Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Warterlow was in the practice at this time to send a variety of what I would call Color Trials (not technically a proof) to a country's postal agency in order for them to make a final decision on the color the stamp should be printed in. Usually Waterlow would print the stamp in several different colors, so there are likely other color trials of thes stamp in other colors. I have seen a variety of these from Panama which also used Waterlow for some of it's stamps.
As far as a value I have seen ones from Panama go for around $10 or so. Sometimes more. It all depends on collector interest.
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Yes... a color trial then. But my quandary is how can it be that the Waterlow & Sons color trial is the same design as that eventually printed and issued by the American Banknote Company.
Was the engraved plate created in Costa Rica and provided to both companies for trial runs? Was Waterlow & Sons initially approached for the design of the stamp, and then the American Banknote Company chosen as the final printer? Was the plate shared between the two companies? What is the usual process?
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Terry:
My Costa Rica Postal Catalogue lists a 20c yellow-green (with Waterlow & Sons Ltd. / Specimen) and hole punch. It also lists a proof 20c yellow-green (with Waterlow & Sons Ltd. / Specimen) and hole punch, perf. 12.5, ungummed.
I hope this helps you out.
Cheers!
David Giles
President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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They could have hired out stamp design to Waterlow and the actual printing to American Banknote.
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Is it normal for a proof to be perf?
What is the purpose for a proof in this case?
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@David... Thank you for the catalog information. My copy does have gum, and is perforated 12½.
@Smauggie... My feeling is that you are probably correct about deciding on the American Banknote Company for the final printing selection. It may be that the yellow green specimen provided by Waterlow & Sons was simply the example they provided from the plate they were commissioned to do. There have been no other trial colors found to date. I note that Costa Rica has been "equal opportunity" in selecting stamp printers. My collection is only airmail stamps. But, while most early stamps were printed by the American Banknote Company (USA) and Waterlow & Sons (UK), I see no less than 16 other printers around the world used through 1972; including Chile, Colombia, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Finland, Portugal and Netherlands. It is only after 1960 that locally printing began to be commissioned to Fotolit SA in San Jose.
@1898... Of course, proofs can be perforate or imperforate. Proofs are special printings of stamps in the same design as the finished stamp, usually made before a stamp is issued, to check the quality of the die or printing plate, check ink colors, provide a record for official archives, or to provide a special format of the stamp for a stamp's engraver, public officials, or collectors. Proofs having limited production can sometimes command a premium on the collector market.
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Last night I looked on Ebay, for what ever it's worth or not worth, perf. proof stamps don't occur very often.
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@1898... I would not put too much faith in a survey of eBay listings. Aren't you the one who authored a thread on this discussion board uncovering "misidentified stamps" on eBay? While it may be true that most proofs are imperforate for US issues, there is a whole world out there to consider. I have noticed many eBay listings of "proofs" that are actually printer's waste, or private printings, usually at ridiculous prices! Also there are listings for "proofs" which are actually essays or specimens. Such is the world of Essays, Proofs and Specimens.
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I did not take a survey!
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05:03:27pm
Survey also means "to look at".
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The information that I have for the first Costa Rica airmail stamp tells me that it was issued in June 1926 and recess printed in blue by the American Banknote Company (U.S.A.) on unwatermarked paper and perforated 12½. So now I have a specimen/proof of that stamp printed in green by Waterlow & Sons, Ltd (UK). They appear to be the exact same design. How did this come about, and what would be the value of the specimen stamp?
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re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
Warterlow was in the practice at this time to send a variety of what I would call Color Trials (not technically a proof) to a country's postal agency in order for them to make a final decision on the color the stamp should be printed in. Usually Waterlow would print the stamp in several different colors, so there are likely other color trials of thes stamp in other colors. I have seen a variety of these from Panama which also used Waterlow for some of it's stamps.
As far as a value I have seen ones from Panama go for around $10 or so. Sometimes more. It all depends on collector interest.
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re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
Yes... a color trial then. But my quandary is how can it be that the Waterlow & Sons color trial is the same design as that eventually printed and issued by the American Banknote Company.
Was the engraved plate created in Costa Rica and provided to both companies for trial runs? Was Waterlow & Sons initially approached for the design of the stamp, and then the American Banknote Company chosen as the final printer? Was the plate shared between the two companies? What is the usual process?
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re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
Terry:
My Costa Rica Postal Catalogue lists a 20c yellow-green (with Waterlow & Sons Ltd. / Specimen) and hole punch. It also lists a proof 20c yellow-green (with Waterlow & Sons Ltd. / Specimen) and hole punch, perf. 12.5, ungummed.
I hope this helps you out.
Cheers!
David Giles
President, The Society for Costa Rica Collectors
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
They could have hired out stamp design to Waterlow and the actual printing to American Banknote.
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10:34:10am
re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
Is it normal for a proof to be perf?
What is the purpose for a proof in this case?
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re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
@David... Thank you for the catalog information. My copy does have gum, and is perforated 12½.
@Smauggie... My feeling is that you are probably correct about deciding on the American Banknote Company for the final printing selection. It may be that the yellow green specimen provided by Waterlow & Sons was simply the example they provided from the plate they were commissioned to do. There have been no other trial colors found to date. I note that Costa Rica has been "equal opportunity" in selecting stamp printers. My collection is only airmail stamps. But, while most early stamps were printed by the American Banknote Company (USA) and Waterlow & Sons (UK), I see no less than 16 other printers around the world used through 1972; including Chile, Colombia, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Finland, Portugal and Netherlands. It is only after 1960 that locally printing began to be commissioned to Fotolit SA in San Jose.
@1898... Of course, proofs can be perforate or imperforate. Proofs are special printings of stamps in the same design as the finished stamp, usually made before a stamp is issued, to check the quality of the die or printing plate, check ink colors, provide a record for official archives, or to provide a special format of the stamp for a stamp's engraver, public officials, or collectors. Proofs having limited production can sometimes command a premium on the collector market.
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12:22:24pm
re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
Last night I looked on Ebay, for what ever it's worth or not worth, perf. proof stamps don't occur very often.
1898
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re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
@1898... I would not put too much faith in a survey of eBay listings. Aren't you the one who authored a thread on this discussion board uncovering "misidentified stamps" on eBay? While it may be true that most proofs are imperforate for US issues, there is a whole world out there to consider. I have noticed many eBay listings of "proofs" that are actually printer's waste, or private printings, usually at ridiculous prices! Also there are listings for "proofs" which are actually essays or specimens. Such is the world of Essays, Proofs and Specimens.
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04:54:56pm
re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
I did not take a survey!
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
03 Oct 2023
05:03:27pm
re: Costa Rica Airmail Proof
Survey also means "to look at".
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