US Treasury, Alexander Hamilton Statue, Vignette Proof, BEP, Louis Schofield

Vignette die proof on india die sunk on card of statue of Alexander Hamilton, which stands in front of the US Treasury building. Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755, or 1757, in Charlestown, the capital of the island of Nevis, in the Leeward Islands. Commissioned in 1917 and cast by the Kunst Foundry, the statue depicts Hamilton holding a tricorn hat and a long dress coat in his hands. In the statue, he is clad in knee breeches, a throat fichu, buckled shoes, and ruffled cuffs. The statue stands 10 feet (3.0 m) high atop a 9 feet (2.7 m)-tall granite base made by Henry Bacon. The statue was dedicated in 1923, and this working proof most likely was produced by the BEP for the ceremony program or invite. Pencil signed on reverse.

Engraved by Louis S. Schofield (1868-1938). He was the grandchild of John Sartain and studied engraving with Emily Sartain. He began his apprenticeship at the BEP on 3 Jan. 1888; he was named an engraver on 14 June 1893 at $1000 per year. A letter dated 2 Sept. 1893 from the BEP to the US treasury dept. said that unless there was a salary increase, the government would loose a talented engraver. Schofield engraved almost 100 postage stamps.

Gene Hessler, The Engraver’s Line

Note: this is an ORIGINAL BEP die-sunk proof; not a reproduction or contemporary print. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.