Scott # 544A - Queen Elizabeth

Hi guys

Here is another weird stamp anomaly...

1 - Look at this Scott #544a stamp.
The Queen's head on the 6 cent stamp goes above the top border, while the Queens head on the 1 cent stamp is below the top border...???

2 - Also the "A" in "CANADA" on the 6 cent stamp covers the medallion on the left shoulder of the Queen, while the medallion on the 1 cent stamp is not covered by the "A"...?

Were the proof readers on strike at that time (ha,ha)

The eyes are also diffrent, more defined on the 6c stamp. Nose is also diffrent, I think the facial expression on the 6c stamp conveys a pleased look while the 1c is a more serious look. Just giving my 2c on this LOL

Good eye Joe Stamps...I was wondering who would be the first to notice that...I did not mention that to see if anyone else was clever enough to find what you said...Very good eye.

The 6c also appears to have a well-defined frame line that isn't on the other.

Hey tomiseksj, never saw that one coming....Great pairs of eyes (if you have two..ha,ha)

There are a couple of more things if anyone can find them...???

Her Majesty's earring on the 6c is clearly defined while on the 1c it is almost missing in action.

The 1c looks to be under-inked or washed out from sun fading or soaking too long or wear and tear or a combination of many factors. You can see this on the word CANADA especially.


I haven't studied these Centennial stamps, but your work and alanl's thread of the varieties are fascinating.

I notice that the actual size of the design, edge to edge vertically, is smaller on the 6c than the 1c. I wonder if this is due to design changes made after the original printing of the 1c to 5c to when the 6c to 8c were printed later on? They still used the original die to print the 1c stamps even after the 6c was (possibly) redesigned?

Excellent Puzzler...There are more people like you guys that see things with eyes open..Really good work....Any more....


Look at her hair...???

The hair covering the top of the ear or not perhaps?

Looks redrawn on the 6c so less ear is showing, looks more dignified perhaps.

She as black hair on the 6 cents and brown hair on the 1 cent stamp.

Oops, I missed that one.

Don't forget that the 6c stamp was issued as a new value, 3 years (1970) after the original 1c to 5c low values (1967). It was no doubt completely re-engraved. You will notice that the 7c and 8c were different too, issued a few years later.

The 1c remained in use and has appeared in booklets with those other values too. Nothing unusual here :)

BeeSee is on the right track.

The 1c-5c stamps were released first in February, 1967. Two factors at that time:

* CBN was printing the stamps and booklets
* stamp designs were produced using imperial measurements

The 6c-8c values followed later.

* the original 6c was produced by BABN (with a subsequent change back to CBN), and the 7c and 8c values, as well as booklets were now being produced by BABN
* designs were now produced using metric measurements

The 1c-5c designs were never changed over the years, despite the change from imperial to metric. From this it is clear that both printers (CBN and BABN) shared the same dies.

The 6c to 8c values had new designs engraved. Slight differences exist due to the change from imperial to metric measurements and different printers.

Although not pictured at the start of this thread, the Queen's portait on the 8c value is also slightly different from the 1c and 6c values (notably the hair over her ear and a bit of her medallion).