Lot 431 Canada #599,iii $1 Multicolored Vancouver, 1972-1977 Landscape Definitives, 7 VFNH Singles All Being Variations Of LF & DF Papers With Strong & Weak 4mm & 3.5mm Tags, All Perf. 12.5 x 12

7 VFNH singles of the $1 multicolored Vancouver from the 1972-1977 Landscape Definitives all being variations of LF & DF papers with strong & weak 4mm & 3.5mm tags. All perf. 12.5 x 12. The lot includes:
• LF/LF-fl with sparse LF fibers & very sparse MF fibers & woodpulps, strong tagging, perf 12.5 x 12 (599iii)
• LF/LF with sparse MF fibers & very sparse woodpulps, weak tagging, perf 12.5 x 12 (599iii)
• DF blue gray/DF-fl with sparse LF fibers & very sparse MF fibers & woodpulp, strong tagging, perf 12.5x12 (599iii)
• DF/DF gray (599)
• DF blue gray/DF blue gray, sparse LF fibers & woodpulps, strong 4mm tagging (599iii)
• DF blue gray/DF blue gray, sparse LF fibers & woodpulps, weak 4mm tagging (599iii)
• DF blue gray/LF-fl blue gray with sparse LF fibers & woodpulps, strong 3.5mm tagging (599iii)

Unitrade values these at $24.5. The stamps offered here grade between 75 and 80 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 45/70, 50/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

We have listed the two or three colour shift varieties that can be found on each of the values in this issue. For some strange reason, Unitrade only listed, until recently those varieties related to the 15c and 25c values. They de-listed them in the 2023 edition of the catalogue on the grounds that they aren't constant. However, our position is that this was a poor decision because these varieties are visually striking and thus very much collectible in our opinion. They also are not anywhere near as common as one might think, making up between 5-10% of all the stamps printed for each major printing. For each of the varieties found on the 10c, 20c and 50c that were never listed in Unitrade, we have coined a name for the variety and explained what causes it. We have generally estimated most at between $5-$15 each, which is in line with what Unitrade valued them at before they de-listed them. The main variety that exists on this value is the leftward shift of the green and rightward shift of the periwinkle colour, which causes dots to appear to the left of the mountains. On this value, although Unitrade does not mention it, there exist two distinct widths of tagging on the perf. 12.5 x 12 printings: 3.5 mm and 4 mm. The 3.5 mm bars are found on the first printings made between 1973 and 1974. Later printings from 1974 up through 1977 have 4 mm tag bars.

The tagging can be found in strong and weak versions on the perf. 12.5 x 12 printings. The weak version shows clear screening dots visible in the tagging, whereas it appears solid on the strong version.