DIETZ produced essay for Army Issue #788, close to ISSUED DESIGN, SIGNED & RARE!

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

788

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Unused

Centering

VF/XF

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1938

Item Description

AUGUST DIETZ designed and produced ESSAY: prepared for the 4c ARMY ISSUE; FEATURING CSA  ARMY HEROES; (Scott #788 E), PRINTED on 3.5" x 5" GLAZED CARD, depicts a design similar to the one issued (the center is different and the portraits face different directions), GENUINE AUGUST DIETZ SIGNATURE at bottom right, PRINTED ON THE SAME PRESS AS THE DIETZ DIE PROOFS, trifling wrinkle at top, LOT ALSO INCLUDES A #788 FDC with unofficial RICHMOND CANCEL, CACHET w/  DUGALD STEWART WALKER DESIGN, SOMETIMES CALLED HISTORIC ARTS, WALKER LIVED IN RICHMOND AND HAD SOME OF HIS BOOKS PRINTED ON THE DIETZ PRESS, SO I BELIEVE DIETZ SPONSORED THIS CACHET DESIGN, VF LOT.  

The design of the individual stamp says "dietz" below the design (under the right "4"). Most likely less than 100 of these essays were made.  

August dietz, sr. (born in prussia 1869) was a philatelist, dealer, writer, club organizer, editor and publisher, who specialized in the study of the postal history of the confederate states of america. In 1901, he formed the dietz printing company (later the southern publishing company). It was both a business and a pleasure for him. When he began work on the postal service of the confederate states of america in 1918 (and later, other works), he decided a little financial help was in order so, both to finance and to publicize his work, dietz used his printing skills to issue something we call today the dietz die proofs. Dietz called them fac-simile die proofs. But there were many other interesting items that were made in the dietz print shop. From 1935-1939 dietz tried his hand at designing united states postage stamps. To my knowledge he did this four times. Twice he changed his mind and never submitted the essays. However the other two times he submitted and, while rejected, his influence on the finished designs is obvious if you have seen his essays and the issued stamps. This army-navy issue was a set of ten stamps, but only one was exclusively csa related. A. Dietz used the well known painting the last meeting by everett b. D. Julio as part of the design (most likely why the design was rejected). 

AUGUST DIETZ made only a few FDCS. HE IS OFTEN CONFUSED WITH FREDERICK DIETZ (NO RELATION) who made quite a few. F. DIETZ DID MAKE A CACHET FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT SIMILAR TO THE A. DIETZ SPONSORED CACHET. HE ALSO CANCELED HIS COVERS AT THE OFFICIAL FD SITE OF WASHINGTON DC, WHEREAS A. DIETZ USED RICHMOND EXCLUSIVELY.  

3685

Seller Information

Seller

OddityMan (3112)

Registered Since

12/16/2008

Feedback

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Store

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Item Location

Pennsylvania, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

14 days. Email first, please.