Paraguay 1886 Proof stamps – without official ovpt. MNH/MNG

Paraguay 1886 Proof stamps – without official ovpt. MNH/MNG

The reference to Paraguay 1886 Proof stamps – without official ovpt (overprint) pertains to the proofs or color trials of the 1886 provisional and regular Official stamp issues.

The 1886 Official Stamps of Paraguay were a complex issue, with two main printings (Provisional and Regular) of stamps that were all overprinted with the word OFICIAL (or similar control marks).

The items you are asking about are the stamps printed from the original die/stone before the official overprint was applied.

Key Characteristics of the 1886 Proofs Without Overprint:

• Designs: They feature the same designs as the issued Official stamps, which were allegorical and included the 15c value with a steam train.
• Purpose: These were produced by the printer (likely Guillermo Kraft of Buenos Aires) as essays, proofs, or color trials before the final official stamps were authorized and overprinted.
• The Overprint: The absence of the “OFICIAL” overprint is the defining feature, as all regular-issue stamps required this marking.
• Paper and Back-Prints: The issued stamps often had a wavy-lined “moire” pattern on the back, along with control letters and the year “1886” (especially the Provisional Issue). The proofs without the official overprint may sometimes also lack these back-prints or be printed on a different type of paper or cardstock.
  • For example, some proofs are known:
    • “Design only, that is, no moire pattern on back and all overprints missing.”
    • On thick, surface-coated paper or thin card.
    • In various colors not used for the final issued stamps (color trials).

These items are highly collectible because they represent the original design state of the stamp before it was officially authorized and released for postal use.