370-E5

370-E5

370-E5 Fourth Design (B) Retouched photo of adopted frame with pencilled WILLIAM H. SEWARD on white wash ribbon below seal vignette. Unique (ex-Johl). Two survive (they are listed as "die essays" by Brazer and as essays by Scott). Huston's second and larger Seward essay, combining the frame of the previously approved seal-on-ice design with a retouched vignette of Seward derived from an 1876 bond, was approved by the Postmaster-General on April 24, 1909, with the proviso that Seward's name be added. The approved Seward essay. Photo of wash drawing of frame and arched ribbon of approved seal essay with vignette cut out, mounted over photo of engraved Seward vignette (Bureau die number 2373). On April 26, 1909, Bureau Director Joseph E. Ralph approved the lettering of William H. Seward's name on a new essay. Incredibly, Seward's name appeared below a vignette of ... the seal! "Perhaps a vignette of Seward had been loosely stuck over the seal and subsequently fell off; or perhaps the sole purpose of the essay was to present the name tablet for approval" (from Patterson, cited below, p. 393.) Or perhaps the BEP staff was fonder of the seal than they were of the Seward profile and deliberately labeled it with his name as a joke for Director Ralph's amusement (as opined by the current owner and exhibitor of these essays, Dave Lobdell).