Help With Scott#26 Large Queen Perforation

Hi guys...Sometimes our eyes deceive us..Here are 2 perforations using software...Which do you think it is..11.75 or 11.50..?
Thanks Robert

Unlike the perforation change of 1962, trying to use the same accuracy on these old 19th century stamps is problematical at best. In addition to the stretching and shrinkage that happens over the years, the original perfs are not as consistently placed. I have personally seen multiples where one stamp appears to have a slightly different perf than another on the same piece.

To my eyes, your stamp looks closer to the 11.75. On the 11.50 image, the lines seem closer to the left of the perf holes on the left side and then closer to the right on the right side. You should definitely try measuring the bottom of the stamp as well. Also images of the back of the stamp provide less distraction and better accuracy for judging perforations.

You sure do get to spend a great deal of time with your collection wert. I envy you.

Thanks Scottamer..I will remeasure everything...<ya, got time to spend on my collection..

Wert, what is the measured difference between the center of first hole on the top and the last hole, mm or 1/64th of an inch?

Robert - please allow me to bump your thread on the #26.

I found a little fellow I believe to be #26a - stated in Unitrade to be perf 12 x 12. However I find mine to be more like 12.1 x 12,25. Will that still be #26a - or are there more perforations known on #26 than what's listed in Unitrade?

What is interesting is that both 11.75 and 11.50 are both legitimate perforations for such early issues. However, the 11.75 looks more exact for it.

Blaamand,

I was always told that the perf 12 5c Large Queen was actually perf 12.1 x 12.1 at least. So you likely have the scarce perf.

The copies that measure perf 12 only are not the scarce perf but are sold as such.

@jimjung - thanks a lot for your kind feedback . I was unaware there are more varieties - and it explains my confusion. Sometimes I would appreciate if the catalogs were more detailed. No wonder p.12 stamps are being sold as p.12 stamps as long as that is what is actually listed in the catalogs.

Blaamand..I agree with you, but after having a conversation with Robin from Unitrade I can understand why it is not so..He explained that if they put everything it it, the catalogue would be twice as big, twice as heavy and twice as expensive...I see his point...There are people (BNAPS) that will gladly investigate any questions you may have..

http://www.bnaps.org/

Go down To LARGE AND SMALL QUEENS.

Robert

the perf 12x12 stamp is a very rare bird. Do not buy one without the option to have it sent to the Greene Foundation for verification.

Here are the three perforation varieties:
11.5 x 12; 12.1 x 12.1; 11.75 x 12

wert: Sometimes it is not only a matter of adding new things to catalogues but of correcting misinformation about things that are already listed in it. The overabundance of new issues is an aspect that catalogues cannot avoid but are forced to accept no matter what which would eventually still make it twice as big, twice as heavy and twice as expensive.

Thank you all for responding - and to Robert for the good advice



I echo that! In regards to the share weight of the catalogs I think the modern stuff is outweighing the classics. If it was up to me, the zillions of paper, perf and tagging varieties of recent stamps would easily be simplified a bit to give a few more pages and more precise and detailed info for what most Canadian collectors are struggling with - the Large and Small queens. The 'Identification table' for the SQ is a brilliant concept - however it seems only half way completed, hence often misleading.


@chipg - Amazing 5c stamps!

Jogil,
in this new age of internet and links to high definition images, perhaps a new path for future catalogues would be to show only the main varieties, and provide supplemental links for more details. For example, list Canada # 19, 3 varieties (a, b, i), 3 colours, and point to Re-entries, by a link to "flyspecker, or Re-entries, for further details, and offer an addendum table (electronic/pdf) listing the values of the minor varieties. These can also include High res. pictures links.

Jogil, that process already exists..Unitrade (Robin Harris) has always pointed out that any mistakes will be looked at with the opportunity to make changes if needed after they were contacted by collectors.



Gilles le timbre..That is a good idea but, there is a matter of copy writing control, and what would happen if some of the links were removed..Unitrade would go crazy trying to watch and keep up with any changes that would leave dead links in their catalogue..That would be embarrassing for them.

And if Unitrade DID do what some people ask and add every variety to please collectors, it would be a night mare...Lets just take for instance Scott 250xx precancel...If Unitrade placed every detail collectors wanted in the catalogue, there are 17 different styles of precancels to fill up a page or two..Now do that for every stamp, and the book would go from 736 pages to probably over 1000 pages..Just does not make any sense, huge book..Heavy book..And probably double the retail cost.

Now, some people said why not break the book up into 2 separate books..One just Canada and the other back of the book information...Here is the problem with that idea...
Lets just say the catalogue today is $50.00(just rounding off figures, could be higher or lower).

say Unitrade sells 10,000 copies at $50.00 each..That would be $500,000.00

Now lets say they broke it down to two books and sold the Canada one for $35.00 and the back of book for $35.00 also...Now we would all buy the Canada book at $35.. X 10,000 which would be $350,000.00 .

And know probably only about 5% or 6% would buy the back of book one, that means only 600 people would buy it at $35.00 X 600, which comes out to only $21,000.00

now here is the math...
1 - $500,000.00 as is..
2 - two books $371,000.00
It is not a good business opportunity for any company.

Robert

It all depends on how the catalogue is divided up into since it appears that at some point it might possibly be divided due to the imbalance of issues from up to before the Elizabethan period (1851-1951) including back of the book (1851-1951) and from the Elizabethan period (1952 on wards) including back of the book (1952 on wards) which has many new issues that keep on expanding the catalogue every year. This breakdown may allow for more expansion in the 1851-1951 listings which is where the old classics are all located. This would be an advantage of having a separate volume for the 1851-1951 stamps.

This was emailed to me about the Unitrade Canada catalogue: Please note that this is also probably the LAST Edition that will be printed in the current format! The book has now reached the MAXIMUM number of pages that will fit in spiral-bound. A decision will have to be made over the next year as to the new format which could be printing the book in 2 volumes or removing some sections. A final decision has not yet been made.