AP/PP backstamp question

So we usually don't try to collect prototype pins or any of those special ones, but we just acquired this pin to "truly" complete the DLR Surprise Sign releases from 2008.



Here is the description from the listing:

This pin was to have been the November release in the DLR Surprise Sign series. Production issues eventually killed the release of this pin and it was never offered to the public.

Goofy,a pin-on-pin, is dressed in his finest western attire looking confused as he stands in front of the Frontierland signpost.

On the post are signs for:

"Big Thunder Mountain Railroad"
"Steamer Mark Twain"
"Tom Sawyer Island Raft Landing"
"Davy Crocket Explorer Land"
"Pioneer Merchantile"

A lamp hangs from the top of the signpost.

The back of this pin reads:

Surprise Pin
Limited Edition of 500
2008 Pin Trading Logo
Disney
China
PP/AP

It is probably the multiple spelling issues which prevented this pin from ever being released.

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Now here is my question, everything about this pin matches the listing EXCEPT there is no AP/PP stamp anywhere to be found. The person we got it from never told us how they got the pin. I don't believe it's a fake, but is it common for an unreleased pin to not have the backstamp AP/PP? Maybe it was part of the actual 500 run that was to be released and that's why there is no backstamp? It'll go into our collection no matter what, but it made us curious as to why it doesn't have a stamp.

This is a dumb question but are you sure it doesn't have a stamp? I got a PP/AP pin once that I swear I inspected it for twenty minutes and couldn't find a stamp, someone else had to point it out to me!! Sometimes they're so faint, or small, that it takes several sets of eyes to find it!

echoharmony said:

This is a dumb question but are you sure it doesn't have a stamp? I got a PP/AP pin once that I swear I inspected it for twenty minutes and couldn't find a stamp, someone else had to point it out to me!! Sometimes they're so faint, or small, that it takes several sets of eyes to find it!

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I'll be completely honest with you, I'm going off of what the trader said (they told us there was no backstamp- I also assumed that they just didn't see it) and what my boyfriend has said who has the pin in his possession. So I haven't looked at it myself yet, so I'm just trying to get a general idea if this happens sometimes. :dunno:

Ahhh okay. Well, I know that the prototype set I had from ds.com that was the three different colour metals of the same pin didn't have PP stamps on the backs of them, so I think it's possible!

I just traded for the same pin and got it today... no AP or PP on the back of mine (at least that I can tell).

is this an ebay description?

is the dealer reputable?

it seems to me I remember in the article here on DPF that post 2006 all AP were stamped, now some PP were not stamped prior to that, but at some point the standard was established,

See the article here
http://disneypinforum.com/showthrea...nd-Pre-Production-(PP)-Pins-Guide-and-FAQ’s

I think this may not be genuine based on theses criteria?

Please keep us apraised of the developments?

happy hunting
hope this helps?

I would not be surprised if the pins that were produced but not sold, are out there somewhere.

Spelling errors? When does Disney have spelling errors on pins? LOL.

I think DLRPintrader92 (or maybe Jabberwocky) is the definitive source on AP/PP pins.

I do remember I had an AP Tinker Bell pin. I saw it when I first got it (the AP stamp) and then couldn't find it again. Took a while for me to find it again. LOL

lucan444 said:

is this an ebay description?

is the dealer reputable?

it seems to me I remember in the article here on DPF that post 2006 all AP were stamped, now some PP were not stamped prior to that, but at some point the standard was established,

See the article here
http://disneypinforum.com/showthread.php?5601-Artist-Proof-(AP)-and-Pre-Production-(PP)-Pins-Guide-and-FAQ’s

I think this may not be genuine based on theses criteria?

Please keep us apraised of the developments?

happy hunting
hope this helps?

Click to expand...

The description is from Pin Pics, it is the same on both the PP listing (71886) and the AP listing (71888).

The trader seems to be reputable, as I've recently found out they are a member here on the forum and they've been a member since October 2010, with several hundred posts, and has positive feedback. (PLEASE do not message me asking for the person's name- I am in NO way trying to start ANY drama here. I am simply trying to learn about this pin and it's origins).

I've confirmed with Matt24256 that we got the same pin from the same trader. The backing cards that both our pins came on has matching sku numbers. The trader still has this pin listed for trade.

I've carefully inspected the pin, and I see no signs of any AP/PP stamp. Here are pictures of the front and back of the pin.





I'm starting to think that the run of 500 pins has been leaked at some point into the pin community, and maybe that's why there is no backstamp on the pins. Does anyone know of scrapper/counterfeit pins that have the pin-on-pin element?

Yep the back of my pin is the same. I think on my next visit to DL I'll try and see if I can get a cast member to scan the UPC and see what pops up. Not so worried about it being a scrapper but more curious at how these are getting out into the wild. Nevertheless I wanted it to complete my surprise sign collection so its all good. I don't think they would bother trying to scrap/counterfeit this pin, not only due to the pin on pin element, but its not a highly wanted pin and doesnt have a baseline of a price on ebay. If they sold for $$$ I could see someone trying but the one that is listed there has been there for months.