Does anyone know of 1948 Bowman Blank Backs or proof?

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Posted By: Jim Manos

Were they cut from sheets or a pre production proof possible? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

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Posted By: dennis

i think they are just manufacturer errors, but,there were 1952 bowman proofs and 1956 proto-types

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Posted By: davidcycleback

I've seen Bowman football proofs from numerous different years, if not specifically 1948. I've also seen legitimate oversized 1948 Bowman basketball cards that were handcut from sheets. So that kind of stuff exists in general.

Blank back errors that were accidentally inserted into packs are factory cut. Blank back cards unofficially cut from full sheets are usually handcut. As far as whether the latter is a scrap or a proof can be hard to tell. When in doubt, it's safest to call it blank back not a proof.

A blank back sheet exists either because it was an intentional test (aka proof), or because the printer's made an error-- forgot to print one side, put in the sheet wrong whatever. In cases, the former and the latter can look identical. Blank back cards pulled from packs are the non-proof error-types. Proofs can be distinctly different in ways, though. For example, some proofs were on different stock and/or have front graphic differences-- different colors, other. If someone has a genuine blank back 1952 Bowman football card that is missing one or more colors on the front, it's safe to say he has a proof. In fact, it's probably a progression proof, which were proofs where they were testing the colors to make sure they looked okay. They made a series of proofs testing each possible ink color combination-- black/red, blue/red, etc. Probably a majority of the Topps and Bowman proofs are blank back progression proofs, and I've seen complete progression sheets for early Murad basketball cards