Canadian Stamp Auctions
The Half-Cent Small Queen
Essays, Proofs & Dies
The Half-Cent Small Queen
Essays, Proofs & Dies
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In order to help our viewers better understand the terms that follow, we reproduce some of the definitions found in
" The Essays and Proofs of British North America", published by Sissons Publications Ltd. in 1970.
Essay - any proposed stamp design, or portion thereof, considered but rejected by an established government or private post. Proof -any impression, the design of which was approved for use on an issued stamp of an established government or private post, from any die,
plate, stone or type, printed for the purpose of examination or reference or for determination of satisfactory quality of design,
color, ink or imprinted surface or for determination of effect of cancellation or method of separation. Large and small die proofs - a die proof impression may exist on an imprinted surface of any size. Many die proofs with margins
that in some cases exceeded the area of the die were trimmed to have margins as small as one millimeter or no margins at all..
Die proofs are commonly termed " Large Die Proofs or Small Die Proofs" according to the size of the margins. Trial color proof - a proof printed in any color other than that of the issued stamp. Indian paper - is a (Chinese) very thin, soft, absorbent, semi-opaque handmade paper of bamboo fiber averaging .002"to .003" thick, without wove or laid screen marks. It must be backed with soft cardboard to withstand the pressure of printing. Since it is handmade, it may vary in thickness, even to resembling thin spots caused by hinges, and may show small defects such as air gaps that resemble pinholes, like spots, fibers etc..
It is white to faint yellowish in color. It is generally used to show the finest clear impressions of engraving. Essay Die Proof Plate Proof Die Proof |
