1903 Queens Cover Question.

Looking at this cover it appears as if the stamps were lifted and glued back on the cover. I'm not sure if it will show in the scan but all around the Stamps is a hardened film which I'm positive is from some type of glue / adhesive. I know it might have been possible that they fell off and were reattached, but both Stamps ? And it's not just under a certain portion of the Stamp but 360° around the Stamps.

Why ?



Here is a close up and if you see the perf tips, that's not toning, look at the bottoms of the Stamps, the perf tips a Grey.

I've seen this before as well recently. I can think of a few scenarios:
1. The sender reused stamps that were not canceled the first time through the postal system. Probably not in this case since it's commercial mail and doubt they had the need or desire to do so.
2. The sender had stored the stamps in place where they got wet or humidity over time stuck the stamps down to a surface and had to be soaked free. Afterwards, an adhesive had to be used to affix the stamps. Possible as workers can be careless or the stamps sat somewhere for some time.
3. The sender didn't think the adhesive was good enough or didn't like to lick them - I've seen covers were folks used rubber cement to adhere stamps to envelopes. Who knows went on in the office?
4. Or what you wrote, the stamps fell off and reglued by a previous collector/dealer.

Hi Stallzer
If those stamps have been reattached (and I don't think they have), somebody has done a lovely job aligning the cancellation.
GJP

Stallzer, seen it very similar before from home prepared Gum Arabic to re-attach lifted edges. That visible darker edge area depends on application thickness, Starch percentage in mixture and application method.

PS. I'm 100% sure the stamps have never been lifted off envelope.

Like other members on this thread have stated, I too have seen this before. Not really that uncommon.

What I do like about your cover is the return address for the Atlantic, Quebec & Western Railway company. A nice advert cover and one that would fit in well to a Railway Post Office collection for collateral material.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thanks for the input. I do agree that they might not ever have been lifted and perhaps that when they were originally being attached perhaps the sender gave them some extra adhesive or maybe they had lost their gum from being in a desk drawer or it could be a Million different things. What caught my attention was the glue residue all around the Stamps and since my Scott catalog is basic information only on Canadian Stamps I wasn't sure if the y were lifted for a watermark check or something similar. It's too bad though as the right Queen is exceptionally centered with nice margins.

For what it is worth stallzer

I used the program I have that removes Canada Post cancellations...BUT, I could not remove it, NOW, if (I hope I am wrong) the stamps were reattached after the fact, the guy aligned the cancellation perfectly, but had to use ink that is NOT Canada Post standard.

Here is your stamp digitally changed....Notice the double line between the arrows...This is the effect you get with a non Canada Post cancel (i.e. - a pen of some sort).



Here is a TRUE Canada Post cancellation also changed digitally...See the difference.




Here is a ball point pen circle I drew...See the similarity...???





I am NO expert, just a thought.