| Description |
Fairman, Draper, Underwood & Co. Vignette Proof Sample Sheet - Undated (Ca. 1825 or 1826) and Untitled with Center Imprint Style with Audubon Running Grouse Vignette. PCGS Very Fine 35 Apparent. A second example of this extremely rare vignette proof sample sheet, and another important opportunity. We consider this and the previous sheet as having the initial appearance of the Audubon running grouse vignette. As previous, an India paper Proof on a large sheet, from a single copper plate, by Fairman, Draper, Underwood & Co., with the imprint near the center. Approximately, 32 cm x 41cm. Undated and untitled. No title block, but there are eleven rows with 66 engraved elements. The running grouse in the bottom row, second from the right, is boldly printed and sharp. This sheet was published in the original Peck and Newman article, "Discovered!", as Figure 1. Noted with "Small Splits and Minor Damage; Repairs; Minor Stains." Folded into twelve parts originally. There are some visible streaks of foxing toward the top third and a toned back "twelfth," not visible from the face. The rest of the sheet is vibrant and sharp. Obtained from an important collection of engraver's sheets sold in the July 12, 2006, R. M. Smythe & Co. sale; formerly the property of a family for multiple decades. Two small pieces of archival framing tape on the top back edge are the pedigree marks on this example. The first observed by Smythe's catalogers and extremely rare. It is cited in the Stack's Bowers March 2011 lot description as the only other example observed at that time. One of three examples confirmed by us and a significant proof sample sheet. Ex: Smythe & Co. New York City Summer Currency Auction #262, July 12, 2006, lot 2552; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
From Newman X (Heritage Auctions, November 2018), lot 20104, realized $3120. |
