Canada #473i 5c Violet, 1967 Canadian Press Freedom Issue, VF Plate 1 and 2 Blocks on the Scarcer Fluorescent Paper, Mostly All VFNH

Fine and VFNH examples of a matched set of plate 1 and upper right and lower right plate 2 blocks of the 5c violet blue stamp from the 1967 Canadian free press issue printed on the scarcer fluorescent paper.

The fluorescent paper from this period that Unitrade lists is easily confused with other more common variations of DF-fl or NF-fl paper that contain just a few fluorescent flecks, but still read as DF or NF to the eye overall. The true fluorescent paper will read as LF overall, and will glow bluish white under UV light. It will be very visibly brighter than the DF or NF paper. Those other variations are separate varieties that are not listed in Unitrade, and are more common than the true fluorescent paper.

I haven't checked the exact perf on these blocks, but this issue is from the period that the 11.85 gauge begins to appear on CBN stamps. Measurements of 11.85, 11.95 and 11.9 and compounds of these are the most common, and these blocks could be any one of these measurements. The dex gum on these blocks is smooth, with either a satin, or semi-gloss sheen, on all blocks except for plate 1 upper left which is streaky with a satin sheen.

It is not clear why the streaky and smooth dex gum differences exist on stamps issued from the late 50's to 1971, though it would appear to be due to the use of different gumming machines or applicators by the CBN, as these differences run consistently through all issues that appeared during this time. Starting in 1967 the a noticeably thinner dex gum that has a more satin or eggshell sheen, which was not previously seen on any other issue is introduced. I believe that this was experimental and it was leading up to the introduction of the spotty white gum in 1971 and then finally the PVA gum that replaced it ultimately.

Unitrade lists these blocks at $25. The blocks offered here grade 70 and 84 as follows:

Margins/centering: 40/70 and 54/70

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10