Section 3 (pp. 11-13)

Essays & Proofs
Massey patent – Part sheet of 80
207-E Massey patent – Part sheet of 80 The patent was granted to
Gideon B Massey on December 6, 1881, patent no. 250,376.
3c Green, experimental American printing employing double paper with nine holes (in a circle) in the top layer.
The printing surface layer is extremely thin and is laminated to a sheet of stamp paper. The lamination appears to
have been done with just pressure (though the patent papers state that an adhesive was used). Pen strokes were used
to deface the sheet. It is a part sheet of 80 subjects and the bottom row is cut off midway through the stamps. It is
possible that this is the largest surviving multiple. (EP79-15) $5,250.00
James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 79 • 11
Essays & Proofs
One-cent Large Bank Note Essays & Proofs
These are just a few of the highlights from the Large Bank Note Essay
and Proof collection of Steve Pacetti. More material from this collection will be posted on our website before the end of September.
206-E – Massey Patent – “nine holes”
1c Gray-blue, experimental American printing employing double paper with nine holes
(in a circle) in the top layer. Imprint block of
four with the American imprint at the bottom,
full OG, HR. A couple of surface flaws which
are quite common for this experiment. ExPacetti (EP79-35) $500.00
145-E6a
1c Carmine, die essay pulled on India paper and die
sunk on card blotter. Incomplete engraving of the
entire design, lower edge of the bust vertical shading
only. Ex-Earl of Crawford, Finkelburg, & Pacetti
(EP79-32) $500.00
145P3 –
Plate block of 14
1c Ultramarine,
bottom, lower left,
imprint plate number
block of 14, pulled
on India paper and
sound. Marvelous
quality. Ex-Pacetti
(EP79-36) $850.00
206P3 –
Plate block of 20
1c Blue, top, upper left,
imprint plate number
block of 20, pulled on
India paper and still
affixed to the original
card blotter. An absolute
superb gem! Ex-Pacetti
(EP79-37) $1,500.00
12 • James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 79
145-E6a
1c Green, die essay pulled on India paper and die sunk on
card blotter. Incomplete engraving of the entire design,
lower edge of the bust vertical shading only. Ex-Earl of
Crawford, Finkelburg, & Pacetti (EP79-33) $500.00
206-E6a
1c Gray-blue, incomplete reengraving by the American Bank
Note Company in 1881 pulled on
India paper and affixed to card
blotter. There is no shading on the
upper arabesque elements. ExPacetti (EP79-34) $750.00
Columbian Issue Left Sheet Margin Card Proof Blocks
230P4-245P4
Complete set of left sheet margin blocks of
four. These blocks come from the “Lilly”
sheets broken up by Bob Siegel and Richard
Taylor after the 1967 Sale (RAS Sale No.
321) of the proofs sheets housed in the Lilly collection. Taylor’s half of the sheets
yielded three sets of sheet margin blocks. This is the last set available to collectors
as the other two sets have been placed. A once in a generation or more opportunity. Ex-Earl of Crawford, Sen. Ackerman & Josiah K. Lilly. (EP79-14) $15,000.00
James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 79 • 13