Stunning Sheet From The BEP Certified Proofs

Lately, I've been having a great deal of fun sifting through the certified proofs from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. These are part of the Smithsonian's National Numismatic Collection, housed at the National Museum of American History. Don't let the "numismatic" label fool you, though. There is an incredible amount of revenue material spread out through a lot of categories.

There are also surprises that pop up in miscellaneous categories, including this proof sheet of all manner of mostly philatelic elements. There are a number of beautiful landscapes here that I can't connect to any specific postage or revenue stamps. Can anyone provide some insight?

The link below will take you to the specific page with the sheet, then you can click on the image for a high-res view. Be aware, that these large images can take several seconds to upload, so be patient.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/coll...nmah_1716858

I can tie every design on the sheet back to an issued stamp.

I'm not talking about images that are similar, I mean these specific vignettes. Go...

It's not my area, but the ones you pulled out appear to be essays that competed for the issued stamp designs.
John

The bird image you posted matches the one in the upper right corner of the sheet I posted in your "Goverment Postage Stamp Printers' Conference?" thread in another folder (forget the name - printing process or something).

Yes! I'd forgotten about that -- it's in the Stamp Production Process Forum. Here's your post: https://goscf.com/t/67650#645430 So I'd say yours is definitely a BEP sheet. If I come across it among the certified proofs I'll alert you.

Just to be clear, I don't own it. It was offered in an auction in 2000 for $1500 and no one bit and it disappeared back into the woodwork.

There's also one on this sheet of particular interest. It appears to be a 1953 experimental test stamp by the BEP. Does anyone have any information on this?

Any idea what R.D.&E. at the top of the sheet stands for?
Too bad we can't see what is the first part of "er Plates" is.
Of course 124 Sub is subjects.

There is a similar currency-related sheet that shows "Exper. Plate" -- so Experimental. I'm going to guess R.D. stands for Research and Development. The E might be Experimentation.

https://americanhistory.si.edu/coll...nmah_1716857