Nearly all preproduction runs are proofs
The scenario where they're testing paper is almost the defintion of a pre production proof.
To me these would be a couple things,
Progressive proofs without the name layer. Progressive proofs would be done possibly at multiple points on the way to production. Doing them on thinner stock would be more cost effective.
There would be progressive proofs done during the design phase, and those would have the registration markers.
Another set could and probably would be pulled from the plates/stones just before production to assure the plate or stones were laid out properly.
This is done on a press that's just used for proofing, and pretty much prints one sheet at a time.
"Proofs" is misused a lot, usually to keep things simple, because the details of production and pre production are not necessarily known for sure, and because with modern stuff especially Topps, there was so much proofing going on at different times and in different ways.
Not all blank backs are proofs, and even production cards can be "proofs" of some sort. Like the cards from a make -ready sheet showing evidence of adjustments being made, as a handful of sheets were used to make final adjustments to registration.
Those can also be properly considered as printers waste or scraps, because they served a purpose that was inherently ephemeral, while more traditional proofs may have been retained for some time along side other production items or as a guide to the master plates.
Not to be confused with how "proof" is used in coins, where the proofs are their own production run and what we call proofs is more like patterns.
and even less similar to stamps, where it can mean both pre and post production printings from different sources, and for different reasons. And are variously called "proofs" and "reprints" depending on when and why they were made.
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