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United States/Stamps : So What's The Deal On Early USA Proofs?

 

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

24 Nov 2019
03:24:35pm

Approvals
I know what proofs are supposed to be. They are preliminary copies of something to check out the quality prior to approval for production.

Image Not Found

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?

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musicman
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APS #213005

24 Nov 2019
04:01:49pm
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?

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musicman
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APS #213005

24 Nov 2019
04:10:12pm
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."





Here is a link to the article;

https://www.linns.com/news/postal-updates-page/stamp-collecting-basics/2000/january/what-are-essays-and-proofs-.html

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BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

24 Nov 2019
05:05:20pm

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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?"



Seller describes it as 244P4, which would be a plate proof on card. No gum. No more description than that and a photo of both sides.


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nlroberts1961

12,8 cm Kanone 43 L/55 in blueprints only

27 Nov 2019
11:07:00pm
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...

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"Euros think a 100 miles is a long way, Americans think a 100 yrs is a long time..."
BenFranklin1902
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Tom in Exton, PA

02 Dec 2019
05:28:01pm

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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.

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Rob1956
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Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW)

06 Dec 2019
07:16:42pm
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

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

07 Dec 2019
12:11:54am
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:

Image Not Found

These discrepancies also offer a cautionary note: Beware cardboard proofs shaved down and perfed to approximate the real thing.

Lars

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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

www.larsdog.com/stamps
        

 

Author/Postings
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
24 Nov 2019
03:24:35pm

Approvals

I know what proofs are supposed to be. They are preliminary copies of something to check out the quality prior to approval for production.

Image Not Found

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?

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
musicman

APS #213005
24 Nov 2019
04:01:49pm

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?

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
musicman

APS #213005
24 Nov 2019
04:10:12pm

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."





Here is a link to the article;

https://www.linns.com/news/postal-updates-page/stamp-collecting-basics/2000/january/what-are-essays-and-proofs-.html

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
24 Nov 2019
05:05:20pm

Approvals

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?"



Seller describes it as 244P4, which would be a plate proof on card. No gum. No more description than that and a photo of both sides.


Like
Login to Like
this post
nlroberts1961

12,8 cm Kanone 43 L/55 in blueprints only

27 Nov 2019
11:07:00pm

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...

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Euros think a 100 miles is a long way, Americans think a 100 yrs is a long time..."
Members Picture
BenFranklin1902

Tom in Exton, PA
02 Dec 2019
05:28:01pm

Approvals

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.

Like
Login to Like
this post

Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW)
06 Dec 2019
07:16:42pm

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

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
07 Dec 2019
12:11:54am

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:

Image Not Found

These discrepancies also offer a cautionary note: Beware cardboard proofs shaved down and perfed to approximate the real thing.

Lars

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

www.larsdog.com/stam ...
        

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