Nice Admiral Stamp Auction Buy.

There is a big difference in the condition of the Admiral perforations from the 1911+ issues versus the 1922+ issues. The 1911+ issues mostly have poorer looking smaller perforations while the 1922+ issues mostly have better looking larger perforations. Sometime in between 1911 and 1922, there appears to have been a gradual change in perforators and perforations. The perforations on the blank gummed paper appear more like the 1922+ issue perforations. The earlier rotary wheel line perforators used by ABNC were based on U.S. patent # 32,370 of 1861 and the later rotary wheel perforators used by ABNC were based on U.S. patent # 1,120,753 of 1914. Thus, I believe that these blank perforated Admiral stamps were from trials of using the new perforator sometime after the patent was issued and the old perforators were being replaced bit by bit. This parallels in a way my 1962 CBNC perforation change but this is earlier since Canada line perforation 12 in one form or another goes from 1862 to 1974.

Lots of good information jogil...You impress me with your knowledge of perforations..Keep up the good work.

Robert

wert: Thanks.

This blank Admiral stamp paper has gotten my curiosity so that I will be posting here what I have so far been able to find after reading parts of the book The Admiral Issue of Canada by George C. Marler, American Philatelic Society, August 1982.

1) It would appear that this paper is of sheet stamp format Type B since it has been found with outer sheet margins that are both large/wide and small/narrow. (No straight edges on the stamps but only on the margins.) This type was used until January 1914 at the latest. (page 42)

2) The perforations have new large clean holes for perforation 12 rather than old small rough holes. Large perforation holes for the Admirals started occurring at the earliest around November 1912 first. Over time, the new perforations gradually replaced the old ones. (page 61)

Thus, it is possible that the Admiral paper may be from around November 1912 to around January 1914.

The American Bank Note Company (ABNC) filed for a new perforator patent in November 1913 and it was granted a U.S. patent (1,120,753) in December 1914. However, the new perforator could have been in use before and during this time. There used to be a 2 year grace period allowed before the filing date which would give it a November 1911 to November 1913 period of prior use. Interestingly, November 1912 falls in between both. From 1839 to 1939, U.S. patents had a 2 year grace period before the filing date. This was changed to 1 year in 1939.

Thus, there is the possibility that the blank Admiral stamp paper may have been from sheet test runs of the new perforator which proved successful so that a patent was filed for the new perforator.

So jogil, you think this could not be 1915 no print stamps...?

Robert

Robert

Not necessarily, presumably. Bileski's tale only refers to "around 1915", so they could be one and the same. Bear in mind that Bileski's write-up was hearsay, not provenance.

These are a MNH bore's dream, by the way - none of those nasty pictures to detract from the unsullied gum.

Geoff

wert: For 1915 then it would have been Type D format which it doesn't appear to be. The year 1915 is more likely as to when the panes were first discovered and/or first obtained by someone in the public. Some of these are currently on ebay as follows:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/191533998667

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/191542813391

...Is that a good or a bad..?


..Soooo, it probably was an earlier date that these errors/oddities were done..??

Robert

wert: It looks like they could be from November 1912 due to their big new perforations and from the new perforator with patent filed for in November 1913 since it had a grace period of 2 years before filing which would cover from around November 1911 to around November 1913.

Gotcha jogil.....

I noticed that there have been interesting sales of these on ebay in the last month.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/270954610380

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/271089026866