15c Brown & Blue, Ty. III,
Plate Proof on India (129P3). Block of four, huge margins all around,
vignette shifted strongly to the right, bright colors, Very Fine and
choice, a dramatic block of this plate proof
(Image)
24c Green & Violet, Large Die
Essay on India, Vignette Mounted in Place (120-E3a). On 68 x 45mm card,
vignette mounted in place as usual, fresh and Very Fine example of this
scarce essay (Image)
24c Green & Violet, Plate
Proof on India (120P3). Bottom imprint and plate no. block of eight,
large margins all around, radiant colors with the vignette printed in a
light violet color, small thin spot at bottom rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE PLATE BLOCK ON INDIA PAPER OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE, WITH THE FRAME PRINTED IN AN UNUSUAL COLOR.
Our March 2004 auction, Sale 891, contained a plate block on India paper printed in the colors of the issued stamp, which has a much darker vignette. An examination of our records of past offerings of this plate proof has found that virtually all are printed in the darker color. We have offered only one other plate block in this distinctive color since keeping computerized records, in our "European" sale of 1869's, Sale 819. Given the distinctive difference, this should technically be classified as a trial color proof.
With 1981 P.F. certificate. (Image)
24c 1869 Pictorial, Atlanta
Trial Color Proofs (130TC). Complete set of twelve, large margins,
radiant colorsEXTREMELY FINE AND SCARCE COMPLETE SET OF TWELVE ATLANTA TRIAL COLOR PROOFS OF THE 24-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL DESIGN.
Only 100 of each were produced (Image)
90c Carmine & Black, Plate
Proof on India (122P3). Bottom imprint and plate no. block of eight,
large margins all around, bright colors, faint translucency at top right
from hingeEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY RARE IMPRINT AND PLATE NUMBER BLOCK OF EIGHT OF THE 90-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE ON INDIA PAPER. VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
Scott Catalogue vastly underprices this plate block on India paper. They only assign a $100.00 premium versus two blocks of four. As an indication of rarity, we have not offered a complete plate block of eight since keeping computerized records. The closest we have come have been strips of four or blocks of four with part imprints. (Image)
15c-90c 1869 Pictorial
Inverts, Plate Proofs on Card (120aP4, 121aP4, 122aP4, 129aP4). Large
margins all around, rich colors and detailed impressionsEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL SET OF 1869 PICTORIAL ISSUE INVERT PLATE PROOFS WITH INVERTED CENTERS. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 100 OF EACH WAS PRODUCED.
All known examples of these inverts come from the sheets in the Earl of Crawford collection. (Image)