Proofs and essays are some of my personal favorites though I only have a single item in my current inventory. Generally proofs and essays are much rarer than the final stamp and often very colorful and attractive, though the catalog values are often much less than the actual postage stamps. I bid on several items in the recent Siegel auction and was completely unsuccessful but nonetheless thought I would highlight a few items from their sale. First a few definitions.
Essay. An essay is a proposed design for a stamp that differs from the final design in some way. Essays were commonly provided by the various companies competing for the opportunity to manufacture stamps prior to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving taking over the process.
Proof. A proof is trial printing made from the original die or the finished plate. Proofs are printed on card, India paper or bond papers. Card is cardboard and is much thicker than stamp paper. India paper is a soft and very thin paper. Proofs on India very often have thins because the paper is so fragile.
Following are some examples from the Siegel Mar. 8-10 auction.
Above is an essay, Scott 11-E8a. This essay was a design proposed by Draper, Welsh and Co. for what became Scott #11. In the Scott catalog they list 9 shades of this essay, the one shown being the orange brown. The illustrated essay was part of a lot consisting a 5 shades on both India paper and bond. The lot description indicated a few of the India essays had thins, typical of this fragile paper. The lot sold for $950 before the auctioneers 15%.
The above essay is a very attractive design for 11 proposed by Danford, Bald and Company, Scott #11-E12a on India paper sunk on card. It sold for $700 before the auctioneer’s 15%.
The above is a beautiful multiple of Scott #42P3, on India, the same design that is used on Scott #12. This multiple includes the plate number and the complete Toppan, Carpenter and Co. imprint. It is described as having a small hole but nonetheless realized $1600.
The above is a block of four of 43P3, proof on India. A beautiful fresh block. I bid a hopeful $350 on it but it realized $700.
A final note on proofs. It is not uncommon to find fake stamps manufactured from proofs on card. There is a large financial incentive since a proof on card is about $100 and the fakes are often of the very rare reprints (Scott 40-47) which catalog in the thousands. The fakes are made by filing down the thick card until it is about the same thickness of stamp paper then adding fake perforations on all four sides. Fakes can be distinguished from the authentic stamp by the very crisp and fresh impression of the proof, the roughened paper from the filing process and the very clean, sharp-edged perforations that are much cleaner than authentic perforations. The reprints (40-47) should never be purchased without a valid certification.
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