Lot 76 Canada #245i $1 Aniline Violet Chateau De Ramezay, 1938 Pictorial Issue, A VFLH Single On Vertical Wove Paper With Crackly White Gum

A VFLH single of the $1 aniline violet Chateau De Ramezay from the 1938 Pictorial Issue on vertical wove paper with crackly white gum.

Unitrade values this at $150. The stamp 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

Although not listed specifically by Unitrade, the stamps of this issue exist with several different paper and gum types, with certain gum types typically only being found with certain paper types. In terms of paper so far I have been able to ascertain that there are five basic types (1) a vertical or horizontal ribbed paper, with the vertical being found on the 10c and horizontal being found on all the other designs, (2) a vertical wove paper that is smooth on the surface, but shows distinct horizontal or vertical mesh through the back, (3) a medium vertical wove paper that shows light horizontal mesh on the back and has a smooth printing surface, (4) a crisp vertical wove paper that shows no distinct mesh as well as another that shows clear vertical mesh and (5) a soft vertical (or horizontal on the 10c) wove paper that shows either no clear mesh, or clear vertical (or horizontal) mesh.

The gum found on (1) tends to be a very deep yellowish or brownish cream and has either a smooth or streaky appearance, as well as a satin or semi-gloss sheen. The gum found on (2) is similar to (1). Paper type (3) usually has cream, deep cream or yellowish cream gum with a semi-gloss sheen, though occasionally it can be found with brownish cream and mottled brownish cream gum also. Type 4 usually has ether a streaky cream gum with a semi-gloss sheen, or semi-gloss gum that is smooth and whose colour varies from cream to yellowish cream or deep cream. Lastly, the gum on (5) is usually either white or cream and has a semi gloss sheen. These differences are significant because they can aid in placing specific printings of the stamps. For example, paper types 1 and 2 appear to come from the early printings, as the 10c carmine rose, which comes from that period is almost exclusively on this paper. Type 5 on the other hand appears to come from the last printings, as it matches the most common paper found on the 1942-1949 War Issue. Type 3 is commonly found on the early Special Delivery stamps, so it would appear to be from the early period also.