Canada Perforation Change From 1962

New: The perforation change that started in 1962 has also affected a centennial stamp as well but in the opposite way. Centennial stamps are supposed to be new perforation 12 (11.85) but the booklet pane Scott/Unitrade 458a has been found with both new perforation 12 (11.85) which is commoner and old perforation 12 (11.95) which is scarcer. It appears that since booklet stamps required less perforating wheels to be used because they have straight edges, the older perforation wheels with older perforator that was still left was used for some of this booklet pane.

Besides 458a having new and old perf 12, there is potential for 454a, 457a and maybe 455a to have both perfs too. These are being checked.

A new addition to add: Canada 405a booklet pane with new perforation 12 (11.85) rather than the more common old perforation 12 (11.95) found on most 405a booklet panes. Also, this new perforation has so far been found in booklet BK52e.

It looks like they kept some of the old labour-intensive perforators around, which took two ladies to work, for at least years after the new perforators were introduced. They were probably used when the volume of work got too high - like when producing the main 5¢ definitive booklets (cameo & centennial).

The old perforation 12 (11.95) is on the Centennial 5 cents booklet pane (458a) on the right since the perforation holes are slightly smaller and more clogged up than the new perforation 12 (11.85) on the Centennial 1 cent (454a) and 4 cents (457a) booklet panes on the left. I have been looking into the 454a, 457a booklet panes and 457b, 458b miniature sheets for old perforations but I have only found new perforations so far. I am also looking into 401a booklet pane for new perforations but I have only found old perforations so far. The old line perforation 12 (11.95) has long existed on Canadian stamps from 1861 to 1967 while the new line perforation 12 (11.85) has short existed on Canadian stamps from 1962 to 1972. The overlap between both perforations in the 1962 to 1967 common transition period presents over 20 different stamps with both perforations (over 40 stamps when counting both together).

The year of 1962 was mostly noted for Winnipeg tagging which was first introduced on some postage stamps in January 1962. It may be possible that this new tagging of some stamps may have led to the faster wearing down of the perforating wheel pins/holes that may have led to the start of their replacement several months later starting in August 1962. Thus, there may be a cause and effect relationship between them.