Continuing on from my overview post of this issue last week, I spent most all of my time with this issue looking at two aspects of the mid-range and high-value stamps from the series:

1. The "Type" differences on the 10c, 15c, 25c and 50c, and
2. The listed constant varieties on the stamps.

Type Differences

As many collectors who use the Unitrade and Gibbons catalogues will be aware, there exist two distinct types for all stamps from the 10c to 50c, except for the 20c, which only seems to exist with only one type. Generally, these type differences seem to coincide with a change in plate, but not always, as was the case with the 15c and 50c, where type 2 is found on plate 1. The basic differences are shown in the pictures below:




The type 1 printing is shown on the right, while type 2 is shown on the left. The difference has to do with the appearance of the engraved dark green shading near "Canada". On type 1, it is clearly cross-hatched, whereas in type 2 it looks almost solidly inked. Type 1 was only found on plate 1 printings. Type 2 was found on both plates 2 and 3.




The type 1 printing is shown on the right, while type 2 is shown on the left. The difference lies in the shading on the mountain. On type 1 it looks more or less even, whereas type 2 shows a dark mass of heavy, solid colour on the mountain. Type 1 was only found on plate 1, but type 2 is found on both plates 1 and 2, depending on what the perforation is. Perf. 12.5 x 12 examples are plate 1, while perf. 13.3 examples are plate 2.



The type 2 printing is shown on the left, while the type 1 printing is shown on the right. Here, the difference is in the shading of the bears and their shadows. On type 1, the shading appears more or less even. On type 2 there the centre of each shadow is solidly inked. Type 1 is only found on plate 1, but type 2 is found on plates 1 and 3. No plate 2 was issued for this value.




The type 1 printing is shown on the left, while the type 2 is shown on the right. Here the difference has to do with how heavy the blue shading is. On type 1, the blue shading is light, and the screening dots are clearly visible. On type 2 the shading is much heavier and appears more solidly inked. This is the only type difference that Gibbons does not recognize in its catalogues.

One thing that I do in my post is I break down the colours of each value and specify the order in which they were printed, and whether or not they were engraved or printed by photogravure.

Constant Varieties and Other Varieties

I illustrate most all of the constant varieties that are listed in Unitrade, including those that the editor states are caused by colour shifts. While I agree that some, such as the "blue tail" and "raised rump" on the 15c mountain sheep are definitely the result of colour shifts. There are some, such as the "Siamese Bears", which I believe are caused by stray ink from other printings getting on the sheets. Take a look at the following picture and tell me what you think:




If you study this picture carefully you can see blobs of ink on the back of each bear that is causing the two bears to appear to be conjoined. However the ink blobs are a completely different blue to the two shades of blue that we have seen on the rest of the design. So, it seems to me that it cannot have resulted from a colour shift.

What do you think?

In addition to the listed varieties, I talk about some unlisted varieties. One that I like particularly I found on a $1 Vancouver from the last printing, perf. 13.3. This stamp showed a dollar sign that is clearly doubled. I was particularly excited by this as I had never seen anything like this before. The scan below shows this variety:



So there you have it: a brief introduction to my topic this week. You can access the remainder of the post by visiting my website, where you will find many more pictures and descriptions of the different types.

Next week, I will look at some of the varieties that are found on the low values of the series.

 
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re: The Type Differences on the 1972-1978 Caricature and Landscape Issue and Varieties

Thanks very much Mike. Have you, or do you collect this issue?

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wjalexander

17 Aug 2020
04:32:09am

re: The Type Differences on the 1972-1978 Caricature and Landscape Issue and Varieties

Nice write up! Always interested in this set with the amount of varieties and errors they seem to have.

I agree the blobs on the 25c seem to have a weird consistency and shade but the three splotches seem to line up quite well with the darker blue under layer in the bears body and shadow. I'm unsure of the printing process they would of used but how would ink from another sheet end up there?

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