[30c] Black, Frame Only,
Large Die Essay on India (121-E2 var). 40 x 44mm, on card, crisp
impression showing part of vignette on frame die including part of
eagle and shield, trivial toning spotsVERY FINE. THIS EARLY DIE ESSAY OF THE FRAME STRUCK IN BLACK IS PROBABLY UNIQUE.
Our examination of the two frame-only die essays (this lot and the next) finds a very faint impression of the vignette. This was lightly etched into the die (as were guide lines) as a means of providing the engraver with reference points. The impression in Dark Blue as struck on the next lot shows that most of the vignette lines were later burnished from the design (Image)
[30c] Dark Blue, Frame Only,
Large Die Essay on India (121-E2). Mounted on India and die sunk on 67
x 68mm card, showing full die sinkage, few trivial toned spots, faint thin
spot at top left from mount removalVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FRAME ESSAY OF THE ADOPTED DESIGN FOR THE 30-CENT 1869 PICTORIAL.
See previous description for additional details on the die engraving. Ex Earl of Crawford (Image)
30c Black, Vignette Die Essay
on India (121-E3). 35 x 52mm, on card, few toned spots, otherwise Very
Fine, very rare, probably only two or three examples are known (Image)