Canada 5c Small Queens

I picked up this beauty on ebay for $3, described as #38, F to VF.

When it arrived, I measured the perforations and I was suprised to find it 11.5 x 12, which made it a 38a . That catalogs $25 fine, $60 very fine.

Opinions wanted; how would you grade this stamp? The centering is very fine to me; but does the cancel downgrade it to fine?

Also the colour; it appears more olive green to me rather than slate green, the main listing in Unitrade. 38i is the olive green variety, but a perf 11.5 x 12 is not listed for this colour.




Slate green, Olive green

Beesee, I would call it F-VF. Centering is key on the small queens, and your copy's cancellation does not detract from the design

centering is probably VF if they ever perffed these right. Top / bottom are almost perfect and your right side is likely a tad jumbo(ish) . Not sure what exact measurements are for a perffed specimen or proof to know exactly how big sides need to be for a true VF. Now I want to start perffing mine but that will lead to 10 pages back and forth. Just bidding on a nice group of smalls - never have enough for some reason - I'm a QV hoarder and just need 9 more large ones for 100 total and lost count on smalls.

How about the color? I added colour chips below the stamp based on my Stanley Gibbons chart - as close as I can get them. Of course they may look different on other monitors.

I too would class this as F-VF. As stated previously, the obliterator marks do not retract from the design and are light enough to be still quite a desirable stamp.

I think you got a good buy.

Chimo

Bujutsu

So many of these look plain ole grey with no hint of green to be seen. Along side others the olive stands out . Find the same when looking at 5c large queens all seem an off black until you see a side by side . Have to say it leans more to the slate than olive but I am terrible with color chips.
Hopefully shows well enough on the pic- Last 5c in 3rd row and 1 below I'd call olive but maybe I'm actually backwards.

I think you may be right Nitro. All the greys of course are #42, the Ottawa printing.

On my stamp, the guide dot can be seen below the 5.

Here are colour examples from the RPSC site:

http://www.rpsc.org/Library/SmallQu...l_Queens.htm

Left, Brownish Grey, right, Olive-Green

Not sure if this will help, but I have found that when you look at some hard-to-ID 5c SQ, it is sometimes easier to see the shade using a loupe (close up magnifier). The green ink is sometimes more obvious.

Give it a try.