Canada Number 92 Shades

Hi all -

I have been looking for a used copy of the "straw" shade of the Edward VII 7 cent stamp, Unitrade number 92iii. I bought a stamp recently thinking it might be one and would like to know what you think. There is no colour called "straw" in the Gibbons colour key (so why would anyone identify a stamp colour as "straw"? . . .) In the attached scan are several shades beside the two closest pages from the Gibbons key. The stamp in question is second from left. I realize trying to represent colours accurately from my scanner to my computer through the net to your computer to your monitor is problematic, but if anyone has the Gibbons key you might be able to get a sense, or perhaps adjust the colour of my attachment to match your key. The stamp is close in colour to the chip called "buff" but very slightly greener, though far and away the brownest of my two dozen or so copies. The stamp was not expensive so if it is not "straw" it's no big loss. If it is, I did well.

I work with shades in the small queens and admirals as well as some others. It is an in-exact science.

The names for the colours themselves have been generated by a varied number of experts over the years, and many times it is almost impossible to relate one shade to another. The colour "straw" is one of those. The Gibbons colour chart is only one of several, though certainly one of the best recognized.

Even some well-established sellers sometimes will not agree on a shade.

The best advice I can give is to look for any seller that specializes in this field and buy one copy as a sample copy, or if possible bring them yours for an opinion (most will offer it freely).

Research any books that deal with this particular stamp series.
The fact the it is a used stamp can also be problematic as one can not be sure what kind of soaking, light exposure, etc it has gone through, especially since you only have one - more samples is better. Mint is best for shades, but I realize can be quite expensive. I only deal with used myself for cost reasons.

The stamp in question certainly seems to have a distinct shade, so you could be correct.

Hope that helps.

The 'Scott Specialized Color Guides for U.S. Stamps' is on Amazon and possibly ebay and possibly Linn's magazine. This would have colours hopefully corisponding to those stated in the Scott or Unitrade catalogues?


Linn's Refresher Course
Color presents challenge for stamp collectors
http://www.linns.com/howto/refreshe...rcourse.aspx

There is available (not sure where) a Canada colour guide for the older stamps, Pence issue, etc, but I am not sure if it covers the KEVII stamps.

A Wonder color guide is available, keyed to US stamps.
See a Stamp Community thread with a great discussion on colour guides here (and an example in color):
https://goscf.com/t/13874

On a Stamp Community thread about KGV Indigo Blue colours
https://goscf.com/t/11682&whichpage=3
this is stated by member Bffranton:

Great link on the problem of colour identification Puzzler.

As I have tried to tackle this problem myself, the two key elements that have helped are:

1/ a full-spectrum "daylight" bulb

2/ Morris' Color Guides (using actual chips of paint colour) - he covers Small Queens and the Admirals

We're getting off on a tangent, but a good one, so I have started a new thread.

I did a search in ebay stamps, Canada, for "92iii", the catalogue number for the Edward VII 7 cent "straw" shade:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odk...78&_from=R40

(you probably have to copy the whole link and paste it in your browser)

Amazing the difference in colour of these stamps, all supposedly "straw."