Proofs...a Viable Alternative To Stamps?

Consider very expensive stamps (issued prior to 1870 for the moment). These "look" poor due to centering even in VF condition, yet have prices out of this world (out of most of ours, anyway). What about simply buying the proofs as a substitute for those actual stamps themselves? Why pay all that money for the actual stamp?

Is it so that the image that would appear on the actual stamp itself couldn't be better? If what a collector is looking for are the nice clean, eye values of the images on the stamps, would this be a better value?

When studying stamps under a magnifier, and wanting to see the all so subtle differences in marks on stamp images, wouldn't one rather study a proof of that stamp?

What issues would cause one to prefer stamps rather than proofs, if the only difference is price?

And if so, what does one have to be careful of when buying proofs?



-IBFS

Many collectors have done this, especially for the 1869 series where a complete set of plate proofs on card or India costs less (or perhaps about as much) as a nice used 90 cent stamp does by itself. Plus there are trial color proofs, if one wants to go all out.

IBFS....why not just collect PROOFS??
Plenty people do....

Indeed. The only way I'll ever be able to afford this is in a proof.

Why are proofs cheaper than the actual stamp? Or is this true?

Plate proofs are usually less expensive than die proofs because plate proofs were taken from a whole plate impression (like a sheet) whereas die proofs were taken from a single die. Plate proofs usually have small margins around them if they have been cut from a larger piece while die proofs have very large margins around it. They are great to have for those unaffordable stamps, especially if they are imperforate like the proof.

so does $31 sound pretty fair for four proofs Scott# 63,#68,#69,#73 I have made an offer but haven't committed yet.

19th century plate proofs are less expensive than stamps because there is less collector interest, and many plate proofs were printed in fairly large quantities to give as gifts. Their real purpose which was to allow those who needed to know what new stamps would look like. And they were produced by private firms for the most part. So there are a decent quantity around for most of them. Die proofs are scarce because few were ever pulled, usually not more than about five of any stamp.
20th century proofs are almost always very scarce as either die or plate proofs; they were not given as gifts, and were produced by the BEP which kept a much closer eye on quantities issued.

revcollector see my last post above. Does $31 for the four sound fair or is that too much

Are they on card or India paper ?

On card.


The #73 is another auction lot all together.

Jeff I really don't know and the seller hasn't responded yet.
Chuck

Jeff I just went back and looked . All four are on card Scott# 63,#68,#71 and #73 I had one number wrong in my first question.

I Brake For Stamps I apologize. I didn't mean to hi-Jack your thread

Yeah I think they're worth it. Heck that Blackjack is selling for $60-$70 dollars on ebay right now. #68p4 $30 +/-, #71p4 $40 +/-, #63p4 $40-50 +/-...etc..

At $8 each you really can't go wrong.

stallzer, Jeff
Thanks to both of you. I didn't think that was too bad of a price either. Well he has put them up for auction on ebay so let's see what happens.