Scott 218i "Mole On Forehead" Variety

Hello. I found this today. it appears to be the Mole On Forehead variety.. Are these pretty common?

With a 2013 catalogue value of $80.00 for a single mint hinged (($120.00 for MNH) versus a normal mint stamp at 75 cents, I would think that they are fairly uncommon now.

At the time of printing they were one in 400.

218i is plate 2, upper left pane, position 21.

Blackjag

Thanks for the response. I'm guessing then that there are 400 stamps in a sheet?

Hi Alberta Stamper,

Yes. There were 400 stamps in a complete sheet, that was divided into 4 quarters (UK, UR, LR, LL) with each containing 100 stamps.

To know how 'uncommon' this variety is, then you need to find out how many Plate #1 sheets were printed (without this variety) and how many of Plate #2 were printed, which has this variety. If for example there were exactly the same number of plate #1, #2, #3, and #4 sheets printed, then this stamp is 1:800 1:1,600.

Here is another one. In comparing the two, I see that yours is a smaller 'mole' and looks more blueish that brown! Could it be a pen mark?



- stamporator -

Edited to correct number of plates - from 2 to 4 (in bold)

Stamporator

It didn't appear to be a pen mark. It looked legit. Would all the moles be the same size or could they vary?
I will go check the ink color... It should be brown then? The same color as the stamp?

Oh ya. Your stamp is gorgeous :)

I checked it and the dot is black. I'm guessing it isn't the error :(

Alberta Stamper. Don't be too quick to discard that stamp. The variety is position 21 and, with the left selvage your stamp could be position 21. I have compared the position of the "mole" and yours is identical to mine. The dark brown can look black.
From where I sit, you have the genuine item.

By the way, the quantity is less than 1 in 400 as the plate flaw happened partway through the production run - there would be no errors (obviously) prior to the event.

It is interesting to note that both the "mole on the forehead" and the "weeping princess" are identical types of flaw and both are in position 21.

GJP

Gportch

The picture in the original post is mine,,, not the second picture of the full stamp.

Alberta Stamper - Before you give up, the dot is smaller, but it seems to my eyes to be in exactly the correct place. Yours could be a late plate state where the metal burr causing the mole got worn down. Given the remarkable exposure compared the the rest of the stamp, it would receive more wear through the printing process and would naturally become smaller and less pronounced through time.

It looks brown to me.

Beautiful specimen. This is why I prefer the early stamps to many of the new.

here is a picture of one offered on ebay, showing the location and size of the mole, for comparison. I suspect your look more like a paper inclusion, but I can be wrong

Gilles le timbre

Thanks for the input. The only other markings on the stamp is the cancellation lines. There are no splatters anywhere.
I found it odd that the only mark outside of the cancellation lines was this dot where the error is supposed to be.
I can post a picture of the full stamp shortly.

Any other suggestions? Late plate state or rotten luck. Lol.

Smauggie

Thanks for your comments as well.

Where do people get their higher end stamps authenticated in Canada? Not referring to this one.. Off topic question..

Hi Alberta Stamper,

For all certifications I use 'Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Foundation':

http://www.greenefoundation.ca/index.html

- stamporator -

Stamporator

Thanks for the link. Are they the only Canadian company?