A very very good color guide and lots and lots of patience!! I've been a serious Canada collector for more than 50 years and am still confused by the colors and the different printings!! Of course you need a copy of the Unitrade Canada Specialized catalog.
Please recommend a "Very, very good color guide". I have SG's, but many early stamp colors are not in it. Color ID may be the hardest part of IDing postage stamps.
I always used the SG colour guide but I was never happy with it. I picked up another one called the Wonder Color Gauge distributed by Meghrig Coin & Stamp Supplies, LA, Calif. 90036 They seem to do more shades and makes things a little easier. The problem is that a "carmine rose" on one guide might not be exactly the same as a "carmine rose" on another guide. And also color guides oxidize and fade just the same as stamps do. There is nothing harder than determining color shades on early US and Canadian stamps. It's part of the challenge, just as watermarks are, so we have to take them in stride and deal with them.
Is anyone aware of a collector of the Small Queens that has determine the correct colors and printings or is that wish full thinking?
Rich
You really have to get a copy of The Unitrade Specialized Canada Catalog. They have a chart that explains quite clearly all the colors and paper varieties for the stamps and list huge numbers of varieties for each stamp. Looking at all of it and thinking you'll collect all of it is daunting to say the least. I started collecting Canada about 50 years ago and the first thing I did was eventually locate one copy of each basic stamp using my Harris album as a guide. The album also showed quite a few of the basic varieties. So I tried to fill these spaces first, some are a bit pricey and I have all the ones they show except 37d. That took a long time!! Every once in a while I would find one that was a slightly different color or perforation, add that to my collection and move forward. I would occasionally find one that was supposed to be a different variety from ones I already had, pick it up, do the research and add it to the collection. This is a process that has taken about 50 years so far - you can't expect to do it quickly!! I am not even close to finished and probably never will be. You need to get in touch with a few of the Canada collectors here, or they will get in touch with you. I've picked up some hard to find varieties from a couple people on this site and even though my basic Canada collection is fairly complete you could be collecting varieties of the large and small queens for hundreds of years and not have them all. Start small, keep adding material as you find it and things will eventually come together. Here are the varieties of the large and small queens I have managed to accumulate so far: Have: ( large and small Queens ) 21a, 22a,b 24a,b, 25b,viii, 26iv, 27a,b,c,f, 28ii,b, 29a,b, 30a, 35a,d, 36d,e, 37a,b,c,e, 38a, 39b, 40c, 43a, 44a,b,c As you can see I still have a very long way to go!!! I am not even trying to get them all, I just add them as I find them!!! I doubt if this really helps much, but take your time and good luck!
Great information thank you I do have the right catalog I also realize the different color changes can be daunting its the challenge that drives me forward plus these issues are extremely fine and beautiful. Have found one option the color reference by Richard Morris Pittsboro Philatelic does this ring any bells. You certainly have a fantastic collection.
"You certainly have a fantastic collection."
Decided to build my Canadian collection starting with the QV Small Queens so now already I have a major problem trying to decide how to identify the different printings and colours any suggestions?
Rich
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
A very very good color guide and lots and lots of patience!! I've been a serious Canada collector for more than 50 years and am still confused by the colors and the different printings!! Of course you need a copy of the Unitrade Canada Specialized catalog.
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
Please recommend a "Very, very good color guide". I have SG's, but many early stamp colors are not in it. Color ID may be the hardest part of IDing postage stamps.
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
I always used the SG colour guide but I was never happy with it. I picked up another one called the Wonder Color Gauge distributed by Meghrig Coin & Stamp Supplies, LA, Calif. 90036 They seem to do more shades and makes things a little easier. The problem is that a "carmine rose" on one guide might not be exactly the same as a "carmine rose" on another guide. And also color guides oxidize and fade just the same as stamps do. There is nothing harder than determining color shades on early US and Canadian stamps. It's part of the challenge, just as watermarks are, so we have to take them in stride and deal with them.
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
Is anyone aware of a collector of the Small Queens that has determine the correct colors and printings or is that wish full thinking?
Rich
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
You really have to get a copy of The Unitrade Specialized Canada Catalog. They have a chart that explains quite clearly all the colors and paper varieties for the stamps and list huge numbers of varieties for each stamp. Looking at all of it and thinking you'll collect all of it is daunting to say the least. I started collecting Canada about 50 years ago and the first thing I did was eventually locate one copy of each basic stamp using my Harris album as a guide. The album also showed quite a few of the basic varieties. So I tried to fill these spaces first, some are a bit pricey and I have all the ones they show except 37d. That took a long time!! Every once in a while I would find one that was a slightly different color or perforation, add that to my collection and move forward. I would occasionally find one that was supposed to be a different variety from ones I already had, pick it up, do the research and add it to the collection. This is a process that has taken about 50 years so far - you can't expect to do it quickly!! I am not even close to finished and probably never will be. You need to get in touch with a few of the Canada collectors here, or they will get in touch with you. I've picked up some hard to find varieties from a couple people on this site and even though my basic Canada collection is fairly complete you could be collecting varieties of the large and small queens for hundreds of years and not have them all. Start small, keep adding material as you find it and things will eventually come together. Here are the varieties of the large and small queens I have managed to accumulate so far: Have: ( large and small Queens ) 21a, 22a,b 24a,b, 25b,viii, 26iv, 27a,b,c,f, 28ii,b, 29a,b, 30a, 35a,d, 36d,e, 37a,b,c,e, 38a, 39b, 40c, 43a, 44a,b,c As you can see I still have a very long way to go!!! I am not even trying to get them all, I just add them as I find them!!! I doubt if this really helps much, but take your time and good luck!
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
Great information thank you I do have the right catalog I also realize the different color changes can be daunting its the challenge that drives me forward plus these issues are extremely fine and beautiful. Have found one option the color reference by Richard Morris Pittsboro Philatelic does this ring any bells. You certainly have a fantastic collection.
re: CANADA QV Small Queens
"You certainly have a fantastic collection."