Lot 57 Canada #463pv 15c Deep Bright Reddish Lilac Greenland Mountains, 1967-1973 Centennial Definitive Issue, A VFNH UR W2B Tagged Field Stock Block Of 4 On LF-fl Horizontal Wove Paper With Eggshell PVA Gum, Plastic Flow Variety

A VFNH UR W2B tagged field stock block of 4 of the 15c deep bright reddish lilac Greenland Mountains from the 1967-1973 Centennial Definitive Issue on LF-fl horizontal wove paper with eggshell PVA gum, plastic flow variety.

The block also has deep reddish violet ink under UV light.

Unitrade values this at $300. The block offered here grades 80 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 50/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 10/10

There are several important points to keep in mind when reading the lot descriptions for the Centennial issue stamps:

1. Nearly all of the stamps except for the 6c black show variations in the shades that vary from extremely subtle to quite obvious. None of these variations are listed. In additon to those differences found in the shades in normal light, some of these inks show variations under UV light, where the colour changes under UV.

2. The papers as listed in Unitrade are generally quite simplified in relation to what actually exists. For starters, the colour of the paper under UV can vary from bluish white, to cream or ivory to deep blue or violet. The fluorescence as listed is often a combination of an ambient, or inherent fluorescence level, which is modified by the presence of fluorescent or wodpulp fibres. Fluorescent fibres raise the perceived fluorescence of the paper, and both the brightness and concentration of these fibres will vary considerably. A stamp can have LF, MF and HF fibres all at once, in the paper. Concentrations of fibres on this issue varies from very few, which is just one or 2 fibres on the whole stamp, to low density, where the fibres extend across the whole stamp, but where some 1-2 mm spaces between fibre clusters are visible. Within this range there are sparse and very sparse concentrations, the difference being in how large the spaces are between fibre clusters. Woodpulp fibres have the effect of dampening the perceived fluorescence, and appear as brownish flecks in the paper.

3. The Dex gum varies in terms of its sheen, with smooth semi-gloss, streaky semi-gloss, smooth satin and streaky satin sheens being found. Unless otherwise described, the default sheen is semi-gloss. Two types of PVA gum can be found: satin and eggshell. Satin gum has a clear smooth, white appearance and it is clear that gum is present. Eggshell on the other hand is thinner and shows the rough texture of the paper more, so that it is not so obvious that gum is present.

4. The paper can be either horizontal or vertical wove, and this is determined by seeing which way the paper flexes most easily. Horizontal wove flexes easily from top to bottom, whereas the opposite is true for vertical wove.

5. Both smooth and vertical ribbed papers can be found. This is particularly true of the high values and is especially noticeable in used stamps, as there is no gum. However, even on mint stamps the ribbing can usually be seen in the gum. Again none of the specialized catalogues that we are aware of list these varieties.

6. The perforations vary considerably. CBN used at least four machines that gauge 11.85, 11.95, 11.9, 12 and 12.1, so that stamps can have any compound of these measurements. That being said, by 1971-1972 the most common measurement is 11.85, as this machine replaced the machines giving the earlier 12 and 11.9 gauges. Generally speaking we have not checked the perforations due to time constraints. Consequently the lot could be any one of the many perforations found within this range. If you want us to check a particular meaurement, please ask and we will oblige.

7. The Winnipeg tagging varies in colour under UV from a bluish white glow to a greenish yellow. Also, the strength of the bands visible on the stamps varies from almost invisible to dark yellow.

The Greenland Mountains is the name of the painting featured on this particular value. The stamp design is more commonly known to most collectors as "Bylot Island". There are several particular points to note with this value in particular. The first, is that there is a fantastic range of shades all the way from a deep, dull purple on the very first printings, all the way to a bright reddish plum, with deep reddish violet and deep rose lilac shades in between. The second is that Unitrade, like on many of the other values in the series fails to list some of the major varieties. On the untagged printings, they list the DF and LF papers for the PVA gum stamps and the vertical ribbed paper as well. However, they do not list the Winnipeg tagged printings as existing on the scarcer vertical ribbed paper, even though they clearly do, as the lots in the sale demonstrate. Similarly, the plastic flow variety is not listed for any of the untagged PVA gum printings, even though the plastic flow clearly exists on all printings of this value. The third thing to note is that Unitrade prices the DF PVA gum tagged printings for both W2B and GT-2 stamps at the same prices as the more common LF-fl paper, which suggests that they are equally common. This is NOT the case: the DF paper is just as scarce on the tagged stamps as it is on the untagged PVA gum printings.