Collecting Die Proofs

Here's a question for the class: What are the pros and cons to die proofs? They seem to have a place in any collection, but I've become curious as to how much of a place?

They also seem like a niche segment. Is there actually much of a market for them, from a seller's point of view?

Thanks, all.

Each collector has to set their own boundaries of depth and breadth based on their interests and finances.

Many die proofs are one-of-a kind and only come to the market once in a generation. Others are fairly common.

It's hard to say on a general basis. Plus there are the different types of die proofs. For plate proofs, it can be a way to collect pristine versions of stamps where the mint versions are out of reach price-wise, particularly for classics. You may or may not be interested in posthumous proofs. It's also a way to collect more unique versions of stamps.

Die proofs have another learning curve attached. There are forgeries (of course). There are posthumous proofs that can be interesting but common, therefore easy to overpay for if you are not familiar with them. You may think you have come across a new find only to discover it is a cut-down version of a (say) a large die proof or a salesman's sample. Beyond the US and a few other countries, there's not a lot of readily available references on die proofs.

Demand is going to depend on the collector base for them. For example, there's really no problem selling US die proofs at auction, assuming no condition problems.

Proofs can be quite stunning because the colors and impressions if they have been stored properly can be quite striking. I think that they are a great way to bring a collection to the next level without breaking the bank if you choose wisely. They are also excellent reference material for seeing all of the details of certain issues. US proofs have little problem selling and a great many are really quite inexpensive, especially given the relatively small quantities produced.

For major stamp-issuing nations, the market as buyer/seller for proofs and essays is readily accessible. As said already, it's a (usually) inexpensive way to add depth to a collection, "now that you've seen my collection of 1902 Presidents, take a look at the corresponding large die proofs." Those are more impressive and better looking than the actual stamps, IMO.

Most "specialized" catalogs note and price proofs.

I have been collecting die proofs in the manner John Becker described, both with success and failure. As I have no control when a once-in-a-generation item will appear all I can do is hope I have the resources to buy it when it shows. That has not always been the case. Additionally there is more to die proofs than just die proofs.



"Die proof" is specifically a proof pulled from the completed die used for an issued stamp. Collectible, yes; saleable, yes; demand, not supply, driven pricing, yes; exist for every issue, no; but, does it fit into your collection is the real question. The answer to that question varies both by what you are collecting, how you are collecting and the goals of your collection.

If your collection is a rate study of the 3-bird Quail of Upper Birdcage Islands postal history you do not need a die proof of the 3-bird Quail stamp. Now the 3-bird Quail unique die proof may come to market only once every fifteen years and since you don't need it you don't look for it. However, while you are not looking for it it may appear before your eyes in a dealer's stock of the Quail series of postal history you are reviewing. It is priced at full catalog of $2.00 US, so do you buy it? If you do buy it, you now collect die proofs; if you pass you don't collect die proofs. We can agree there are many ways to collect the 3-bird Quail with some of those ways allowing for a 3-bird Quail die proof to "fit in" to the collection or actually be a needed acquisition for your collection goal or story.

However, that does not mean you have any interest in the other twelve values of the 1-bird through 10-flock Quail series. But you are only offered a set of twelve, not thirteen, for the total catalog price of $24 US for the short set. The 2-flock value has been in the Flowering Bush topical collection of a well known collector for 30 years who originally broke up the set of Quail proofs when she was short of coffee money at a major show.

You, OP, asked about die proofs. One response mentioned plate proofs. I now will expand this to trial color proofs which are the final design of an issued stamp but not necessarily the final color(s). Add to that "essay die proofs" which are finished design proofs of unissued stamps. Then you have essay material, design material, design art work, models, pulled impressions of unfinished dies and the list goes on. The same die may have proof impressions on different sizes or types of paper. Methods can vary as well such as a "sunken" die proof. For some issues even the die itself is in the market place. Many who collect die proofs also collect this other material as together they provide documentation of the "thinking and design" process of the final as issued stamp. But again this material's existence and availability varies by stamp issue.

For me, to limit the financial costs, I limited myself to just die proofs and related material created after a particular date which allowed me to focus on just three of the seventeen values in my collecting area. These were my "must haves" in addition to one set of a particular type of die proof set created for all seventeen values. It was when the red part of this set fell into my lap (Phil Bansner) followed by the green part (Stanley Pillar) that I began collecting other die proofs and related material of my series in my time limited period.

I then started to get other items from before the time limit as they both appeared and I could obtain. As time passed, I could expand my target to one, then two values for which I could collect without a time limit.

Now I like to do "teaching collections" and as such I buy cheap examples of items described above to show stamp design production from concept to completion. This material has cost me each less than $10 US and I don't care from which country or series they come. It demonstrates what I wish to show and does not cause me worry that is associated with passing around or displaying expensive items to groups of unknown and potentially rough handling folks.

When it comes to selling, the material of die proofs and related goodies will be sold like any other sale of stamp material. The cheap stuff, the mid-range and top range items will each go to proper market place for sale and generally sell in the manner related to that market place.


Before I branch out into a new area for proofs I determine what exists, what may be available, what is affordable, how it may fit together for a collection goal and do I want to chase the material.

STTScott, I would add a few questions ...

Did you have a particular country or era in mind? This would help us hone our replies.

What depth and breadth are you looking at collecting?

Is this a personal collection or for research or exhibition purposes?

Die proofs and plate proofs both tell part of the production story, but are they within your specific collection parameters? Are the proofs you are seeking available? I have owned a unique revenue die proof for 30 years. Morton Dean Joyce owned it for longer than that before me. When will it come on the market again?