Canada #1165-1166, 1169 38-40c Multicoloured Parliament Buildings, Canadian Flag & Queen Elizabeth II, 1987-1991 Mammal & Architecture Issue, 3 VF First Day Covers DF Cream & HB White Envelopes

3 VF first day covers of the 38-40c multicoloured Parliament Buildings, Canadian Flag & Queen Elizabeth II from the 1987-1991 Mammal & Architecture Issue. DF cream & HB white envelopes. The envelopes appear to be the standard ones for this issue: the initial releases utilized cream coloured envelopes which were either DF or LF under UV. Later releases in 1989 and 1990 utilized white envelopes, which were generally HF or HB under UV light. The fluorescence of the envelopes is an important characteristic that has been ignored by all the catalogues. Why does it matter? Because the envelope is an integral component of the FDC in the same way that a cover would be to a complete booklet, or the cardboard insert would be to a pack of plate blocks. The expectation, and general observation would be that Canada Post would utilize one type of envelope for a particular issue, so that if a different one from the standard type is found, then there is a good chance that it will be scarce, and is therefore, in our opinion collectible.

Unitrade values this at $3.75.