The reverse of early Jeffs

66Tbird

I have recently aquired a couple of early Jeffs (1939) and one has the reverse of 38 and the other a 40. I've looked at them long enough to get a headache and haven't found the difference.

DennisH

Look at the top step... the one the pillars of the building sit upon.

On the reverse of '38 the top step is thin and unimpressive. But the top step on the reverse of '40 is, by comparison, massively thick and strong.

Also, take a look at the lower steps. On the reverse of '38 they tend to be very 'wavy' and thin, as though someone etched them by freehand. But on the reverse of '40 they look as though they were etched laser-straight and perfectly parallel.

Can you see the difference now?

66Tbird

I see now, I thought that it was just a strike difference. thx

CarlWohlforth

The early reverse is sometimes known as the "wavy steps" type. Even fully struck proofs don't have the step detail of 1940 and later Jeffs.