Proof
Information: Keith Fitchett: "The Gilbert and Ellice Islands and its Philately, Part 5" - Pacific Islands Study Circle 2004.
It is supposed that Father Rougier was the designer of this stamp.
The stamp shows the company schooner "Ysabel May" (of 135 tons) which is greeted by a fregat bird while approaching Christmas Island.
This proof was offered by the then "Prestige Philately" now "Prestige Philately and mossgreen"
in their auction 183 2nd August 2013.
The lot description:
1918 FIRST ISSUE 5c PERF 12½ The original colour proofs of a "block" of 4 - and of an unrelated 'SAVE THE VINEYARDS' label - on highly surfaced stock (174x280mm),
plus the four colour separations, removed from the accompanying plain brown-paper folder with 'AMERICAN ENGRAVING/and COLOR PLATE CO' h/s on the face & details of inks
used on the inside back cover, a few minor blemishes hardly detract from this important archival material. Unique! and the key item for these locals.
This proof sheet is imperf.
American Engraving and Color Plate Company (director Howard Griffith, later Max Flader) was one of the many color companies in San Fancisco.
Another one was the Sierra Art and Engraving Company, which also played a role in Christmas Island philately with their cachet letters.
Proof
The slogan on the grapes-vignette was published by the "California Grape Protective Association" in 1916.
This ad was published in September 1916, the first information about the CI stamp in Europe was published on 1 July 1916
(see articles here) so it is quite sure that the above proofs were printed in May or June 1916.
This printing may have been even earlier - this is supported by the news that E.Rougier left San Francisco for Christmas Island on April 26. Since he has certainly reviewed the design of the stamp, the printing of the proofs shown above could have already been done in April. It would also be possible that he has already taken the final stamps on this trip.
According to Paul Boulagnon in his book "Emmanuel Rougier" the order to print these stamps was given in March 1916. But I doubt that the grapes-vignettes had been printed so early.
In November 2020 and January 2021 two poster stamps of this series showed up at an auction site:
A single of these poster stamps
(new 11/2020)
A single of these poster stamps
(new 1/2021)
Ad from 6 Oct 1916
(new 2 Jan 2019)
one color proof
one color proof
one color proof
one color proof
Company imprint & remark
color used with proof
color Co. letter head in 1921
Fitchett about the proofs
(new 12/2020)
Fitchett about the proofs
(new 12/2020)