Die proofs are printed in black on white glazed card, typically 92 x 60mm, unless otherwise noted. They are listed below ordered by date, with undated proofs following those with the same plate number. The rightmost column gives the number recorded in our database: in private hands + institutionalised.
The list of die proofs with unique dates is probably complete, and it’s unlikely that a proof with a previously unseen date will be found. However, the number of proofs within each date has not been recorded before, and it’s probable that additional proofs exist, especially for the second issue for which many more proofs were taken.
| 1 | July 1, 1875 | — | — | — | 1 |
| 2 | July 6, 1875 | — | — | “BEFORE HARDENING” | 5 + 2 |
| 3 | no date | — | — | Basic Die Proof | 1 + 2 |
| 4 | July 14, 1875† | 1 | AA | Cut down to stamp size | 1 |
| 5 | July 22, 1875 | 1 | AA | “BEFORE STRIKING” | 1 |
| 6 | July 22, 1875 | 1 | AA | “After Striking” in manuscript | 1 |
| 7 | July 22, 1875 | 2 | AA | “BEFORE STRIKING” | 1 |
| 8 | no date | 2 | AA | — | 1 |
| 9 | July 26, 1875 | 3 | OL | “BEFORE STRIKING”, (“JPS”)* | 1* |
| 10 | July 28, 1875 | 4 | FC | “BEFORE STRIKING” | 1 |
| 11 | Aug 6, 1875 | 5 | — | “AFTER STRIKING” | 1 + 1 |
* Recorded with and without initials, likely the same one.
† On back: “App on 15.7.75 / struck 14.7.75 / after hardening”.
Institutionalised/Total: 5/20.
1d. Die Proofs
No. 1 — July 1, 1875
Pencil “1” in circles in plate number positions.
Ex A. J. Lowe.
No. 2a — July 6, 1875
No. 2b — July 6, 1875
Erased manuscript “Postal Telegram Value One Penny”
with “Telegram” crossed out and “Telegraphs” in a different hand.
No. 2c — July 6, 1875 — reconstruction.
Initialled “RR” bottom left corner.
Fig. 85 in Langmead and Huggins.
No. 2d — July 6, 1875
Initialled “RRR” bottom left corner. Faint, possibly erased pencil.
Ex R. E. (Bob) Philipps.
No. 2e — July 6, 1875
No. 2f — July 6, 1875 — reconstruction.
Langmead Collection.
No. 2g — July 6, 1875 — reconstruction.
Phillips Collection.
No. 3a — no date — Basic Die Proof.
Ex R. E. (Bob) Philipps.
No. 3b — no date — no image.
Royal Philatelic Collection.
No. 3c — no date — reconstruction.
Used as an essay for the ½d stamp.
Langmead Collection.
No. 4 — July 14, 1875
Cut down die proof (28 x 25mm) endorsed in pencil on reverse:
“App on 15.7.75 / struck 14.7.75 / after hardening”.
No. 5 & 6 — July 22, 1875 (Plate 1, AA) — no image.
No. 7 — July 22, 1875
Ex A. J. Lowe.
No. 8 — no date
Ex Klempka Family.
No. 9 — July 26, 1875
Ex A. J. Lowe.
No. 10 — July 28, 1875
No. 11a — Aug 6, 1875
Ex Chuichi Ota.
No. 11b — Aug 6, 1875 — reconstruction.
Ex R. E. (Bob) Philipps.
Langmead Collection.