| The famous bi-color 1869
proofs on card were deliberately printed as inverts,
likely at the order of H. Mandel of the National Bank Note Company. Only one sheet of each
invert was printed, from the original 100-subject plates. Therefore, there exist only 100 individual invert proofs for each
denomination, each
one being necessarily unique. Margin blocks, singles, and singles with large selvage
intact are amongst the existing examples. These proofs are best classified as philatelic
curiosities or fantasy pieces. They are not remaining philatelic artifacts left over from
the production of these stamps, yet most collectors of 1869 material consider it essential
to include them in their exhibits. Inverts of the 15, 24, and 30-cent stamps are
rare,
highly prized, and expensive. But there are no known inverts of the 90-cent
stamp, and
it's unlikely that any exist. While it could be said that the 15, 24, and
30-cent invert
proofs are representative of the unintentially produced invert stamps, this reasoning is
antithetical to the definition of what a proof is! And until a legitimate
90-cent invert
stamp is discovered, the 90-cent invert proofs remain, without a doubt, philatelic fantasy
items. They are, nevertheless, like their stamp counterparts, intriguing to look at and
wonder about. |
