A Real proof would have register marks. and no back image. The proofs were pulled from the smaller original stone on which the art was executed. These were the printers guide. Transfers were taken from the smaller stones and transferred to the larger stones in multiple. During this process the crop marks were removed.
The term proof could also possibly apply to the first few sheets from the initial production run that were used for promotional purposes such as salesman's samples and copyright files. Those may not have a back image.
Some of the cards you have with missing colors may be progressive proof images. When a proof book was made an impression of each color was pulled and then an image was pulled of the combination of those colors.
American lithographic company proof books are quite plentiful for all of their other work. I own several from them and other litho houses. I imagine that the proof books suffered the same fate that many cigar label proof books in the 70s and 80s suffered by being disassembled and the pages sold separately. In the case of T206 cards they may have been cut into individual cards.
I am working on a site to illustrate the process in detail but it is slow going as I can only get to it on occasion. I will get it out and start a new thread when I finally launch the darn thing.
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