Looking Back #77 - Unique (US) Die Proofs
Blair (TC)
Among many other items which turned up at
the Tipex show, was a set of seven die proofs
of the medallion heads of Lincoln, Stanton,
Webeter, and Hamilton, engraved for the 6¢,
7¢, 15, and 30¢ of the 1879 issue.
To my knowledge, these have never been seen
previously.
They came from the estate of the late Joseph
P. Ourdan, one of the old portrait engravers
of the National Bank Note Co. Ourdan worked
on the portraits of many of the old United
States stamps, engraving the medallions for
the 1861, 3¢ Washington, the 1863, 2¢ black
Jackson, and the 1866, 15¢ Lincoln, to mention
a few, and he was an expert in his field.
Of the seven die proofs, the 6¢ Lincoln and
the 7¢ Stanton medallions are each in black,
while the 15¢ Webster is in green. The
Hamilton medallion for the 30¢ stamp is
in four colors, ultramarine, deep rose,
brown and green, and the four proofs were
taken in progressive stages of the die
engraving. All are on India paper,
countersunk to die size on cardboard, of
the large die proof style then customary.
They are masterpieces of miniature portrait
engraving, an art which might be lost,
except that the big bank note companies
teach and bring up their own men.
After long apprenticeship, some make good,
and other show no aptitude for the work
and have to be released.
- George B. Sloane
Sloane's Column
Stamps
May 30, 1936