Birds Perched, Birds Flying, Birds Aground

gnstamps80, welcome to the forum!

My knowledge of proofs relates entirely to the French community, so anyone can jump in and explain differences in U.S. or other proofs. But, for my area, a 'short' answer to your question... and there's considerably more detail than I'm giving here... Stamp engravers would etch the artwork for a new stamp directly onto a "master die" (a metal block) and that die would be tested by printing it onto a large, heavier piece of paper... a die proof. You can often see the edges of the metal block on the die. This was a way to check the overall quality of the etching, and sometimes changes would be made (so die proofs occasionally differ from the finished stamp). When finally approved, a plate of multiple images (for printing sheets) would be created from the master die, and test runs of these are called plate proofs.

Now there are a variety of die proofs. Sometimes the master die was tested in successive stages as it was being etched, and those are "progressive die proofs" (or "stage die proofs"). "Artist's die proofs" were printed and given to the original artist... they appear in a variety of colors other than the issued color, and are often signed by the artist. "Sepia die proofs" (or "Workshop proofs") were printer's tests before getting final approval and are the rarest of proofs (usually between 2 and 6 were made). Then there are "Trial color die proofs", usually unsigned, which were used to test possible colors of the new stamp (although later issues they just seem to have made different colors for collectors... or for the fun of it, I sometimes think!).

A proof stamped Bon à Tirer is one that has been approved for final printing. In theory, only one exists for each stamp.

The plate proofs are printed like the final stamp in sheets, sometimes cut apart, nearly always imperforate. Again, many colors are tested in this way, and they are often called "trial color essays".

Finally, the finished stamp was often printed as a "deluxe proof" in its final colors, which were sometimes printed in larger numbers, and given away to VIP's (usually government officials).

There are various ways of telling all these proofs apart, and things to look for on each such as embossing, security punch holes, etc. It can get complicated...

Incidentally, note on the signed artist's die proof that I used to illustrate my post, the country name is the Somali Coast. The final stamp was issued as Afars and Issas after a name change, as seen here:

Hmm... very interesting! That was very informative, and I thank you for taking the time to explain it to me!

Are these proofs, and collecting them, considered a more superior piece to own? Or is it more of a matter of preference?

Additionally, do they command a higher price?

Thanks for the welcome as well!

Greg

Well, what is superior is strictly a matter of opinion! I would lose a lot of friends on the forum if I claimed these were 'better' than anything else. That being said, yes, of course they are superior.

(Just kidding!! It's a matter of personal preference.)

They are definitely more expensive and usually rare. Most of the French community proofs were held by a couple of printing firms up until the beginning of this century, when they were sold off and entered the collector's market, so they are often easier to find than other countries. They're getting scarcer, though, as they are absorbed into major collections. Depending on desirability, the types I collect range in price from $75 to over $600. You can get some of them for far less if you collect a less popular topic. Birds and butterflies are in the most demand in my own field.

Oh, ok. I see! Interesting. Are proofs one of your favorite types to collect?

Also, if I may ask - you seem very knowledgeable. How long have you been collecting? I'm at 5 years myself. Mostly topicals.

Butterflies and birds are great topics, so yes, I can see them being in demand. In fact, they are primary topics in my collection as well.

Greg

My collection is very specific... wildlife themed stamps designed and/or engraved by French artist Pierre Gandon. For those stamps I collect literally everything... proofs are a major facet of my collection, but I'm also interested in covers of all kinds, varieties/errors of the issued stamps, etc. Subjects range from corals to lemurs. Birds are a big part.

My grandparents started me on stamp collecting before I entered kindergarten... so nearly sixty years now! I've had many different collections over that time, including many topicals. One day I discovered that Gandon had created nearly all of my favorite stamps, so it became the obvious specialty for me. I'm still surprised, sometimes, how nearly all the stamps I most coveted/admired over the years ended up being done by the same individual.

Do you have one topic or sub-topic that you focus on in particular?

That sounds amazing, that your favorite artist did the majority of your your most liked stamps. Covers are nice, I own a few.

I focus mostly on wildlife as well, but do also branch out into transportation-type stamps.... ships, trains etc.

My focus is on the British Empire issuing these types of topics, but really, I'll buy any country that is visually appealing to me.

When I do buy covers, its usually the US.

I have my collection if Lighthouse 64 page black stockbooks.

Ocassionally, I'll buy a lot of material on ebay or such to look through as well.

Is your collection extensive? It would certainly appear so!

Thanks for the reply!

Greg

You know, I love those 64-page stockbooks from Lighthouse! Most of my collections are stored in those. Because of the sizes of proofs and sheets and whatnot of my current collection, I've switched to the big Lindner albums, where I can get size-specific pages that display back-and-front of the pieces. Showier but kind of expensive, though.

Yeah, I have a lot of stuff. Had to move most of it recently to more secure storage under lock-and-key.

Wow, very impressive! Yes, the Lighthouse stockbooks are great. I used to use Supersafe brand, due to their "clear" interleaving, but they are getting hard to find. Lighthouse's clear pages stick to each other. However, their clear strips / glassine interleaves work great. Small price to pay, to preserve quality.

Also, I just purchaed slipcases for all of my books. After researching, I see they are quite useful as well. I live in humid summers, so they help protect better.

However, I just put my air conditioner, where the stamps are stored, into full blast every summer, non-stop. It helps!

The older Lighthouse album pages didn't stick to each other, I don't know what they changed in the manufacture of those albums. But we have to work with what we can get, I guess. Humidity is a problem here, too, and I also use slip covers (which look nice, anyway, and protect against the occasional bump). The real challenge is finding the appropriate color for each collection!

As a collector of British area bird stamps, do you have the 1954 toucan stamp from British Guyana ($1 face value, multicolored)? I always liked that one (I don't have a scan to share, though). There are a couple of 1947/8 toucan stamps I collect from French Guiana that are sort of counterparts to the British stamp. Here's one example die proof:

No, I do not have that stamp, but it presents nicely! Yes, Lighthouse did not have sticking pages years ago. I collected briefly about 20 years ago, so yes, I know what you mean.

A nice, classic set is British Honduras # 167-178, Set of 12 birds, around the mid-60's. One of my first, and favorite sets.

With the slipcases, I have mis-matched colors, but since I do not color code anything, I don't mind. How do you keep your inventory ordered?

I use a MS Word document. Alphabetical country order, then Scott # order. After that, condition (MNH, MH, MLH) and a brief description of the set, with price paid. Works well so far for exacty 796 sets owned by me. I have 33 more sets arriving next week!

Ooh... 33 sets coming all at once! I love those "mail days" when they all show up in your mailbox. And I am familiar with that British Honduras set, it IS one of the great bird sets! It even has a toucan.

My current collection is strictly chronological. I have an Excel spreadsheet, with details of the different kinds of varieties and proofs and covers for each stamp. My ultimate goal is to compile a catalogue... and hopefully self-publish it... so I've been expanding that spreadsheet to include all sorts of additional data.

And yeah, I color code the albums in my collection. Pierre Gandon is wine color. Fish are blue, praying mantises are green, tax stamps are black.........

Yep, the huge mail day orders are a great feeling! I have my usual dealers I go to, a couple of new ones here and there.

The British Honduras birds set is stunning, yes! The Toucan is a favorite of mine as well.

Your method of organizing seems accurate as well. Do you ever find it tedious? Not me, the cataloging is relaxing in its own right!

I wish you the absolute best of luck in producing your catalog! Go for it! It helps to keep the hobby alive!

You know, in closing, and about the hobby in general, whenever I talk to stamp dealers, they say that I am YOUNG to be collecting! And I'm 45! I really wish the kids these days realized how truly fun, and educational the hobby is!

Oh, no, I enjoy keeping the trackers very much. There are evenings where I just sit with my catalogues and refine my lists. Must make me a very boring fellow to be around... but a happy one.

45 IS young! Heck, they still call me "young" at nearly 60, if you can believe it. Personally, I think the post office itself contributed to the decline of young collectors. When I was a little kid, I saved stamps off the mail and soaked them from the envelopes. You can't do that anymore. And I would save up a couple of bucks and go and buy one or two new stamps at the local PO. Now you have to buy full sheets, which can get expensive. I'm also of the opinion that many of the subjects they choose these days do not appeal to young people, even when they make them the target audience.

Oh well.

When I track my stamps, its a feeling of accomplishment, in the sense of, "Yes! I now own it!". I'm assuming its probably the same for you! So yes, cataloging is fun.

You know, even at nearly 60, like you said you are, it is young as well to collect. I have dealers in there 80's at least! I believe thats why so many in the US are located in Florida. Retirement type communities, you know? I really hope a fresh group can take over down the road.

Yes, post offices are out of touch in many ways. I simply cannot stand self-adhesive stamps. In fact, I recently purchased a set of birds from the Falkland Islands. The last Scott numbered stamp in the set was self-adhesive, made a few years later than the rest of the traditional gum-issued set.

You know what? I kept the set, but put the "sticker" (a glorified term I use!) into a glassine, set it aside, and never looked back. I guess convenience outweighs collecting with the PO's of today!