Equatorial Guinea Progressive Color Proofs

[Craig]

When multi-colored stamps are produced, the printers make plates of each color in the 4+ color process. Then they print the colors on the sheets, over each other, one at a time, pulling trial proofs of each successive pass.

With this Equatorial Guinea stamp (Scott #72118), they started with cyan (blue, on left) and yellow (on right).

[Craig]

In the top row, the left image shows what the stamp looks like when the blue and yellow are printed. Then, magenta (red, on right) is added.

The left stamp in the bottom row shows what the stamp looks like when the red color is added to the previous cyan/yellow stamp.

Then, black portions of the stamp (bottom right) are added.

[Craig]

The upper-left image shows what the stamp looks like with the black added to the cyan, yellow, and magenta printing.

A Tuscan red (dark red, top right) plate was produced to imprint the legends on the stamp.

The bottom left image shows the stamp with the Tuscan red added to the cyan, yellow, magenta and black stamp.

Finally, a decorative gray border (lower right) plate is used to produce the final stamp.

[Craig]

And this is what the final stamp looks like before perforating.

[Gordon Lee]

Greetings Mr. Craig
.
It is nice to see a full set of color proofs. Most of the time they are found piecemeal. Or, they are found on ebay where a person is asking for an outrageous amount of money for an extremely rare and valuable error. Thanx for showing these.
.
Respectfully,

Gordon Lee

PS. On the last page the proof is displayed in the wrong orientation.

[Craig]

Mr. Gordon,

Yah, the stamp should actually be shown with the rings on the bottom. I tried that before setting up the page. But then I wouldn't be able to fit the items on the pages the way I wanted. So, I took liberties.

Thanks for noting this. I'd forgotten to mention it in the post's write-up.

[Gordon Lee]

Greetings Mr. Craig
.
I'm just giving you a hard time. I know your reasoning . . . getting them to fit on the second and third page. It just looks like you created a new twist to volley ball: poke your opponent with a long stick.
.
Respectfully,

Gordon Lee

[Craig]

Sept 13, 2014 22:01:46 GMT -5 Gordon Lee said:

Greetings Mr. Craig
.
It just looks like you created a new twist to volley ball: poke your opponent with a long stick.
.
Respectfully,

Gordon Lee

[Fire]

Thanks for sharing this interesting information.