Would you consider your posted image a plate proof, a color trial or
a color proof?
This is an excerpt from an article in Linn's from Jan.1, 2000;
"Up until a half century ago or more, stamp proofs were available to the stamp trade. In early days, congressmen could secure them for their constituents upon request. Thousands were distributed in this manner, creating a collecting irony of sorts: The proofs of modern U.S. stamps usually are not available, while older proofs are frequently offered for sale.
Today, proofs are retained only by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the United States Postal Service. Engravers were allowed to keep a proof for themselves long after they became unavailable for congressional requests, but those were the only copies outside of government ownership. Occasionally, a retired engraver's estate may include a proof for outside sale, but that is extremely infrequent. The last 1953 airmail proof may have come from that source.
For all practical purposes, modern U.S. proofs are now akin to a dead country that no longer issues stamps. They are no longer obtainable by anyone."
"Would you consider your posted image a plate proof, a color trial or
a color proof?"
many printers in the old days recognized a profitable sideline could be made in selling ephemera... look at all the Latin american issues as only the most blatant example...
In the end the $4 Columbian I was looking at went for a few dollars short of $100 which is probably a good price, but I chose to watch rather than buy. Not the season for big selfish purchases.
Some Australian colonial proofs are reprints, printed decades later which are far cheaper than the original proofs. Did the USA have reprints?
Rob
It's amazing how inexpensive some proofs are! I'm still missing US O69 and O70 - two of the large format State Department stamps. (I was lucky enough to find a "good price" on an O71 a few years back, but it remains the most I have ever spent for a single stamp). So these puppies aren't cheap. The CVs are in the thousands, but O69 is valued at $900 unused no gum in the lowest grade and O70 is valued at $750 in the same grade. (O71 is $675 at its cheapest and I didn't pay a whole lot less than that).
The proofs for those stamps are quite affordable! The plate on card for each is $35 (O69P4 and O70P4) catalog value. I got mine for under $15 each. There are Facsimilies selling for that!
I do hope to replace them with the real thing some day, but these are quite satisfactory place holders:
These discrepancies also offer a cautionary note: Beware cardboard proofs shaved down and perfed to approximate the real thing.
Lars
I know what proofs are supposed to be. They are preliminary copies of something to check out the quality prior to approval for production.
I see that there are tons of 19th century USA proofs in circulation. Many of them are even cheaper than the real stamp they represent, such as my Columbian friend above. Logic says that proofs would be very limited and rarely out of government hands. But that's not the case.
So what exactly is the story? How were these circulated in such great numbers? The stamp I'm showing here is hinged and never had any gum. Is it a good alternative to the original stamp I cannot afford?
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
Would you consider your posted image a plate proof, a color trial or
a color proof?
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
This is an excerpt from an article in Linn's from Jan.1, 2000;
"Up until a half century ago or more, stamp proofs were available to the stamp trade. In early days, congressmen could secure them for their constituents upon request. Thousands were distributed in this manner, creating a collecting irony of sorts: The proofs of modern U.S. stamps usually are not available, while older proofs are frequently offered for sale.
Today, proofs are retained only by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the United States Postal Service. Engravers were allowed to keep a proof for themselves long after they became unavailable for congressional requests, but those were the only copies outside of government ownership. Occasionally, a retired engraver's estate may include a proof for outside sale, but that is extremely infrequent. The last 1953 airmail proof may have come from that source.
For all practical purposes, modern U.S. proofs are now akin to a dead country that no longer issues stamps. They are no longer obtainable by anyone."
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
"Would you consider your posted image a plate proof, a color trial or
a color proof?"
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
many printers in the old days recognized a profitable sideline could be made in selling ephemera... look at all the Latin american issues as only the most blatant example...
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
In the end the $4 Columbian I was looking at went for a few dollars short of $100 which is probably a good price, but I chose to watch rather than buy. Not the season for big selfish purchases.
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
Some Australian colonial proofs are reprints, printed decades later which are far cheaper than the original proofs. Did the USA have reprints?
Rob
re: So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?
It's amazing how inexpensive some proofs are! I'm still missing US O69 and O70 - two of the large format State Department stamps. (I was lucky enough to find a "good price" on an O71 a few years back, but it remains the most I have ever spent for a single stamp). So these puppies aren't cheap. The CVs are in the thousands, but O69 is valued at $900 unused no gum in the lowest grade and O70 is valued at $750 in the same grade. (O71 is $675 at its cheapest and I didn't pay a whole lot less than that).
The proofs for those stamps are quite affordable! The plate on card for each is $35 (O69P4 and O70P4) catalog value. I got mine for under $15 each. There are Facsimilies selling for that!
I do hope to replace them with the real thing some day, but these are quite satisfactory place holders:
These discrepancies also offer a cautionary note: Beware cardboard proofs shaved down and perfed to approximate the real thing.
Lars