Lot 1150 E
1944 Armed Forces Postage Free, progressive and large die essays, group of seven die essays on India and one on glazed card; includes three vignette engravings in black (approximately 76-90x63-78mm) with two showing the progression of engraving and a final die, an initial outlined engraving of the lettered frame design on glazed card (105x91mm), a single die impression in blue showing four different shadings of the helmet entitled "Experimental Helmet effects" in pencil below, the finished designs in black and gray (98x76mm) signed by engraver E.R. Grove, and a final large die proof in red and blue on India die sunk on full card (151x202mm) signed by E.R. Grove, Very Fine, a wonderful and unique assembly of this interesting unissued stamp which was developed to provide military personnel with a free franking stamp for their mail.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
This unissued design was engraved by G.W. Megee and E.R. Grove of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. An article in the American Stamp Dealer & Collector (March 2017) featured a image of the finished design in blue and red colors (reversed to the large die proof presented here) that now resides in the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum.
Realized: $3,000