal contract; notably, no 10¢ or 30¢ essays were produced, as those denominations in the 1851–61 issue already included numerals in their original design.

A scarce and desirable complete set of the 1861 Toppan, Carpenter essays—seldom encountered in matched groupings, particularly in this appealing format. Ideal for students of U.S. essays, pre-Civil War U.S. stamp production and collectors of the 1861-66 Issue.

Cat. value $6,000+

Group of seven Toppan, Carpenter & Co. 1c Franklin 1903 Schernikow die essays including 63-E1a, 63-E1b, 62-E2a x2, 63-E9e x2 and 63-E9j. A very fine assemblage of these interesting die essays produced from the original dies by Schernikow.  

Cat. value $900.

(9X1) New York 1845 5¢ black on bluish paper postmaster provisional, position 4, unused without gum single with double transfer at bottom, pressed out horizontal crease at top, fine with margins all around.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $1,750 without double transfer.

Get Market Data for [United States 9X1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(9X1) 1845 5¢ black Washington uncancelled stamp with characteristic New York Postmaster's signed connected initials "ACM" on 1846 folded letter to Paris, France. The stamp has a small part of top right corner missing and a tear at bottom left. Large red "New York 5 cts May 30 (1846)" cds at lower right and red French June 17th receiving handstamp at left of stamp. June 15th British transit datestamp on reverse and large "18" decimes due marking at center. There was no postal agreement between the United States and England or France at this time, so the sender paid for postage from the origin to the ship. The recipient paid the postage due upon receipt with France crediting England The cover traveled via the Cunard Line's Britannia steamer departing Boston on June 1, 1846 and arriving into Liverpool on June 13th. The sender utilized cross-hatched writing in order to write a longer letter while avoiding the need for more paper which would have resulted in more postage paid by them to send and also due by the recipient. 

This item is included in the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society census of Postmaster Provisionals used on cover (no. 20564). Out of 51 recorded examples of the 5c Washington Sc. 9X1 stamp on cover to France, this is the only one with a "18" decimes due marking. Most are the typical 15, 20, 21 or 25 decimes due. This cover is also the only one in the census lacking the typical boxed Colonies & Art. accountancy marking denoting credit of postage from France to the U.K for carriage of the letter from the U.S. to France. An intriguing item for sure and worthy of further research.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $2,000 for a 9X1 on cover to France.

Get Market Data for [United States 9X1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(10X1) Providence 1846 5¢ gray black postmaster provisional unused with original gum, hinged, fresh and very fine with margins all around. 

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $325.

Get Market Data for [United States 10X1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(1) 1847-51 5¢ red brown Franklin, deep shade from a cleaned plate, tied by an exceptionally sharp strike of a black "New-York Oct. 2 (1851)" cds on cover addressed to Daniel Gregg in Chillicothe, Ohio. The stamp shows three margins and is roughly separated into the design at right. The reverse bears a striking Howard Hotel blue cameo design with embossed illustration of the hotel building and "Clark & Bailey" imprint. A small piece is missing from the backflap and there is a pressed vertical file fold not affecting the stamp.

A beautiful and rare example of demonetized usage of the 1847 Issue, accepted after the July 1, 1851 deadline and used here to pay the new 3¢ rate. Notably, the black New York cds was never used during the valid period of the 1847 Issue and confirms the illegitimacy of this franking. The sender, likely aware of the new reduced rate for under-3,000-mile letters, evaded paying postage by using a no-longer-valid 5¢ stamp that was nonetheless accepted.

Another demonetized 1847 Issue cover bearing this elaborate cameo corner card addressed by the same sender to Daniel Gregg in Chillicothe is known, dated one week earlier on September 25, 1851. A highly desirable cover combining a demonetized use, bold postal markings, and an outstanding hotel advertising design.

Ex. Gross, signed Ashbrook, notes by Dr. Carroll Chase on reverse, with 2017 Philatelic Foundation certificate.

Get Market Data for [United States 1] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(5/5A) 1851-57 1¢ blue Franklin combination Type I-Ib used, positions 7R1E-8R1E, horizontal pair with a light cancel exhibiting a distinct darker blue shade from a later printing. (5) Type I stamp featuring full design at right with margin in at left. (5A) Type Ib with small tear at bottom. Only 98 Type I stamps are known to exist with seven used 5/5A combination pairs and ten strips of three (on and off cover) recorded in the Wagshal Census. The full design visible at the bottom and right of the Type I stamp makes this a particularly desirable item. 

Wagshal Census No. 5-MUL-59 with 1975 Philatelic Foundation certificate noting "right stamp with a tiny nick in bottom margin" and 2025 PFC noting "right stamp with a small tear at bottom," cat. value $85,000.

Background on imperforate 1c Franklin Type I and sub-types:

After a few entries with the transfer roll on Plate 1 Early, the siderographer realized the spacing and relief size required adjustment.

Type I: Full die design, but lower right ornaments may  be weak. 7R1E (7th top row position from left, right pane, Plate One Early) is the only Type I position on the plates used for imperforate stamps.

Type Ib: As Type I but lower right ornaments are incomplete.

Get Market Data for [United States 5/5A] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(5A) 1851-57 1¢ blue Franklin Type Ib, position 5R1E, used with partial black cds cancel, exhibiting a double transfer in the "ONE CENT", fair margins, touching at bottom and in at top, fine and in sound condition. Only six positions on Plate 1 Early are Type Ib.

With 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $6,000.

Get Market Data for [United States 5A] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(6) 1851-57 1¢ blue Franklin Type Ia, position 100L4, used with partial town cds cancel and nice margins on three sides to just touching at scrolls at bottom. A very fine example and hard to find in sound condition. 

Ex. Rosenthal & Hansen, accompanied by part printed circular it was originally used on, with 1983, 2002 & 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificates, cat. value $9,250.

Get Market Data for [United States 6] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(6b) 1851-57 1¢ blue Franklin Type Ic, position 49L4, used with partial town cds cancel, nice margins on three sides to just touching at top, small diagonal crease at bottom left but still a fine example of this hard to find stamp. 

Ex. Celler, with 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $4,250

Get Market Data for [United States 6b] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(7) 1¢ blue Franklin Type II, positions 2L2, 12-13L2 & 22-23L2, mounted reconstruction of major cracked plate variety including the “”Big Flaw”” most easily visible with position 2L2 into the top sheet margin. The top sheet margin position 2L2 is unused with original gum, a tiny lower left corner crease and light toning specks on front. The other four stamps are used, positions 12-22L2 are a vertical used pair with a blue CDS cancel and the remaining two stamps are used with black CDS cancels. The plate crack begins above position 2L2 in the sheet margin visible into the stamp’s design and then slopes at a slight diagonal affecting positions 12 13L2 and 23L2. A desirable reconstruction of this well-known 1c Plate 2 major plate crack. 

With 2009 APS certificate, cat. value $2,720 as three major cracked Plate 2 stamps (one unused, two used), one used intermediate cracked plate stamp and one regular used Type II stamp.

Background: The plate crack across positions 2L2, 12-13L2 & 23L2 represents an example of quality control issues with production of the stamps, but no record of complaints from the government have surfaced. The printers - Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. hoped to avoid producing new plates. Each plate cost about $500 (in 1850s dollars) to make. 

Get Market Data for [United States 7] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(7) 1851-57 1¢ blue Franklin Type II Plate 3 “Forked Lightning” crack reconstruction comprising positions 24L3, 33L3, and 34L3. The top stamp, 24L3, is a used example with full to large margins and a bold strike of the New York CDS dated October 5, 1857. The lower two stamps, 33L3 and 34L3, are rare unused without gum singles with ample to large margins - 34L3 in sound condition and 33L3 with a small thin. All three stamps exhibit rich, intense color and are well-suited for illustrating the dramatic “Forked Lightning” plate crack that runs through this portion of the left pane of Plate 3. 

A very fine and desirable reconstruction of one of the most famous plate flaws of the 1c 1851 57 Issue, as chronicled by Ashbrook and later refined by Neinken (see Neinken, pp. 228–229). Examples from this crack - especially unused - are rare and highly sought after, and this trio, selected by Neinken himself, represents an exceptional presentation of this iconic plating variety. 

Ex Neinken & Wagshal, Scott does not list a price for unused major plate crack stamps, cat. value $2,475 as three used stamps.

Get Market Data for [United States 7] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census

(7) 1851-57 1¢ blue Franklin Type II horizontal strip of three from the top row of Plate 4, plated by Wagshal as Positions 2-4L4 and confirmed by PF certificate (Ashbrook plated as 4-6L4 with pencil note on reverse), tied by manuscript pen stroke cancels on piece. Plate 4 produced some of the finest and most complete Type II impressions. A scarce and visually striking strip in sound condition, particularly desirable for its plating significance and display of complete Type II characteristics.

Ex Cowitt, Wagshal & Eubanks, with 2025 Philatelic Foundation certificate, cat. value $3,000 as Type II Plate 4 pair and single.

Get Market Data for [United States 7] Visual Pricing Guide Sample Census