Lot
4109 E
Plimpton Envelope Co., 1877, 1¢ Black on White Card, Drawing Essay, drawing in black ink and wash, On white 0.19" card stock with design border line 130 x 76 mm, size of stamp design 20 x 24 mm, signed in manuscript by the designer on reverse "Henry Mitchell, Sc., 5 Tremont St., Boston", pencil "Essay" and "2" on reverse, Very Fine. Scott No. UX5E. USPCC No. S4E-AC $4,000.
THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS PLIMPTON POSTAL CARD ESSAY.
Reference: Listing example in A Historical Catalog of Essay and Proofs on page 89.
From 1874 to after 1904. Henry Mitchell of Boston, Mass. designed and cameo engraved U. S. envelope stamps for the Plimpton Envelope Company of Hartford, Connecticut. These two drawing essays probably preceded S4E-B to S4E-F, which he also designed and engraved. S4E-B exists in a dark red wax die essay on stiff white wove paper as do similar red wax die impressions of 1874 Plimpton envelope stamps which he engraved. It is also possible that the pencil and wash drawing essay S4aE-A for a proposed 1876 Centennial postal card was by Henry Mitchell. He is known to have drawn essays and the adopted design for the 1876 3¢ Centennial stamped envelope.
Realized: $2,400