Lot 487 Canada #337var 1c Violet Brown Queen Elizabeth II, 1954-1962 Wilding Issue, A VFNH UL Plate 5 Block DF1 Ribbed/Ribbed Paper, Tinted Rose On Surface From Improper Wiping Of Plate, Glossy Yellowish Cream Gum

A VFNH UL plate 5 block of the 1c violet brown Queen Elizabeth II from the 1954-1962 Wilding Issue DF1 ribbed/ribbed paper, tinted rose on surface from improper wiping of plate, glossy yellowish cream gum. Most of the blocks from this issue show little colour in the selvedge, when the excess ink has been properly wiped from the printing plates. Occasionally though, the plate is not properly wiped, and the paper is tinted on the surface from the excess ink that was left behind. Unitrade does list this type of variety on the 34c Queen stamp from 1985, but does not list it in tbis series. However, it is part of the production process and was something that occasionally did happen. So, in our opinion, it is very much a collectible variety.

Unitrade does not list this variety. The regular plate block catalogues $7.20. Our estimate of the value, based on scarcity, and other listed varieties is $20. The block offered here grades 75 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 45/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

The Wilding Issue is considerably more complex than both Harris and Unitrade suggest. In addition to the basic horizontal/vertical ribbed paper distinction, the horizontal ribbed paper can be found with ribbing on both the front, and the back, as well as ribbed on front and smooth on back. Then, starting in the later half of the 1950's, the paper becomes smooth on front and ribbed on back, before finally becoming smooth on both sides. Each value can be collected thus, and in addition, the DF paper can actually be broken down into two fluorescence levels and two predominant colours under UV for each of these levels. The dullest paper is DF1, and can be found to give either a light violet glow under UV, or a brownish grey colour. Then, there is a brighter DF2 paper, which is not quite bright enough to be LF, but is noticeably brighter than the DF1 paper. It can be give either a bluish white glow under UV, or a cream glow under UV. Finally, there is a true LF paper, which is bluish white under UV and is quite scarce. For these printings, a plethora of shade varieties can be found, especially on the 4c and 5c values. Each value can be found in at least 2 shades though. Finally, the gum exhibits collectible differences also, with the early printings having a glossy yellowish to yellowish cream gum, which becomes less glossy and more streaky as one progresses through the 1950's. The printings made on the vertical ribbed paper, between 1960 and 1963 can be found with clear vertical ribbing on the gum side, and with no clear ribbing, and in a variety of levels of fluorescence other than those listed. The subcategories of DF paper, described previously for the horizontal wove paper, can more or less be found on the vertical ribbed papers also. Satin and semi-gloss yellowish gums can be found on these printings, and there are a variety of shades to be found on these also.