Specialized Proof And Essay Dealers?

PhilaFactor, yes I do go to shows. I will be keeping my eyes open the next time I get to one.

I can see how proofs could be a slippery slope for me. But isn't that how we all got here in the first place? Lol

PhilaFactor, I received a new photo from the seller (below), but I'm not convinced it is any better. The background of the vignette and the color just seem incorrect. I also find it odd that the parts that are out of focus in the first image are still out of focus in this one. Probably a product of the photography, but it doesn't give me a great feeling. The seller tells me that it is a very sharp proof, and perhaps it is. I wish I had more experience with proofs. I appreciate any other opinions.

The most recent one appears lighter than the previous version. Both of which appear lighter than my copy. May just be the monitors and/or the cameras.

Too bad he didn't send you an actual scan. (Pet peeve: ebay sellers hawking stamps using photos instead of scans, and having no actual photography skills, let alone with a cell phone. And there's been a trend of using naugahyde as a background too. Like, what tha... (OK, off my soapbox now.)

Hypothetical question... There were 5, possibly 6 printings of the card proofs (there is some dispute over the actual number). Wondering if one or more of those printings — made years apart, as we know — could have been with a lighter ink formulation for the violet color.

Stephen, yes, both scans seem lighter than any other copy I have seen (online only). I'm skeptical, but that's because of my lack of experience with proofs.

PhilaFactor, I agree - a scan would have been much better. If he were asking closer to catalog value then I may be persuaded to take a chance. But as I told Stephen, my lack of experience keeps me asking questions and not plowing ahead. Not to mention no one else has jumped on it either.

Somewhere there's a nice copy out there for me.

In the musical theater version of this thread, that will be your last spoken line before you break into song about it. Thinking F major...

Dang! I was thinking the very same thing! Except in Eb. F may be a little high for my range.

Believe it of not, Eb was my second choice! But first let's find you your proof so you can write the song about your experience. Afterward we can discuss a collaboration on the libretto.

@pianoman, this came up on my ebay radar today. Not a P4 but a twofer P3...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/204843710529

@PhilaFactor, thanks for the heads up - much appreciated! (Sorry for the late response, but I just saw your post!) I did find a couple of 164P4s, but they're trimmed a little weird and don't have balanced margins. Still, they're better than nothing! I will be keeping my eyes open next month at the GASS!

"And the search continues..."

@pianomanpj, there's an embarrasment of 164P4 riches at this link:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/405102476082

@PhilaFactor, that's a great-looking block, but more than what I'm looking for.

I actually found a couple of decent copies! The margins aren't perfect, but it's a good starting place! Forgive the image quality as they were taken with my cellphone.

It's now a few hours post-GASS and I thought to check in to find out how you fared in your quest. Looks like you didn't have to wait until the show to get what you were after after all. FWIW, I'd take those copies all day long over the washed-out examples we've been looking at.

As for our musical, I'm going to suggest "The General's Marginal Manicure" as the title for the opening number and see where we go from there. :)

I was at GASS on Friday and Saturday - it never occurred to me to ask who may be going!

I've go to admit, that title song has a nice hook to it, if not for the alliteration. I imagine there will be a reprise at some point. :-)

@pianoman, it's been a little over 2 months now since you reported on your proof quest. How's it going for you in proof world? Any new acquisitions?