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The Dr. William H. Johnson Collection of the U.S. 1890 Small Bank Note Issue continued...

Essays
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
2003 E Image(Unstated Value) Black, Large Die Essay on Ivory Paper (219-E1). 64 x 76mm, showing full die sinkage, intense shade and impression, small thin at top left from mount removal, still Very Fine and rare essay for an unadopted frame design, the Brazer catalogue lists this as an essay for the 1889 contract circa July 17, 1889, Scott Catalogue value has remained unchanged for decades -- we sold one in 2003 for $1,900 hammer and one in 2015 for $1,300 hammer, yet the catalogue value did not change (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 219-E1]

$ 700.00

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2004 E Image1c Blue, Vignette Only Large Die Essay on India (219-E3). On 74 x 74mm card with full die sinkage, depicting engraved vignette with lettered label above -- the same design but smaller than the one used for the 1887 Issue (Scott 212) -- few trivial toned spots, Very Fine and very rare, Brazer attributed this essay to the first proposal time period -- see lot 2005 for explanation -- this is the only example of this rare essay we have ever encountered, ex Brazer (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 219-E3]

$ 800.00

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
2005° E Image1c Engraved Vignette With Watercolor Frame, Essay On Thick Cardboard (219-E2). 54 x 57mm, with engraved vignette from 1c Bank Note (212) cut to shape and mounted in a hand-drawn watercolor frame, scoring line at top helped the artist determine starting point for design

VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN WATERCOLOR COMPOSITE ESSAY FOR THE ONE-CENT 1890 SMALL BANK NOTE ISSUE, SHOWING A RADICALLY DIFFERENT STYLE OF FRAME. AN IMPORTANT ESSAY.

The new series continued the theme of Franklin for the 1c stamp -- a portrait of Franklin was the subject of every 1c stamp starting in 1851, including the 1869 Pictorial Issue. This watercolor frame is a significant departure from the one eventually adopted. It includes large block lettering at bottom and a country label at top, which was incorporated into the oval for the adopted design. The numbers at the sides are also severely truncated.

It is likely that the 1c and 2c designs were the first to be worked on, since these were the denominations with the greatest demand. These two denominations also have the largest number of different frame designs, though this is the only hand-drawn design for the 1c. The first plate numbers used were for 2c plates (Plates 1-10) and then 1c plates (Plates 11-15).

The ABN Co. contract to supply stamps expired on June 30, 1889. Sealed proposals for a new contract were accepted up to June 17, which did not require any artwork. Only two bids were submitted, one by ABN Co. and one for a much lower amount from Charles F. Steel. ABN Co. protested, noting that Steel's company did not meet the criteria for bidding. Steel's facilities were found not to be fireproof, so the bidding was opened again starting Sep. 11, 1889 (in reality, Steel was paid off by ABN Co. to fail to meet the requirements). The 1941 Brazer catalogue lists this as an essay for the 1889 contract, "circa July 17, 1889." We are unaware of Brazer's reasoning for attributing this to the earlier bidding process.

Ex Brazer. The Essay-Proof Journal noted in 1953 that Brazer exhibited this item at The Collectors Club. (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 219-E2]

E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2006° E Image2c Engraved Vignette With Watercolor Frame, Essay On Thick Cardboard (220-E3). On 97 x 117mm card, portrait cut out from issued 2c stamp (Scott 213) with "POSTAGE" in lettered label below portrait, numbers at top and other significant differences, with hand-drawn framed border on card, vignette with trivial toning from adhesive

VERY FINE. A UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN WATERCOLOR ESSAY FOR THE 2-CENT 1890 ISSUE, DEPICTING THE DENOMINATIONS AT TOP AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.

It is likely that the 1c and 2c designs were the first to be worked on, since these were the denominations with the greatest demand. The first plate numbers used were for 2c plates (Plates 1-10). These two denominations also have the largest number of different frame designs. There are four unique watercolor essays for the 2c, each with engraved vignette cut out and mounted in place.

The ABN Co. contract to supply stamps expired on June 30, 1889, sealed proposals for a new contract were accepted up to June 17, which did not require any artwork. Only two bids were submitted, one by ABN Co. and one for a much lower amount from Charles F. Steel. ABN Co. protested, noting that Steel's company did not meet the criteria for bidding. Steel's facilities were found not to be fireproof, so the bidding was opened again starting Sep. 11, 1889 (in reality, Steel was paid off by ABN Co. to fail to meet the requirements).. The 1941 Brazer catalogue lists this as an essay for the 1889 contract, "circa July 17, 1889." We are unaware of Brazer's reasoning for attributing this to the earlier bidding process.

Ex Brazer, but not offered in his sale -- the Essay-Proof Journal noted in 1953 that Brazer exhibited this item at The Collectors Club. With 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 220-E3]

E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2007 E Image2c Black, Large Die Frame Only Essay on White Ivory (220-E4). 60 x 77mm, detailed impression of this engraved design showing an unadopted frame, the only elements that made their way into the adopted design are part of the floral designs above the denominations, two small thin spots, Very Fine and very rare, Brazer attributed this essay to the first proposal time period -- see lot 2005 for explanation -- this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, we were able to locate only one other, offered in the Brazer sale, which is about half the size of the one offered here (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 220-E4]

$ 1,250.00

SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2008 E Image(2c) Washington, Dark Carmine, Large Die Vignette Essay on India (220-E5). On 72 x 74mm card with full die sinkage, with "ISSUE 1890" label affixed to bottom of card, deep rich color, Very Fine, this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, ex Brazer (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 220-E5]

$ 800.00

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
2009 E Image2c Black, Large Die Frame Only Essay on Ivory (220-E8a). 65 x 77mm, showing full die sinkage area, showing frame design as adopted, with numerals and without "TWO CENTS" at bottom, Very Fine and very rare, this is the first we have offered since keeping computerized records, the 1990 Brazer sale also had one, with waterstaining in the corners (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 220-E8a]

$ 900.00

SOLD for $1,300.00
Will close during Public Auction
2010 E Image2c 1890 Issue, Frame Only, Large Die Essays on India (220-E8b). Four, in Dark Brown, Red Orange, Dark Blue and Dark Blue Green, approximately 50 x 57mm, first two on card, rich colors, Very Fine, very scarce, undercatalogued in Scott (the value has not changed in years), we have offered only two in the last 25 years and they both brought well over catalogue value, this is a rare opportunity to acquire four colors at once (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 220-E8b]

$ 2,800.00

SOLD for $4,750.00
Will close during Public Auction
2011 E Image(3c) Purple, Vignette and Label Only, Die Essay on India (221-E2). On 75 x 74mm card with full die sinkage, deep rich color, unusual grid laid out on India, card with some toned spots, otherwise Very Fine, scarce and desirable essay, ex Finkelburg, undercatalogued in Scott -- this is the only example we have offered in the past 25 years, none was offered in the Brazer sale and its catalogue value has remained unchanged even though it brought three times catalogue value last time it was offered (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 221-E2]

$ 750.00

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
2012 E Image4c Black Brown, Large Die Essay on India of Lincoln Facing Left (222-E2). On 75 x 73mm card with full die sinkage, showing both die no. C-226 and imprint below design, intense shade and impression, Very Fine example of this scarce essay with Lincoln facing left -- in a letter to ABN Co. of Nov. 13, 1889, the 3rd Asst. PMG writes "In view of the fact that it will probably be necessary to make a departure from the line of profiles by putting General Grant in three-quarter face, would it not add variety and attractiveness to the variety and attractiveness of the series to use three-quarter or full face in some other pictures? It occurs to me that the picture of Lincoln would appear to better advantage in three-quarter face than in the profile shown on the present six-cent stamp. His picture on the ninety-cent stamp of 1869, appears to me to be an excellent one and perhaps might be used on the new four-cent stamp with the face reversed to look to the left. What do you think of this suggestion?" -- in another letter of Feb. 10, 1890, the same writer confirmed he and the Postmaster General "reached the conclusion that by making them face right, as shown in the originals selected for copy, would really prove to be an advantage", this about-face (pun intended) on the direction of the portrait led to delays in issuing the 4c and 5c stamps, which were not issued until June 2 -- Brazer thought only two were known with the die number and imprint, ex Finkelburg (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 222-E2]

$ 1,250.00

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction
2013 E Image4c Black Brown, Large Die Essay on India of Lincoln Facing Left (222-E2). 62 x 60mm, without the die no. and imprint, detailed impression, expertly removed from card, Very Fine, scarce, see previous description for an explanation of the Lincoln facing left essay, ex "Lake Shore", Scott Retail as die sunk on card (Image)

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Get Market Data for [United States 222-E2]

$ 1,750.00

SOLD for $1,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

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