New Scott 25

Just purchased this stamp as mint regummed.
The stamp is really nice with vibrant colors (dark shade) and perfect perforations. I do see some dark markings around the neck that worry me.....could it really be used with a very light cancel ? I know that some of you are amazing playing with contrast and luminosity.....what is your trick ? Also, there are some ink lines on the left side of the stamp, would this be from a cracked plate ? The back shows a very thin paper with a strong vertical weave (doesn't really show in the scan). Is the thin paper variety a vertical woven paper or is Bothwell the only one with this caracteristic ? Let me know your thoughts !

There are many here who are MASTERS of scanning -- sadly, I'm not one of them.

But I can give you the first step -- switch to a BLACK background. As "true" black as you can find.

Then in your image software, see if you can find tool that lets you 'set' the background to true black. Doing so will color correct the image.

Now wait for someone smarter than I ....

Based on what I can see in the first scan, the ink in the margin could very well be some plate cracks (or some other type of plate damage).
The dark you see in the stamp could mean it is lightly cancelled, especially as it is regummed.
Use the best magnifier you have and look very carefully. It could be ink from a cancel, or just dirt-smudging. It may even come off if you use something to gently brush it.

If you can highly scan the face of the stamp, or use a loup or magnifying glass (manual or electronic), look for disturbed paper such as scratches, bumps, smooth sections, etc., where the cancellation may have been, but was erased. The entire surface should be identical in texture.

The first stamp looks mint after close analysis. But I have found a second one with the same markings on the left margin. This could make it a constant variety. I am still thinking about a cracked plate. Unitrade mentions there are 3 different ones but only pictures two of them.

I had submitted these 2 stamp to Ralph Trimble of re-entries.com for his opinion concerning the possibility of being a cracked plate. This is his answer :

"Your two 3c Large Queens show a plate crack that was identified in
Duckworth's, THE LARGE QUEEN STAMPS OF CANADA AND THEIR USE 1868-1872,
published by The Greene Foundation, reprinted and updated in 2008, described
on page 93 and crudely illustrated on page 94 (Figure III-16, Item B). At
the time it was originally written in 1986, Horace Harrison, who provided
much of the information on plate varieties for the Duckworths, indicated
that only one copy had been seen, and it was on "the thin crisp transparent
paper."

Well, it seems that I have 2 copies of this version of the cracked plate Unitrade 25v. This is the one not illustrated in Unitrade

Coriandre - you should send a better scan (using a black background) of the entire stamp face and a close up of the plate crack to Robin Harris, editor of Unitrade for possible inclusion in the catalogue.

unitrade@adminware.ca

Also include the reply from Re-entries.

Thanks for letting us know of the results of your inquiry.

Very nice -- I have about 120-150 large queens and have often thought about just focusing on them. Definatly have to get the Duckworth book before I waste any more time but there are so many variations . I recently picked up a beaten battered copy of the 3c on laid paper just for the heck of it . If you send yours to Greene and it is the cracked plate on transparent it will not matter to much about the re gum or even if it was used. Regardless its a nice clean example.

BlackJag- That is a good idea. I think it would be wise for me to get them certified prior to this though.

Nitrolures- The large Queens is a great subject to focus on. With the different shades, perforations, paper types, re entries and varieties there are a lot of things to look for and study. You are Lucky to have this many !! I have about 50 of them.

Both my copies of this plate crack are on the thin, crisp, transparent paper type. For some reason, there seems to be a link between the paper type and the plate crack