Denmark: Test Stamps: 1980-1985 Horse Statue Slania-Engraved
Test Stamps (also called Dummy Stamps in the U.S.) are created by stamp printers and post offices to test printing and production processes and other machines. While a few have had extensive philatelic distribution, most were never intended to be known to collectors and are very scarce. New discoveries continue to be made. Denmark has made use of several types and designs of test stamps; some of these are shown in the AFA Specialized Catalog at the start of the 1933 steel-engraved period.
All items are available for viewing on approval. I have a constantly changing stock of Danish and all Scandinavian essays, proofs, reprints, specimens, and test stamps. Most such items sell before they get to the website or price lists. What are you seeking?
In 1980 the Danish Post Office purchased a new Goebel "M4" printing press. To test the machine, a test stamp designed by Danish artist Mads Stage and engraved by Czeslaw Slania was produced in 1980. The design is of an imaginary view of København, with the equestrian statue in front of the Royal Palace in the center. To the left is a small fragment of the Christiansborg Palace (Parliament Building) and on the right a partial view of the Royal Residential Palace (Amalienborg).
In 1985, as a fundraising gesture for the Danish Philatelic Federation (DFF) and to support the development of philately, the post office made a special printing of these stamps which was turned over to the DFF which sold them. The marginal inscriptions were removed and stamps were only sold as singles, 4-blocks, and 4-strips. From this printing, larger units are known, but are very rare. The 1985 printing is multicolored: the black is engraved, but the "PRØVE" and all the colors are printed by offset / lithography. It is printed on white paper with greenish-yellow fluorescence and has invisible gum. This stamp is fairly common.
However, it turns out that this was only part of the story! The original 1980 printings, of which there were multiple tests with different colors, etc., were never made available to the public and only a few examples had been recorded. It turns out that after the 1980 testing, the original printing plate and die were destroyed or misplaced. A NEW DIE WAS ENGRAVED and a new plate made for the 1985 printing. The 1980 vs 1985 printings are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ENGRAVINGS. The 1980 engraving/printing(s) have many features that are different: The "PRØVE" is engraved (and sometimes with additional offset-printed underlying color) on the 1980 stamp. There is much more elegant detail throughout the design of the 1980 stamp. For example, the tiny pointed tower at the extreme right has horizontal engraved shading lines on the 1980 stamp (but only offset-printed dots shading on the 1985 stamp). The small whole window in the roof (below the chimney) at upper right is on the 1980 stamp single-bordered with two vertical strokes in the middle, but the 1985 stamp has a double-bordered window with only one full vertical dividing line. The horse has diagonal engraved shading lines on the rear flank. The sky at the upper left is made of horizontal shading lines. There had been a previous report of the 1980 printing published on the Internet, but that report did not fully recognize the scope and significance of the design differences. Simply put, this is a completely different engraving and it adds to the Slania engraving count! This is what the stamp is supposed to look like!
In November 2008, I discovered (in the collection of a client who did not realize what he had) a complete sheet of 50 stamps of a 1980 printing. In addition to the black engraving, there is only Brownish Orange in the trees to left and right of the statue and in the base and pedestal of the statue. There is no other color. The stamps are printed on cream-colored paper with whitish fluorescence and have invisible gum. (There are no plate numbers; there is only a color bar in the right margin opposite the third row.) The result is a stunningly elegant stamp design. The owner of the sheet retained the top half of the sheet, but has allowed the lower half of the sheet to be broken up so that examples may be shared with other philatelists. We thus know of only 50 examples of this printing, and only 25 of them are available to the marketplace (unfortunately, this satisfied only a small fraction of Slania collectors!).
Then, in 2009-11, the archives of the now-defunct Goebel printing press manufacturing company were opened and new discoveries were made of different colors and stages of the 1980 stamp. The newly discovered stamps exist ranging from single engraved colors (very dramatic!) to single offset-printed colors, and in a variety of combinations, some more complete combinations than others. All I have seen have invisible gum. I have seen only two that are on non-fluorescent paper; the rest are on bright white fluorescent paper. The quantities I have recorded range from as low as 9 examples to as high as 36 examples -- even the 36 quantity is not enough to even partially satisfy the demand from Slania collectors, to say nothing of the demand from test stamp collectors and collectors of Danish stamps!
[Information is wanted about other printings/colors and I wish to buy any such examples.]
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US$
232289
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. Design created in 1980 for testing "M4" printing press. Multi-colored 1985 printing distributed by the DFF and sold only in singles, 4-blocks, and 4-strips. NH VF single.
9.50
WANTED
Need several. Please make offer.
232290
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. Design created in 1980 for testing "M4" printing press. Multi-colored 1985 printing distributed by the DFF and sold only in singles, 4-blocks, and 4-strips. NH VF 4-block.
WANTED
Need one or more blocks. Please make offer.
232291
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. Design created in 1980 for testing "M4" printing press. Multi-colored 1985 printing distributed by the DFF and sold only in singles, 4-blocks, and 4-strips. NH VF 4-strip.
WANTED
Need one or more strips. Please make offer.
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US$
236617
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA #"1985-A" (was [1980] "D") NEW DISCOVERY as of September 2012 -- THE ONLY VARIATION (up to September 2012) OF THE 1985 PRINTING THAT I HAD RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving; this is the 1985 engraving. This previously unrecorded stamp is probably a "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving (it is different from the large quantity specially printed for distribution to collectors). It appears very similar to the issued 1985 stamp except that the colors are less vibrant, with much lighter yellow, the PRØVE looks Blue, and it is printed on off-white paper with BRIGHT YELLOWISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (instead of bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). This was the first 1985 printing I had recorded with a paper or color difference. As with the issued 1985 stamps, the PRØVE is not engraved. This stamp is RARE with only about 24 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp; this variation of the 1985 engraving was not discovered until about 25 years after it was printed!
250.00
243783
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA #"1985-B" NEW DISCOVERY as of August 2021 -- ONLY THE SECOND FULL-COLOR VARIATION (different from the issued stamp) OF THE 1985 DESIGN / PRINTING THAT I HAVE RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving; this is the 1985 engraving. This previously unrecorded variety is probably a "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving (it is different from the large quantity specially printed for distribution to collectors). Initially, it appears similar to both the previously known "1985-A" variety and the issued 1985 stamp. As with the "1985-A" variety, the colors are less vibrant, with much lighter yellow, but on "1985-B" the "PRØVE" is printed in blue, magenta, and yellow (not only blue as on "1985-A"). This variety is printed on off-white paper (as is "1985-A"), BUT WITH BLUISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (instead of either the bright yellowish-white fluorescence of "1985-A" or the bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). As with the issued 1985 stamps and all known 1985 variations, the "PRØVE" is NOT engraved. This is only the second full-color 1985 variation that I have recorded with a paper or color difference. I first discovered this variation in August 2021, 36 years after the stamps were printed. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded two examples. (More examples may yet be discovered.) This example was found in a small group of stamps that I am told came directly from a family member of a retired employee of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp; this variation of the 1985 engraving was not discovered until 36 years after it was printed!
300.00
245520
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA #"1985-B" NEW DISCOVERY as of August 2021 -- ONLY THE SECOND FULL-COLOR VARIATION (different from the issued stamp) OF THE 1985 DESIGN / PRINTING THAT I HAVE RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving; this is the 1985 engraving. This previously unrecorded variety is probably a "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving (it is different from the large quantity specially printed for distribution to collectors). Initially, it appears similar to both the previously known "1985-A" variety and the issued 1985 stamp. As with the "1985-A" variety, the colors are less vibrant, with much lighter yellow, but on "1985-B" the "PRØVE" is printed in blue, magenta, and yellow (not only blue as on "1985-A"). This variety is printed on off-white paper (as is "1985-A"), BUT WITH BLUISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (instead of either the bright yellowish-white fluorescence of "1985-A" or the bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). As with the issued 1985 stamps and all known 1985 variations, the "PRØVE" is NOT engraved. This is only the second full-color 1985 variation that I have recorded with a paper or color difference. I first discovered this variation in August 2021, 36 years after the stamps were printed. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded two examples. (More examples may yet be discovered.) This example was found in a small group of stamps that I am told came directly from a family member of a retired employee of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp; this variation of the 1985 engraving was not discovered until 36 years after it was printed!
300.00
243784
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. ENGRAVED ONLY, IN BLACK. JSA #"1985-Z" NEW DISCOVERY as of August 2021 -- THE FIRST AND ONLY SINGLE-COLOR, ENGRAVED-PRINTING-ONLY VERSION OF THE 1985 DESIGN / PRINTING THAT I HAVE RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving; this is the 1985 engraving. This previously unrecorded variety is probably a "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving (it is different from the large quantity specially printed for distribution to collectors). While single-color and multiple-color engraved-only versions of the 1980 design are known and available, this is the first and only example of such a 1985 design stamp that I have ever seen or heard of. This variety is printed on off-white paper (as are the other 1985 varieties other than the issued stamp), but WITH BLUISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (as has the "1985-B" variety, but unlike either the bright yellowish-white fluorescence of "1985-A" variety or the bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). The "PRØVE" text is not present because it was not part of the engraved portion of the 1985 design. I discovered this example in August 2021, 36 years after the stamps were printed. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded two examples. (More examples may yet be discovered.) This example was found in a small group of stamps that I am told came directly from a family member of a retired employee of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp; this variation of the 1985 engraving was not discovered until 36 years after it was printed!
325.00
245519
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. ENGRAVED ONLY, IN BLACK. JSA #"1985-Z" NEW DISCOVERY as of August 2021 -- THE FIRST AND ONLY SINGLE-COLOR, ENGRAVED-PRINTING-ONLY VERSION OF THE 1985 DESIGN / PRINTING THAT I HAVE RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving; this is the 1985 engraving. This previously unrecorded variety is probably a "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving (it is different from the large quantity specially printed for distribution to collectors). While single-color and multiple-color engraved-only versions of the 1980 design are known and available, this is the first and only example of such a 1985 design stamp that I have ever seen or heard of. This variety is printed on off-white paper (as are the other 1985 varieties other than the issued stamp), but WITH BLUISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (as has the "1985-B" variety, but unlike either the bright yellowish-white fluorescence of "1985-A" variety or the bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). The "PRØVE" text is not present because it was not part of the engraved portion of the 1985 design. I discovered this example in August 2021, 36 years after the stamps were printed. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded two examples. (More examples may yet be discovered.) This example was found in a small group of stamps that I am told came directly from a family member of a retired employee of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp; this variation of the 1985 engraving was not discovered until 36 years after it was printed!
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US$
243785
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. COMPLETE DESIGN OFFSET-PRINTED ONLY (INCLUDING THE USUALLY-ENGRAVED PORTIONS). JSA #"1985-offset-A". A SPECTACULAR AND COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED NEW DISCOVERY made in August 2021 -- THE FIRST AND ONLY VERSION OF THE COMPLETE 1985 DESIGN / PRINTING, PRINTED ONLY BY OFFSET / LITHOGRAPHY, THAT I HAVE RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving, both had major parts of the design engraved. This example has offset printing of the colored areas as usual for the 1985 design, but the black portions (frame line, many parts of the design, the date, and the Slania name) have also all been printed in black by offset press (lithography), without half-toning. Examination under high magnification indicates that an offset (lithographic) plate was made from by photographing an engraved-printed (i.e. "recess" printed) impression of only the engraved portions of the design. This might explain the existence of black-only (other colors exist as well) engraved-only-portions versions of the stamp. Extremely small design details from the engraved version are faithfully represented in this offset-printed version. The rest of the usual colored offset-printed areas of the design are printed as normal, using the full CMY(K) half-tone process (with only cyan [blue], magenta, yellow, and NOT K/black because the black is printed by a non-halftone plate, as normal, but normally an engraved plate). The colors of this stamp are more muted than the issued stamp, less green and blue, with more yellowish-green areas. This type of printing is very complex and required the use of an engraved-portions-only die print to create the offset-press black plate. This is NOT a "reproduction" and it is certainly not a forgery. This is a very real test of what the stamp would have actually looked like if it was entirely printed by offset press (which would have been cheaper than if the black plate was engraved). All these tests were carried out by the manufacturer of the printing press and thus they would have wanted to show the post office what level of quality could be produced by starting with an engraved die, using a print from the engraved die as the image source for an offset-printed stamp. The result of this test is quite good, but the black printing is not as fine, crisp, delicate, or dark as the normal engraved versions. This is a previously unrecorded type of very "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving. This version is printed on off-white paper (as are the other 1985 varieties, other than the issued stamp), but WITH BLUISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (as has the "1985-B" variety, but unlike either the bright yellowish-white fluorescence of the "1985-A" variety or the bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). I discovered this example in August 2021, 36 years after the stamps were printed. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded two examples. (More examples may yet be discovered.) This example was found in a small group of stamps that I am told came directly from a family member of a retired employee of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp -- a completely new type or version of this famous test stamp! [Price Protection Guarantee: If more examples of this variety are discovered and if thus my price for similar examples declines to the level of other major varieties that I offer, I will refund the difference in price upon request. Guarantee valid for the lifetime of Jay Smith.]
590.00
245518
1985 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. COMPLETE DESIGN OFFSET-PRINTED ONLY (INCLUDING THE USUALLY-ENGRAVED PORTIONS). JSA #"1985-offset-A". A SPECTACULAR AND COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED NEW DISCOVERY as of August 2021 -- THE FIRST AND ONLY EXAMPLE OF THE COMPLETE 1985 DESIGN / PRINTING, PRINTED ONLY BY OFFSET / LITHOGRAPHY, THAT I HAVE RECORDED. After the 1980 printings, the die and plate were apparently lost or destroyed, thus a completely new engraving had to be made. There are many design differences between the original 1980 engraving and the 1985 engraving, both had major parts of the design engraved. This example has offset printing of the colored areas as usual for the 1985 design, but the black portions (frame line, many parts of the design, the date, and the Slania name) have also all been printed in black by offset press (lithography), without half-toning. Examination under high magnification indicates that an offset (lithographic) plate was made from by photographing an engraved-printed (i.e. "recess" printed) impression of only the engraved portions of the design. This might explain the existence of black-only (other colors exist as well) engraved-only-portions versions of the stamp. Extremely small design details from the engraved version are faithfully represented in this offset-printed version. The rest of the usual colored offset-printed areas of the design are printed as normal, using the full CMY(K) half-tone process (with only cyan [blue], magenta, yellow, and NOT K/black because the black is printed by a non-halftone plate, as normal, but normally an engraved plate). The colors of this stamp are more muted than the issued stamp, less green and blue, with more yellowish-green areas. This type of printing is very complex and required the use of an engraved-portions-only die print to create the offset-press black plate. This is NOT a "reproduction" and it is certainly not a forgery. This is a very real test of what the stamp would have actually looked like if it was entirely printed by offset press (which would have been cheaper than if the black plate was engraved). All these tests were carried out by the manufacturer of the printing press and thus they would have wanted to show the post office what level of quality could be produced by starting with an engraved die, using a print from the engraved die as the image source for an offset-printed stamp. The result of this test is quite good, but the black printing is not as fine, crisp, delicate, or dark as the normal engraved versions. This is a previously unrecorded type of very "real" test stamp, that was actually used for testing, from the 1985 engraving. This version is printed on off-white paper (as are the other 1985 varieties, other than the issued stamp), but WITH BLUISH-WHITE FLUORESCENCE (as has the "1985-B" variety, but unlike either the bright yellowish-white fluorescence of the "1985-A" variety or the bright white paper with very strong dark yellow fluorescence of the issued stamp). I discovered this example in August 2021, 36 years after the stamps were printed. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded a single example. (More examples may yet be discovered.) This example was found in a small group of stamps that I am told came directly from a family member of a retired employee of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this stamp -- a completely new type or version of this famous test stamp! [Price Protection Guarantee: If more examples of this variety are discovered and if thus my price for similar examples declines to the level of other major varieties that I offer, I will refund the difference in price upon request. Guarantee valid for the lifetime of Jay Smith.]
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US$
236600
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "A": Bright Green complete engraved design with Bright Light Blue offset-printed color (shifted .5 mm down and to the right) in the lamp, trees, statue, and PRØVE. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only about 24 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single.
225.00
236601
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "B": Blackish Green complete engraved design with three offset-printed colors: Magenta, Violet, and Orangish Yellow, each in various locations but all clearly visible in the "PRØVE". This is an unusual printing because instead of the usual "CMYK" colors of cyan (blue), magenta, yellow (and K=black which is done with various engraved colors on these test stamps), the cyan has been replaced by violet! THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 18 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors.
250.00
236602
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "C": Black complete engraved design with three offset-printed colors: Magenta, Blue, and Yellow, each in various locations but all visible in the PRØVE. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only about 36 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Somewhat similar to the final colors of the 1985 issue.
225.00
236603
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "E": Dark Ultramarine complete engraved design with one offset-printed color: Dark Gray, in various locations including in the PRØVE. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 18 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors.
270.00
236604
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "H": Black complete engraved design with one offset-printed color: Blue, in various locations including in the PRØVE. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 26 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors.
WANTED
Seeking this or other similar items. Please make offer.
236605
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "I": Green complete engraved design with four offset-printed colors: Blue, Magenta, Yellow, and Violet, in various locations including in the PRØVE. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only about 36 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Similar to the issued appearance of the 1985 stamp, but is the 1980 engraving.
225.00
236606
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "M": Green complete engraved design with one offset-printed color: Magenta, in various locations including in the PRØVE, shifted up 1.5 mm. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 13 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors.
270.00
232292
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "T". Black engraved complete design, plus Brownish Orange lithograph/offset printing in trees and base/pedestal of statue. Cream-colored, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. Created in 1980 for testing "M4" printing press. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 25 total examples being made available from the original discovery. NH VF single.
225.00
WANTED
This color/printing is needed as well as any others. Please make offer.
241265
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "U": Black complete engraved design with two offset-printed colors: Orange Brown in various locations (mostly trees and pedestal) including in the PRØVE; Violet in various locations (mostly sky, horse, and pedestal) including in the PRØVE. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE. I have recorded only a single example -- it came to me from a source other than directly from the original discovery (though it may have originally been from the original discovery and just not properly documented). NH VF single with bottom selvage. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors.
WANTED
Seeking this or other similar items. Please make offer.
244949
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "AF". Engraved-only including all engraved design elements except the building at right is albino: all in brown except horse and tops of three items in dark green; building at right is impressed, but without inking. The paper is white with white fluorescence. NH with F-VF centering, but with pre-printing diagonal (like a lightning bolt) paper fold. This is the first example of any of this test stamp design that I have seen with a pre-printing paper fold. (On an inexpensive stamp, such a pre-printing paper fold would increase the value, but in this case, I feel it reduces the price. This would otherwise be $325 due to its rarity.) This example, offered to me in November 2021, is one of only two examples of this color combination that I have recorded; the other example is part of a progressive color set.This is the ORIGINAL 1980 ENGRAVING with much greater detail and with "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. A RARE ITEM. While it is possible that other examples of this may eventually be discovered, it has taken more than 30 years to find this color combination!
150.00
243788
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "AG". Engraved-only including all engraved design elements: all in brown except horse and tops of three items in dark green; building at right in red violet. The paper is white with white fluorescence. This example, discovered in August 2021, is one of only two examples of this color combination that I have recorded; the other example is part of a progressive color set.This is the ORIGINAL 1980 ENGRAVING with much greater detail and with "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. A RARE ITEM. While it is possible that other examples of this may eventually be discovered, it has taken more than 30 years to find this color combination!
325.00
244958
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "AB". Engraved-only including all engraved design elements except the building at right is red violet and everything else is albino (impressed, but without inking). The paper is white with white fluorescence. NH with VF centering. This example, offered to me in early 2022, is one of only two examples of this color combination that I have recorded; the other example is part of a progressive color set.This is the ORIGINAL 1980 ENGRAVING with much greater detail and with "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. A RARE ITEM. While it is possible that other examples of this may eventually be discovered, it has taken more than 30 years to find this color combination!
250.00
243789
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "AI". Engraved-portion including all engraved design elements: all in brown except horse and tops of three items in dark green; building at right in red violet, PLUS offset-printed orange-brown tree tops and monument base. The paper is white with white fluorescence. This example, discovered in August 2021, is one of only two examples of this color combination that I have recorded; the other example is part of a progressive color set.This is the ORIGINAL 1980 ENGRAVING with much greater detail and with "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. A RARE ITEM. While it is possible that other examples of this may eventually be discovered, it has taken more than 30 years to find this color combination!
325.00
236607
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "L": Dark Ultramarine complete engraved design, including in the PRØVE, WITHOUT ANY OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 32 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors. One of only four different single-color engraved colors I have recorded. A stunning example of the engraving art!
290.00
237827
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "S": Dark Ultramarine complete engraved design, including in the PRØVE, WITHOUT ANY OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. Bright white, non-fluorescent paper (one of only two issues I have found on non-fluorescent paper), with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 4 examples with this color on non-fluorescent paper recorded by me from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors. One of only four different single-color engraved colors I have recorded. A stunning example of the engraving art!
Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
236608
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "R": Blackish Green complete engraved design, including in the PRØVE, WITHOUT ANY OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 28 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors. One of only four different single-color engraved colors I have recorded. A stunning example of the engraving art!
290.00
242272
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "V": Dark Brown complete engraved design, including in the PRØVE, WITHOUT ANY OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent, paper with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is apparently RARE with only 1 example with this color on any paper recorded by me (on 08/31/2020). NH F-VF centered single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors. One of only four different single-color engraved colors I have recorded. A stunning example of the engraving art! The only example I have seen as of 8/31/2020.
WANTED
Seeking this or other similar items. Please make offer.
245517
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "W": BLACK COMPLETE ENGRAVED DESIGN, including in the PRØVE, WITHOUT ANY OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. Distinctly cream-colored paper with white fluorescence, invisible gum. This elegant engraving is apparently RARE with only 2 examples with this color on any paper recorded by me (as of 30 April 2022). NH XF centered single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only five different complete-design single-color engraved-only versions I have recorded. A stunning example of the engraving art!
325.00
242271
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "K": An exceptional ALL-ONLY-ENGRAVED, MULTIPLE COLOR printing: Brown horse, rider and lamp top; Light Green building at right; Bright Ultramarine rest of design including the PRØVE. WITHOUT ANY OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR. THE ORIGINAL ENGRAVING with much greater detail and "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. Exceptional paper: Bright White in daylight, non-fluorescent (slightly reddish/orangish tint) under long-wave UV, with invisible gum. This elegant engraving is RARE with only 24 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance, quite unlike the final colors. The only all-only-engraved, multiple-color printing I have recorded and one of only two versions on non-fluorescent paper that I have recorded. A stunning example of the engraving art and my favorite of all the color combinations!
325.00
243787
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp PROGRESSIVE COLOR PROOF SET OF 9 showing progression of adding the elements / colors. This elegant set is apparently VERY RARE; except for one additional example each of two singles (AG and AI), the individual items in this set are the ONLY EXAMPLES I HAVE RECORDED, thus this set is the only set one recorded by me (as of 8 August 2021). I have not seen or heard of any other even remotely similar types of sets. This is the only progressive set of any type of these Slania-engraved test stamps that I have recorded that includes more than two or three members. For completeness of documentation and in case any singles from this set are later found, I have assigned them JSA Colors "AA" through "AI", as follows... All are engraved-only except for AH and thus AI. AA: dark green horse and tops of 3 items. AB: red violet building at right. AC: AA + AB. AD: brown, without inking of features in AA and AB, with uninked gap at right for building. AE: AD + AB. AF: AD + AA. AG: AF + AB. AH: offset printing only, orangish brown, tree tops and monument base, but does not have clouds (which are on the issued stamp). AI: AG + AH. The paper is white with white fluorescence. All engraved elements are present, but if not inked, they are present in albino form. AA-AC are all centered very low. NH VF set of 9. This is a major new discovery; I have not seen anything like this for any Scandinavian test stamp or any Slania-engraved test stamp. Except for one additional example each of AG and AI, only one example of each single item is known to me, thus only this one set, is known to me. (Progressive color proofs are known for Slania-engraved Monaco postage stamps.) THE ORIGINAL 1980 ENGRAVING with much greater detail and with "PRØVE" engraved. This is a completely different Slania engraving from the commonly seen 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. An extraordinary showpiece! (Newly discovered individual examples of varieties the 1980 test stamp of which only one or two examples are recorded by me have been priced -- and have quickly sold -- at $325. On that basis, the price of this set of nine would thus total $2925.)
2700.00
Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
236610
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "F": Blue OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR ONLY, including the PRØVE. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 9 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only three single-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
175.00
236611
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "G": Magenta OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR ONLY, including the PRØVE. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 18 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only three single-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
WANTED
Seeking this or other similar items. Please make offer.
236612
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "O": Yellow OFFSET-PRINTED COLOR ONLY, including the PRØVE. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 18 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only three single-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
140.00
236613
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "Q": Blue and Magenta OFFSET-PRINTED COLORS ONLY, including the PRØVE. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 28 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only two two-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
140.00
236614
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "P": Blue and Yellow OFFSET-PRINTED COLORS ONLY, including the PRØVE. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 18 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only two two-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
150.00
236615
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "J": Light Blue, Magenta, and Yellow OFFSET-PRINTED COLORS ONLY, including the PRØVE. The horse and rider look light green and the PRØVE looks brown. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 18 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only two three-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
140.00
236616
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "N": Dark Blue, Magenta, and Yellow OFFSET-PRINTED COLORS ONLY, including the PRØVE. The horse and rider look dark green and the PRØVE looks almost black. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE with only 28 examples recorded from the original discovery. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance. One of only two three-color offset-only colors I have recorded.
140.00
243790
1980 Slania-engraved Horse Statue test stamp. JSA Color "X": Yellow and Magenta OFFSET-PRINTED COLORS ONLY, including the PRØVE. No engraved areas present. From the original color trial and progressive proofing process. No such offset-only examples are recorded from the from the later 1985 DFF multi-colored printing. White, white fluorescent paper, with invisible gum. This stamp is RARE; I have only recorded THIS SINGLE EXAMPLE, which I am told came from the estate of one of the employees of the printing press manufacturer. NH VF single. Very dramatic appearance.
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