1961 and 62 unopened proofs

Wow, lets see, coin referance books can tell you, other websites can tell you, and im sure if you found a person from the mint back then, they would tell you. ENVELOPE PROOF SETS WERE NOT SEALED!

 

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Go back and re-read your original post which tried to "correct" the rest of us, and then tell me again who was being the jerk.

Yes, Doug probably does know more than me about most numismatic issues, but others obviously know more than you. I say this not as criticism but as a heads-up that maybe you should do what most of us here try to do - listen and learn.

It is common knowledge that proof sets were unsealed when issued. If it makes you happy we can even hedge a bit and say "most" were unsealed. That still does not legitimize the hype by dealers and others who try to get more money by selling "sealed" sets. Add to that the fact that envelopes are being forged, and sealed sets should be suspect to say the least. For every person who finds a true condition rarity in a "sealed" set there are probably a hundred or a thousand others who are buying a "sealed" set that has already been scrutinized by someone.

One last thing to think about. ....speaking from my own experience, every single piece of mail piled up on my kitchen table is either ripped or cut open along the top of the (sealed) envelope. However, most if not all proof sets (the envelope variety) I have seen or own are open at the flap, even if in some cases the flap had partially stuck down and been pulled up at some point. This is not to say that proof sets with a cut-open edge do not exist, but if all proof sets were shipped sealed wouldn't most or all opened proof set envelopes look like the mail on my table?

Believe what you want - it really doesn't bother me, and what I believe shouldn't bother you. We're all just trying to share some information and expertise.

P.S. - My birthyear is a Franklin proof set, and I started getting them as gifts and buying them many years ago. That is the basis for my own personal first hand experience.

 

Recently I was able to purchase two groups of proof sets.
Both were in the original boxes from the mint, one US one Canadian. Each was for 5 (I think) sets in a box.

Both had the original boxes opened, and the envelopes inside were unsealed.
Both were purchased form the daughter of the original individual who had purchased them from the mints.

Again, both sets of envelopes were NOT sealed.
However, I will check to see if there was any glue on the envelopes.
Back with more later.

 

Howdy Treasurehunt,

Very nice find...any Cameo's in the lot? I spent years looking for those things.....
Post some pics...will ya??

regards,

RickieB

 

replacement envelopes

Many sellers offer replacement proof set envelopes from 1955-1964 (the 10 years they were made). The sellers don't say in their ads that their genuine mint issue and it's generally assumed that these are copies (how else would someone have so many of them?) but they are different.

Below is what I believe to be an original envelope (cut open with a letter opener, but I'm not going to discuss the sealed vs. unsealed issue). The other is a replacement envelope purchased from a vendor on eBay. The replacement envelope is missing the "30" right after the word "Phildelphia" in the return address.

Anyone know which version is genuine?
You'd think someone making a counterfeit would at least copy the original exactly.

 

dreamer:
Yup, the second is the copy.
Nice job tho.

Rickie:
I'll check, but I doubt any cameos.
Hard to tell thru the cello packs.

 

All the copies ive seen of these envelopes are brand new looking, i never realized about the (30) thing wonder what it means kinda intresting?

 

Rickie:
Before zip codes, they had zones.
the zones were two digit numbers, for sorting the mail.

(God, I feel old sometimes.)

 

I thought I saw some envelopes that actually had the zip code printed on them, but I'm not 100% sure.