Canada #720 30c Multicoloured Red Oak, 1977-1982 Floral & Environment Issue, VFNH UL Plate Blocks on DF/DF-fl Paper With Solid Background, Showing the Normal Leaves and Winter Leaves Variety

2 very fine NH upper left plate blocks of the 30c multicoloured Red Oak stamp from the 1977-1982 Floral & Environmental issue, printed on DF/DF-fl paper, showing both the normal and "Winter Leaves" variety. The stamps have a solid dotted background.

The paper is DF/DF-fl with a low density concentration of low fluorescent fibres, that reads as DF overall.

The Winter leaves variety results from a shift of the black engraving relative to the red colour, causing the edges of the leaves to be the same colour as the background.

The medium value tree stamps of this issue can be found with background colours that appear solid and dotted under magnification, and with backgrounds that appear mottled. This is not mentioned in Unitrade, but I consider this to be a collectible difference.

Unitrade values these blocks at $43.75, taking $10 for each Winter leaf stamp as explained in the footnote to the main listing.

The blocks offered here grade 75 and 80 as follows:

Margins/centering: 45/70 and 50/70

Paper freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10