The Pre-Arch Issue American Bank Note Company Papers - 1897-1930
This table looks at the papers used to print the American Bank Note Company Issues for the period from 1897 to 1911, which for Canada covers the Jubilee through to the Quebec Tercentenary Issue, and for Newfoundland covers the John Cabot Issue through to the 1908 Map stamp.
| Type Code | Characteristics | Seen On |
| ABN-A | Stout, opaque vertical wove with fine vertical mesh, which appears coarser when held up to back light. Both wire and felt sides are semi-porous. | Edward VII issue, Admiral Issue - wet printings |
| ABN-B | Stout, opaque vertical wove with clear, coarse vertical mesh, which appears the same when held up to back light. Both wire and felt sides are semi-porous. The gum is yellowish cream semi-gloss. | Edward VII issue, Quebec Tercentenary Issue, Early Admiral Wet Printings |
| ABN-C | Stout, thicker vertical wove with clear, coarse vertical mesh, which appears the same when held up to back light. The felt side is non-porous and the gum is yellowish cream semi-gloss. | Admiral Issue - wet printings |
| ABN-D | Stout, thick, opaque vertical wove paper with no visible mesh, even when held up to back light. Gum is cream with a satin sheen and slightly mottled appearance. The felt side is porous. | Admiral Issue - wet printings |
| ABN-E | Stout, vertical wove, that is opaque, with no visible mesh, but fine vertical mesh visible to backlighting. Gum is light yellowish cream with a semi-gloss sheen. The felt side is porous. | Admiral Issue - wet printings |
| ABN-F | Stout, vertical wove that is nearly opaque, showing no visible vertical mesh unless held up to backlight, when fine vertical mesh is visible. Gum is cream coloured with a satin sheen. | Admiral Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-G | Stout vertical wove that is nearly opaque, showing no visible, vertical mesh, even when held up to backlight. The felt side is non-porous, with paper fibres visible, but burnished into a finished surface. The gum is a streaky cream gum with a satin sheen. | Admiral Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-H | Stout, vertical wove, that is opaque, with no visible mesh, but fine vertical mesh visible to backlighting. Gum is light yellowish cream with a slightly mottled, semi-gloss sheen. The felt side is porous. | Admiral Issue - wet printings |
| ABN-I | Thinner, crisp translucent vertical wove with no visible mesh, until held up to backlight, when coarse mesh is visible. Gum is a steaky yellowish cream semi-gloss gum. | Admiral Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-J | Thick, stout opaque, vertical wove paper, with no visible vertical mesh until held up to backlighting, when fine mesh is highly visible. The felt side is smooth and non-porous. The gum is streaky cream gum with a satin sheen. | Admiral Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-K | Stout, opaque vertical wove paper with fine mesh, which appears coarser when viewed against backlight. The felt side is smooth and non-porous. Gum is cream with a satin sheen. | Admiral Issue - wet printings |
| ABN-L | Crisp, stout opaque horizontal wove paper, with no clear mesh unless held up to backlight, when coarse horizontal mesh is visible. The felt side is non-porous. The gum is deep cream semi-gloss. | First Postage Due Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-M | Crisp, stout opaque vertical wove paper, with no clear mesh unless held up to backlight, when fine vertical mesh is barely visible. The felt side is non-porous. The gum streaky cream semi-gloss | Admiral Issue - dry printings, Confederation Issue |
| ABN-N | As ABN-G, but fine vertical mesh is visible in this paper when held up to backlight | Admiral Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-O | Crisp, stout opaque wove paper with no visible mesh unless held up to backlight when coarse vertical mesh is highly visible. The felt side is non-porous and the gum is smooth cream, semi-gloss gum. | Admiral Issue - dry printings |
| ABN-P | As ABN-E but horizontal wove paper. | Second Special Delivery Issue |
| ABN-Q | As ABN-I but horizontal wove paper. | Confederation Special Delivery Issue |
| ABN-R | As ABN-Q, but gum is smooth, cream semi-gloss. | Confederation Special Delivery Issue |
| ABN-S | Thick, opaque vertical wove paper, with fine mesh that is only visible with backlighting. Semi-porous felt side. Mottled brownish yellow gum with a satin sheen. | First Postage Due Issue |
| ABN-T | Medium translucent vertical wove paper with no visible mesh, even when held up to backlighting. Streaky, semi-gloss gum. | Admiral Issue - dry printings on "thin" paper. This paper is distinctly different from the thin experimental paper of 1924 that was used on the 2c, 5c and some of the first postage due stamps. |
This table is an work in progress that will expand as I examine more stamps of these issues.