Canada #587 (SG#694) 2c Green Laurier 1972-1978 Caricature Issue MF/LF Paper Type 3 & 8 UR Blocks VF-80 NH

Two well centered and very fine NH plate 1 upper right blocks of 4 of the 2c green Sir Wilfred Laurier stamp from the 1973-1977 Caricature Issue, showing two different comb perforation configurations, and printed on two different varieties of paper. Printed on vertical wove paper showing no ribbing on either the front, or the back. General OP-2 Ottawa tagging, 4 mm wide, of moderate strength (clearly visible to the naked eye, but not dark), and glowing a bright yellow under ultraviolet light. Comb perforated 12.0 x 12.5. Smooth, creamy PVA gum with a satin sheen. These were the first comb perforated stamps printed by the CBN, and there were different configurations of the perforating combs that can be distinguished by looking at the selvage. Here we can see two types. The paper also gives different reactions under UV light as follows:

1. On the first block, the selvage is perforated all the way through on both sides. The paper gives a low fluorescent bluish reaction on both the front, and the back, with a low density concentration of low fluorescent fibres being visible in the paper.
2. On the second block, the upper selvage is perforated through, while the horizontal perforations stop one full hole short of the edge on the right selvage. The paper gives a low fluorescent bluish white reaction on both the front and the back, with a low density concentration of low fluorescent fibres, and very few high fluorescent fibres visible in the paper.

Unitrade does not differentiate between these two different types of perforation, and values two VF-75 NH blocks at $1.50. The blocks offered here grade 80 as follows: Margins/centering: 50/70 Paper freshness: 5/5 Colour: 5/5 Impression: 5/5 Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5 Perforations: 10/10 Note: the above scan is a stock photo as are all my scans for material after 1952. The item(s) you will receive has (have) been carefully checked to adhere to the above grading standards, so while it (they) may not be exactly the same, it (they) will be of the same quality. Also, I do not provide back scans of NH stamps or blocks after 1952 unless they are required to illustrate some attribute of the paper or gum.