Canada 1903 King Edward VII SC 89-93

I just purchased a copy of the 7c, SC 92, mint, LH, and observed that the face appeared to be "scuffed", for lack of a better word, across the center of the stamp and assumed that explained the price, which was much less than the $225 Scott (2011).

I then looked for mint SC 93 to finish out the 1903 series and ALL those for sale on both ebay and BidStart showed the same scuffing, so I'm referring this to the Canada experts in the Forum. Was there a printing problem or difficulties in transport to local post offices or in storage that created this apparently universal defect?

Also, as a separate question, the colors of SC 93 offered for sale are all over the map, ranging from lilac to brown. Scott identifies the color as "brown lilac". Any thoughts from the experts?

Thanks...
Donald

Hi diambert1,

If you can provide a scan of your stamp them it would be helpful to understand how 'scruffed' your Scott 92 is.

Here is a copy of one of mine.


Also, a mint imperforate horizontal pair:


Here is another Scott 92, mint this time, that has left ink across the centre and maybe your scuffed version.


Also, a plate #2 strip of 9:


Also, my 2009 Canada Unitrade catalog states that Scott 93 is also in 'dull lilac' (Scott 93i).

- stamporator -

Dang Stamporator--those are some fairly awesome examples!

Makes me want to collect Canada...

Just a great example of how this community has great resources for others too

Stamporator: Thanks for the enlarged scan; it gave me the clue and sent me back to my copy of SC 92 with a 10X magnifier. I now believe that the "scuff" marks are really an optical illusion, at least to my eyes, created by the horizontal lines in the oval, between the "C" and the "S" in the left branch and the "E" and the "S" in the right branch, and their juxtaposition to the crosshatch above and below. The horizontal lines are perceived as lighter in weight than the crosshatch, as do the angular lines within the oval, and this difference is quite noticeable to the eye.

Thanks for the help and the scan.

Donald