Lot 183 Canada # 76i 2c Violet Queen Victoria, 1898-1902 Numeral Issue, A VFNH and Fine NH Plate 1 Strip of 3 on Vertical Wove Paper

A nicely centered VFNH and fine NH plate 1 strip of three of the 2c violet Queen Victoria from the 1898-1902 Numeral Issue on vertical wove paper. Overall, this strip is definitely VF, but to be conservative with respect to grading we have evaluated it as one VFNH stamp and two fine NH stamps, as this is what you would have if you broke the strip up. Now Unitrade does state that any plate multiple whether it be pairs, blocks or strips are all scarce and worth 50% more than the sum of the values of the individual stamps in the strip. We will be offering similar strips from plates 2, 3 and 4 in the coming weeks.

Unitrade values this strip at $480, which is $240 for the VF stamp at left, plus $80 for the two right stamps, plus 50% premium for the inscription as noted in the catalogue footnote. If the strip is graded as VF, then the value would be $1,080. The strip offered here grades 84, 70 and 67 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 54/70 and 40/70
Paper Freshness: 5/5
Colour: 5/5
Impression: 5/5
Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5 and 2/5 (natural paper inclusion in upper left margin)
Perforations: 10/10

The Numeral issues are printed on at least four different types of wove paper. Unitrade lists some of these, but not all the varieties that exist. Firstly, all values can be found on medium vertical and medium horizontal wove papers. On all values except for the 5c, the vertical wove paper is more common. On the 5c most stamps are on horizontal wove paper. The vertical wove paper can then be found in a thinner, and a much thicker version, which resembles carton paper. Unitrade lists the thicker paper on the 2c violet, although I have seen this paper on at least the 2c carmine and 1c green. The thinner paper may exist on all values, though I have seen it so far on the 2c purple.