Lot #118 Canada #454iii 1c Reddish Brown and Reddish Chocolate, Northern Lights and Dogsled Team, 1967-1973 Centennial Issue, Four VFNH UL Plate 5 Blocks on Two Different LF-fl Papers, PVA Gum

An interesting group of four upper left plate 5 blocks of the 1c Northern Lights and Dogsled team from the 1967-1973 Centennial issue, printed in the reddish brown and reddish chocolate shades, and on two different LF-fl papers. All four blocks have PVA gum with an eggshell sheen. The varieties of block are, as follows:

• DF violet ambient fluorescence that is made brighter by very sparse concentrations of LF, MF and HF fibres, printed in reddish brown.
• DF violet ambient fluorescence that is made brighter by very sparse concentrations of LF, MF and HF fibres, printed in reddish chocolate.
• LF greyish ambient fluorescence that is made brighter by very sparse concentrations of LF and MF fibres and very few HF fibres, printed in reddish brown.
• LF greyish ambient fluorescence that is made brighter by very sparse concentrations of LF and MF fibres and very few HF fibres, printed in reddish chocolate.

Although Unitrade and Harris list LF-fl paper, there are actually several different types that differ according to the basic overall colour and brighness under UV, and the concentration of LF, MF, and HF fibres found in the paper, as well as browish woodpulp flecks that have the effect of dulling the apparent fluorescence of the paper.

The 1c sheet stamps printed by CBN were printed in a number of different shades, depending on when the printings were made:

• Plate 1 and 2 printings made between 1967 and 1968 tend to be in shades of violet brown or brown.
• Plate 1 and 2 printings made between 1968 and 1970 tend to be printed in shades of chocolate and reddish chocolate.
• Plate 3 and 4 printings made between 1970 and 1971 tend to be printed in shades of deep brown, chocolate or reddish chocolate.
• Plate 5 printings made between 1971 and 1973 tend to be printed in shades of reddish brown, though chocolate shades are also found.

The collage shows the differences between some of these shades, though they are easier to see in the flesh for some reason.

The gum used on all printings to 1971 is dextrine, but within this category, there are a number of different types, which differ by the way the gum appears, when viewed in light:

• Early printings have yellowish gum that appears either completely smooth, mildly streaky, or very streaky, and has a semi-gloss sheen.
• Later printings made toward 1970 have gum that has a distinct satin sheen, and can occasionally appear grainy.
• Plate 3 and 4 printings made between 1970 and 1971 often have a gum that appears mottled and "sponged on". This is a very distinct look that is not seen on the earlier plate 1 and 2 printings. However, the normal smooth and streaky versions of the dextrine gum is also found on these printings as well.

The PVA gum used on the plate 5 printings, shows very little variation, but a subtle difference can be found in the sheen and thickness of the gum, with the earlier printings having a thicker gum with a satin sheen, compared to a slightly thinner gum that has an eggshell sheen.

I have not checked the perforations on these blocks due to time constraints. However, they could measure 11.9, 11.95 11.85 or 12 on either side, and can exist with any combination of these measurements.

Unitrade values these blocks at $11. The blocks offered here grade between 75 and 84.