Canada #50 (SG#121) Half Cent Black 1897 Diamond Jubilee Issue Oily Paper VF-78 OG LH

A well centered and very fine mint OG example of this popular commemorative issue, of which only 150,000 were issued. Additionally this stamp is printed on an oily paper that is almost identical to the oily paper that is sometimes found on the 1897 John Cabot Issue of Newfoundland. This set was also printed by the American Bank Note Company at more or less the same time as the Jubilees. Until two or three years ago, there were no listings in Unitrade, Then Unitrade began listing the 1c Cabot on oily paper for $90 against the normal $2.50, indicating its scarcity. So far this is the only Jubilee that I have found on this paper. Unitrade values a normal VF-75 OG example at $160, but this should be worth more. This stamp grades 78 as follows:

Centering/margins: 50/70

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 8/10