This page contains a loose collection of essays, proofs and specimens of Liberian stamps issued
through 1960.
About the terminology:
essays either show stamp designs that were never used or designs that were used but altered for the final stamp;
proofs, whether taken from the whole plate or directly from the single die, always show the final design or parts of it – but often in a different
“trial” color and printed on different paper, e.g. cardboard – however, they can also have gum and be perforated like a normal stamp;
specimens are the finished stamps as issued, but with overprint to indicate they are meant
for distribution to postal authorities or sent as examples to the Universal Postal Union.
From this it should be clear that the “Waterlow specimens” of the first pictorial issue printed in trial colors are really proofs.
While usually being produced for demonstration purposes only – the one thing essays, proofs and specimens have in common is that none of them are valid for postage –
it is probable that at least some of the material on this page was created for the collectors market, just like quite a few of the so called “error stamps” are not really the result of an accident.
And sometimes it can be impossible to correctly categorize an item. A gummed, perforated stamp showing the frame only: is it a proof, an honest mistake, or just a philatelic swindle?
Proofs and Specimens of Liberia 1860 - 1960
Allegory of Liberia 1860-1880
lithographed by T. F. Todhunter, London on unwatermarked very thin to almost pelure white wove or silky (rare) paper paper, imperforate.
3rd transfer 1867 proofs
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SG10_proof_black1867 -
SG10_proof_blue1867 -
SG10_proof_green1867 -
SG11_proof_black1867 -
SG11_proof_green1867 -
SG11_proof_red1867 -
SG12_proof_black1867 -
SG12_proof_blue1867 -
SG12_proof_red1867
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defaced die proofs
engraved by T. F. Todhunter, London on unwatermarked paper paper, imperforate.
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16_defaced_proof_black_thin_papermid 20th century -
16_defaced_proof_blue_thin_papermid 20th century -
17_defaced_proof_black_thin_papermid 20th century -
17_defaced_proof_red_thin_papermid 20th century -
18_defaced_proof_black_thin_papermid 20th century -
18_defaced_proof_yellow_thin_papermid 20th century -
19_defaced_proof_black_thin_papermid 20th century -
19_defaced_proof_red_thin_papermid 20th century -
20_defaced_proof_black_thin_papermid 20th century -
20_defaced_proof_magenta_thin_papermid 20th century -
16_defaced_proof_blackmid 20th century -
16_defaced_proof_aquamarinemid 20th century -
17_defaced_proof_blackmid 20th century -
17_defaced_proof_pinkmid 20th century -
18_defaced_proof_blackmid 20th century -
18_defaced_proof_redmid 20th century -
19_defaced_proof_blackmid 20th century -
19_defaced_proof_bluemid 20th century -
20_defaced_proof_blackmid 20th century -
20_defaced_proof_greenmid 20th century
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