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Recently, I have seen items that resemble these counterfeits. The items were described as "trial color proofs on wove paper." The counterfeits pictured above are also on a wove paper. Are the items in question proofs as described, or counterfeits? That is a question for an expertization committee. However, be aware that the '86 New Dietz lists plate proofs in these configurations: 5c gray blue,engraved, on white wove paper. 5c black,engraved, on white wove paper. 5c black,typographed, on white wove paper. 5c carmine,typographed, on white wove paper. The die proofs as a rule are engraved. The normal stamp is typographed. The point is, be careful when purchasing material such as proofs and essays. Ask the seller if the items have been expertized, and ask to see the certificate before making a purchase. Confederate proofs and essays are extremely scarce, and come on the market very infrequently. It is unlikely that the average collector would encounter such an item outside of a major auction house. |
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I just received these blocks of four from a Confederate expert. According to his description, these are reprints from the plates captured from the Bermuda in 1862. These plates are owned by the Franklin Institute. The stamps pictured at the top of the page are identical, so all these would be correctly classed as reprints. |