115-E1c – 1869 6c Washington Essay, Die 40x60mm on Proof Paper, Imperf. Various Colors, Mystic’s Choice

1869 Essay Stamp Documents Design Process of Stamp #115

Now you can own #115-E1c, an essay of the 1869 6¢ Washington stamp.  It was produced by National Bank Note Company as part of the Pictorial Issue.  The vignette of the essay stamp was the same as #115, but it has a 5¢ denomination.  The lettering on the stamp that was issued is larger and the denomination is in the center rather than in the lower corners.  This stamp is a die essay printed on proof paper.

Private firms submitted essays to demonstrate the high quality of their work – so very few were produced.  And that’s a shame – these masterpieces represent an important step in philatelic history.  Now you can get this seldom-seen, handsomely engraved treasure for your collection.

More About Essays

Essays are designs for stamp vignettes, stamp borders, or both combined, that were never approved and used in the final printing of a stamp. Even though a design is finally adopted with only slight modifications, it is still an “essay”. To attain the status of a proof, a proposed design, or essay, must be exactly like the issued stamp for which it was submitted.

All U.S. stamps were made by private bank note companies from 1847 to 1894. Essays and printing bids were submitted by those firms. As early as 1851, the U.S. Post Office Department established a policy of advertising for stamp proposals to be accompanied by essays, or examples of the stamps to be furnished. After the bids were opened, an Expert Committee was asked to rule on the designs, colors and paper.