Trial Color Proofs
Trial color proofs were printed for most engraved stamps of France and French-speaking countries from the 1950s until 1984. The proofs usually appear in sheets containing three different-color mono-color proofs and five different-color multi-color proofs in a combination of the colors used for the monocolor proofs. The sheets were used by the government printer to help choose the best color combination for the issue.
Quantity Issued
There appear to be no official figures for the quantity of trial color proofs printed. Estimates typically range from 400-700. Based on a study of a large number of trial color proof sheets from TAAF, St. Pierre & Miquelon, New Caledonia, and Wallis & Futuna from the period 1967-84, it appears likely that sheets in 6 different color combinations were normally printed for sheets of 10 and 25, and that 5 sheets of each color combination were normally distributed. This estimate is based on the fact that I have not seen more than 6 different sheet colors for any issue and that the serial numbers of known sheets of the same color appear to be within a range of 5 consecutive numbers.
According to this estimate, 30 sheets of each issue (5 sheets each of 6 different color combinations) were normally distributed, resulting in 300 trial color proofs of stamps issued in sheets of 10 (30 x 10) and 750 proofs of stamps issued in sheets of 25 (30 x 25). It should be cautioned that this estimate is based on limited information and that more research remains to be done.
Colors
As noted, each trial color proof sheet typically contains three different-color mono-color stamps and 5 multi-color stamps comprised of a combination of the three colors used for the mono-colored stamps. In sheets of 25, there is usually one row of 5 of each of the three mono-colors, a fourth row repeating one of the colors or a combination of the colors, and a fifth row of multi-colored stamps. In sheets of 10, there is a single row of 5 mono-colored stamps (with two of the colors repeated) and a row of 5 multi-colored stamps.
Assuming sheets were issued in 6 different color combinations, there would be a maximum of 18 (3 x 6) different mono-color proofs and 30 (5 x 6) different multi-color proofs, or a total of 48 different trial color proofs of each issue. In practice, there is some duplication of colors, so the number of different color proofs is typically smaller.
Most trial color sheets contain the color codes for the mono-color stamps hand-written in pencil at the bottom or side of the sheet. Beginning in about 1965, the color codes contain a two-letter prefix indicating the base color, a number indicating the specific color, and often a two-letter code indicating the manufacturer of the ink (e.g. BR 619 Lx). The base colors are black/grey, blue, brown, green, violet, red and yellow/orange. They are abbreviated using the French words for the color ("No" for noire, "BL"; for bleu, "VE" for vert, "VT" for violet, "Ro" for rouge, and "JO" for jaune orange). The Colors pages show a selection of trial color proofs arranged by color rather than issue.
Presentation
The trial color proofs are presented as single stamps, rather than the more usual strips of 5, to allow a larger image on the screen. Each row on a page shows the three mono-color proofs from a sheet followed by one of the multi-color proofs from the same sheet. Additional rows show colors from sheets printed in different colors. Several complete sheets and groupings of proofs by color are shown separately.
The gallery shows slightly more than 800 photos of individual trial color proofs from 206 different-color sheets (representing slightly more than 50% of the 408 different-color sheets (68 sheets x 6 different colors) believed issued during the period). The catalogue, which includes sheets for which no photos are shown, lists color codes and sheet numbers for 224 different-color sheets. There remain 202 sheets for which no photos are shown and 184 sheets for which color codes are not listed. If you have color codes, serial numbers, or photos of TAAF trial color proof sheets or marginal strips with serial numbers, I would be grateful if you would e-mail them to me to help complete the catalogue.