SEPIA PRINTER'S DIE PROOFS, SEPIA DIE PROOFS, SEPIA INSPECTION DIE PROOFS (EPREUVES D'INSPECTION, ESSAIS DE RECEPTION) (figg. D1, D2)

Sepia Printer's Die Proofsare the scarcest Proofs printed by France and French-Area countries. They were made by the Government Stamp Printery (Atelier de Fabrication des Timbres-Poste) until 1963 from the unhardened original die to detect minute defects that could cause problems during the printing process.

Generally produced only in one color (sepia) and only  3 to 5 were printed. If a defect were found, the unhardened die was retouched and another set of Proofs prepared. This process was repeated until the die was faultless and ready to be hardened.

These Proofs, other than being printed only insepia color, always show the characteristicPrinting Works control punch below (the three hole punching - diamond, crescent, diamond - that is standard onTrial Color Die Proofs, Acceptance Die Proofs andDeluxe Sheets, but only those made until 1966), confirming that these printings were made by the Government's stamp printing plant.

Typically, of the 3 to 5 examples, one copy will go to theOfficial Archives, one to thePostmaster for his approvals (signified by a pencil "OK" in the margin) and one copy to the Printing House orPostal Museum; thus, at most one to two copies may eventually make their way onto the philatelic market.

Sepia Printer's Die Proofs were made on thinner paper than Artist's Die Proofs, contain only a single stamp impression, and show the impression of the steel diearound the vignette measuring 70 x 80 mm, the same as theArtist's Die Proofsand Acceptance Die Proofs.
After all, they are printed on the thin cards that are of uniform size (14 x 11 cm) and regular outlines.

fig. D1

fig. D2