Collector’s set with proof panes and book planned for battlefields stamps

By Jay Bigalke

The United States Postal Service will offer a limited number of proof sets as part of a collector’s set for its upcoming Battlefields of the American Revolution stamps.

The 15 nondenominated (73¢) stamps will be issued April 16 in a pane of 15. The collector’s set includes proof panes and a 60-page book that “follows artist Greg Harlin’s meticulous process for illustrating the five scenes shown on the Battlefields of the American Revolution stamp pane — from rough concepts to preliminary pencil sketches to final paintings.”

Looking at the publicity image of the set, it appears that there are five proofs of cyan, magenta, black and yellow, respectively, plus a proof with just the dark blue ink selvage color. A normal pane of stamps is also shown.

A certificate of authenticity signed by Harlin is also included.

There is no mention of the quantity produced, and there doesn’t appear to be an order limit, according to the online page for the set.

The cost for the collector’s set including the book and stamp proofs is $65.95, and is USPS item No. 486327.

The Battlefields of the American Revolution proof set is similar to a set of proof panes offered to collectors in 2013 in conjunction with the Jenny Invert pane of six $2 stamps (Scott 4806).

A note in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers reads, “A book containing an unused and a first-day canceled example of No. 4806, along with items that are termed ‘proofs’ and ‘die wipes’ sold for $200.”

The die wipe in the Jenny Invert set consisted of a small pane with blurred blue and red ink impressions that the Postal Service described as “an authentic section of the die wipe used during the press run.”

A set of six proof panes was offered for $79.95 with the 2019 Transcontinental Railroad set of three stamps in a pane of 18 (Scott 5378-5380).

A set of five proof panes for $59.95 was also available for the 2020 Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor stamp (Scott 5524).

The Transcontinental Railroad proofs were sold in a boxed set with a commemorative book, while the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor proof set included only a shrink-wrapped book with a pocket for the stamps and proofs in the inside back cover.

In 2023, the Postal Service offered a set similar to the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor proof set for the Endangered Species stamps (Scott 5799). The set includes a book, eight proof panes and a regular pane of the Endangered Species stamps.

In 2024, the Underground Railroad stamps (Scott 5834-5843) also had a set of seven proof panes and a normal pane offered, along with a fold-out booklet and a poster.

As of mid-March, the Endangered Species set was still available from the United States Postal Service for $59.95, and the Underground Railroad set was also available at $43.95.

The Battlefields of the American Revolution collector’s set can be purchased at the United States Postal Service’s online store.

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