Canada #706var 2c Pale Brown & Multicolored Western Columbine, 1977-1982 Floral Definitives, 9 VFNH Singles With Minor Shifts Of Dark Carmine Inscriptions, Different Paper Types, Satin PVA Gum & Tagging Types

9 VFNH singles of the 2c pale brown & multicolored Western Columbine from the 1977-1982 Floral Definitives with minor shifts of dark carmine inscriptions, different paper types, satin PVA gum & tagging types. The lot includes:
With glossy PVA gum:
• DF/DF ivory, white paper, moderate tag, stone background, moderate tagging
• DF/DF bluish white, moderate tag, stone background, moderate tagging
With Satin PVA gum
• DF/DF grayish white, moderate tagging, stone background, right shift of carmine, pink tinted surface
• DF/DF grayish white, moderate tagging, stone background, right shift of carmine, white surface paper
• DF/DF grayish white, moderate tagging, stone background, left shift of carmine, pink tinted surface
• DF/DF grayish white, light tag, stone background downward shift of dark carmine
• 782ii – DF/DF bluish white, vertically ribbed, white paper, invisible tagging, satin PVA
• 782b – DF/LF-fl smooth white paper, invisible tagging, upward shift of dark carmine
• 782b – DF/LF bluish, smooth white/ off-white paper, invisible tagging, upward & rightward shift of dark carmine

Unitrade values these at $10. The stamps offered here grade between 75 and 80 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 45/70, 50/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Cancellation: 10/10

The Floral Issue low value stamps show very few varieties in Unitrade, and even then most of these have only appeared in the last decade or so. This issue does show considerable variability, though the variations are much more subtle than for previous issues, and consequently a lot more patience is needed when working with these stamps. Close examination of the gum will reveal differences in sheen, the paper shows slight variations in fluorescence, giving rise to different colours under UV light. Then there is the colour of the paper itself, which can be either a bright white on both sides, and off-white cream, or bright white on the coated side and off-white on the back. The tagging also appears differently on the stamps, with some where the tagging shows as definite yellow bands, and others where the tagging is, for all intents and purposes invisible. There are other differences as well, all of which are covered in this week's blog post, which you are encouraged to read.