Canada #85 2c Lavender, Black and Carmine, Mercator Projection 1898 Imperial Penny Postage Issue Fine Used Example Showing An Interesting Stamp Dealer Advert on Back

A fine used example of the 2c lavender, black and carmine Mercator Projection stamp from the 1898 Imperial Penny Postage Issue. This example is nothing special from the front, but when you turn it over there is an interesting handstamped ad for Errington and Martin, stamp dealers in South Hackney, which is a borough in London, about 4.2 miles northeast of Charring Cross. The style of the lettering in the Ad is consistent with that found in print articles from the turn of the century, so this was likely applied to this stamp after these dealers had soaked it off a cover going to London.

A very interesting piece of early stamp dealer history. Unitrade values this stamp in this grade at $6. Worth at least that, for the advert alone, I think. The stamp offered here grades 65 as follows:

Centering/margins: 30/70
Paper freshness: 5/5
Colour: 5/5
Impression: 5/5
Absence of visible paper flaws: 5/5
Perforations: 10/10

Cancellation: 5/10