2014 Rarities of the World continued...

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VERY FINE. A RARE SET OF SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1923 AIR POST ISSUE.

In an article in the United States Specialist (Sep. 1994, pp. 410-417), Ronald A. Burns traces the history of small die proof production from the 1903 Roosevelt Albums through the 1950's. The printings after the 1914-15 Panama Pacific sets are not as well documented, but several 1930's proof printings of at least some issues occurred as well as a printing in the 1950's, which Burns characterizes as "yellow wove paper and narrow margins of one to two millimeters...mostly air mails down to and including the 1952 Diamondhead 80c issue." This more closely describes the set offered here than the Brazer description of the set printed in the 1930's, discussed in lots 1179-1181.

Each with 1990 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE SMALL DIE PROOF OF THE 1927 LINDBERGH ISSUE.

In an article in the United States Specialist (Sep. 1994, pp. 410-417), Ronald A. Burns traces the history of small die proof production from the 1903 Roosevelt Albums through the 1950's. The printings after the 1914-15 Panama Pacific sets are not as well documented, but several 1930's proof printings of at least some issues occurred. According to an article in the Essay Proof Journal by Clarence Brazer, one of the 1930's printings consisted of three sets of die proofs, covering issues up through the 1933 Century of Progress Issue. One set was untrimmed with proof printer's numbers -- the so-called "Southgate" large die proof set (see Siegel Sale 1040, lot 1109 for examples from the Pan American Issue). The other two sets were trimmed closer to the design, including the example offered here, and so are considered small die proofs. One set of four albums was given to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a duplicate set is said to have been presented to a "friend". One of the two reduced sets was later gifted to The Philatelic Foundation circa 1957 and was deaccessioned in 1973. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE SET OF SMALL DIE PROOFS OF THE 1930 GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.

In an article in the United States Specialist (Sep. 1994, pp. 410-417), Ronald A. Burns traces the history of small die proof production from the 1903 Roosevelt Albums through the 1950's. The printings after the 1914-15 Panama Pacific sets are not as well documented, but several 1930's proof printings of at least some issues occurred. According to an article in the Essay Proof Journal by Clarence Brazer, one of the 1930's printings consisted of three sets of die proofs, covering issues up through the 1933 Century of Progress Issue. One set was untrimmed with proof printer's numbers -- the so-called "Southgate" large die proof set (see Siegel Sale 1040, lot 1109 for examples from the Pan American Issue). The other two sets were trimmed closer to the design, including the set offered here, and so are considered small die proofs. One set of four albums was given to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a duplicate set is said to have been presented to a "friend". One of the two reduced sets was later gifted to The Philatelic Foundation circa 1957 and was deaccessioned in 1973. (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE AND RARE RARE SMALL DIE PROOF OF THE 1933 CENTURY OF PROGRESS CHICAGO ZEPPELIN ISSUE.

In an article in the United States Specialist (Sep. 1994, pp. 410-417), Ronald A. Burns traces the history of small die proof production from the 1903 Roosevelt Albums through the 1950's. The printings after the 1914-15 Panama Pacific sets are not as well documented, but several 1930's proof printings of at least some issues occurred. According to an article in the Essay Proof Journal by Clarence Brazer, one of the 1930's printings consisted of three sets of die proofs, covering issues up through the 1933 Century of Progress Issue. One set was untrimmed with proof printer's numbers -- the so-called "Southgate" large die proof set (see Siegel Sale 1040, lot 1109 for examples from the Pan American Issue). The other two sets were trimmed closer to the design, including the example offered here, and so are considered small die proofs. One set of four albums was given to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a duplicate set is said to have been presented to a "friend". One of the two reduced sets was later gifted to The Philatelic Foundation circa 1957 and was deaccessioned in 1973. (Image)

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