Login to Use StampAuctionNetwork. New Member? Click "Register".
StampAuctionNetwork Extended Features
StampAuctionNetwork Channels
Extended Features
Visit the following Auction Calendars:
Help:
More Useful Information:
Newsletter:
For Auction Firms:
VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE HAND-DRAWN ESSAY FOR THE 5-CENT 1890 ISSUE, WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM SEWARD. THE PORTRAIT OF GRANT WAS SUBSTITUTED IN THE ISSUED DESIGN.
The case could be made that this was the first essay produced for the 1890 Issue. On October 25, 1889, Third Assistant Postmaster General A. D. Hazen wrote to James Macdonough at American Bank Note Co. "Referring to your visit here on the 23rd instant, I enclose you herewith a set of proofs of engravings made by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, of General U. S. Grant, furnished me in compliance with request. One of these engravings you will observe is in profile. I hope to be able to send you within a day or two a list of the selected heads for the new stamps." The contract for the new issue was signed November 7, 1889, approximately two weeks after the letter was sent. This strongly suggests the 5c Seward design was rejected at an early date.
Ex Brazer. (Image)
Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com
Get Market Data for [United States 223-E1]
Get Market Data for [United States 223-E2]
Get Market Data for [United States 223-E3]
Get Market Data for [United States 223-E7b]
Get Market Data for [United States 223-E10b]
VERY FINE. A REMARKABLE PAIR OF ITEMS, CONSISTING OF A FERROTYPE PHOTOGRAPH OF ULYSSES S. GRANT WHICH HAS BEEN PARTLY ENGRAVED, AND A PRINT MADE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPH. HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE ITEMS.
Third Assistant Postmaster General A. D. Hazen sent a letter to American Bank Note Co. on November 13, 1889, which notes in part "I was duly in receipt of yours of the 9th instant, and am glad to hear of the progress made in securing a good head of General Grant. Should you photograph the picture sent you a few days since, I should be glad to have a couple of copies, the Postmaster General having expressed a wish to secure one." This is no doubt one of those prints. We have been able to locate perhaps one other (ex "Belmont", Sale 581, 5/22/1981, lot 299).
This probably ex Brazer (Image)
Get Market Data for [United States 223-E11, 223-E12]
Get Market Data for [United States 226-E2]
VERY FINE. THE UNIQUE COMPOSITE ESSAY FOR THE 15-CENT 1890 ISSUE, CONSISTING OF THE ENGRAVED VIGNETTE OF CLAY WITH WATERCOLOR FRAME, AND AN ENLARGED PENCIL DRAWING OF THE IMPORTANT FRAME ELEMENTS. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
In a letter to ABN Co. of November 13, 1889, Third Assistant Postmaster General A. D. Hazen wrote "The picture of Clay on the twelve-cent stamp formerly in use, does not look well. How would it appear in full or three-quarter face? I greatly prefer a representation on the three-quarter over that of full face." The essay offered here, with the three-quarter face portrait of Clay and hand-drawn frame elements essentially as adopted, was no doubt made in response to this suggestion.
Get Market Data for [United States 227-E1]
Get Market Data for [United States ?]
Get Market Data for [United States 229-E1]