Lot 189 Canada #F1 2c Orange Engine Turning, 1875-1888 Registration Issue, Fine Used Examples Montreal, Various Perfs, Vertical and Horizontal Wove, Nice Range of Shades

Fine used examples of the 2c orange Engine Turning from the 1875-1888 Registration Issue, printed on vertical and horizontal wove, Perf. W218, Montreal Printing Nice Range of Shades. This example is a Montreal printing on vertical and horizontal wove and are various perfs. These examples show a good range of the orange shades found on these stamps and all the papers and perfs are identified on the back of the 102 card that the stamps are in

The Small Queens and registration stamps were printed in Montreal and Ottawa. The Montreal printings cover the period from 1872 to the Autumn of 1888, when another fire forced the printing to be relocated back to Ottawa. They can be further broken down into three periods: the early Montreals from 1872 to about 1874, the mid-Montreals from 1875 to 1880, and the late Montreals from 1881 to 1888. The registration stamps therefore begin in the mid-Montreal period. The mid-Montreal period is where we begin to see the appearance of the 11.5 x 12 perforation, or 11.6 x 12 and 11.75 x 12. All three measurements correspond to what Unitrade lists as 11.5 x 12. This period also includes perf. 12, 12.1, 12.2 and compounds. The 8c only comes from this period, as the letter rates changed in 1878. The 2c stamps from this period are generally shades of orange and red-orange, while the 5c stamps are green and yellow green. Paper during this period is usually a stout horizontal or vertical wove.

Paper during the late Montreal period tends to be less stout, and can be horizontal or vertical wove. However the finish of the printed surface will be smooth, without loose or stray fibres, visible under magnification In terms of shades, the 2c stamps become deeper and duller shades of orange-red and tend towards vermilion. The 5c stamps become a darker green. In Autum 1888 to the end of 1888 is a transitional period known as the Montreal Gazette period. During this period the stamps were printed at the Montreal Gazette, while BABN readied its printing works in Ottawa. Printings made during this brief period are perf. either 12 x 12.25, or 12.25 x 12 and are on thin, soft vertical wove paper. The 2c shades are rose carmine and deep rose carmine, while the 5c stamps are blue-green.

The Second Ottawa period begins in 1889 and runs until 1897 when the Maple Leaf and Diamond Jubilee stamps replace this issue. By 1892 the registration rates on local letters increased, so that the 2c stamps became obsolete, and were not printed after that. In terms of shades the 5c stamps continue to be blue green or dark green Papers are always soft and porous, and can be very thin or medium thickness, as well as being horizontal or vertical wove.

Unitrade values these at $15. The stamps offered here grade between 65 and 70 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 25/60 and 30/60

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

Cancellation: 10/10