3 Cent Small Queen...odd Coloured Cancellation.

Watermark, it is my understanding that the dots could also be ON the stamps, in addition to between the stamps as per this thread:

https://goscf.com/t/41229#41229

My question is if there is any reason for a 3 o'clock dot versus a 9 o'clock dot. The previous dots were always in one position, the lower left corner. Why do these have two possible positions?

The dots in the lower left corner were used to layout the stamps of the early Montreal printings at some point the dots were moved to the center of the circle right or left. Some of these dots are hidden in the design but in some cases they are clear of the design. The 3 O'clock indicates a dot present center right on a particular stamp as 9 O'clock indicates a dot at center left. The center dots are associated with later printings, possibly late Montreal and Ottawa printings and help in sorting the printings along with perforation and paper differences.

Am I correct in saying dot at 9;00, older than 1888, and dot bottom left corner newer than 1888..?

Robert

Ottawa 1870-73 if visible have lower left guide dot.
Montreal 1873-1889 had lower left guide dot until around 1880 when they started using a horizontal guide line bisecting the stamps horizontally and associated guide dots vertical guidelines were also used.
Ottawa 1889-1897 used the same guide line and dots used in the late Montreal printings.

This information and more can be found in THE SMALL QUEENS OF CANADA by John Hillson 1989.

Watermark (Mike)..Here is a couple that I came across with some interest..

A - Has what I call a "bug bite"
B - Has what I call a "slash"

What do you think..?

Robert

Hi Robert, I don't find either of these in my references. Nice finds will watch for another copy of each to prove them constant. I is interesting to see new plate flaws many of which are not reported. This is one of the benefits of better research tools like the PC, scanners and the ability to readily share them over the internet. There are some drawbacks of course as colors and paper type do not lend themselves well in this form of media. Still finding and discussing plate flaws works fairly well.

Mike

Yes, I agree Mike...Posted them to see if any one might have another to prove like you said if it is a constant...Wish I could get better detailed to show, and of course every ones monitor is different..Keeping my fingers crossed..

I think I will send them to Jim to see what he has to say.

Robert

Hows 'bout this for a nice ink smear on the 3c:

I can't tell for certain if the ink smear is the same red as the stamp ink. If it is it is an interesting error freak or oddity. The other possibility is that it could be part of a red cancellation that is slightly smeared. Interesting stamp.

Mike

Took a colour sample from the stamp and the smear..Pretty close in colour, but different.

Robert

Actually, your two color chips are the same colors - just different densities.

Here's your "stamp" color chip darkened by 6% without changing the CMY at all and overlaid on the original pic. Pretty close match to the "smear" color chip to me.

C.

chipg..Changing colours with a program does not correct the colour..I Just put it up to show stamp and smear are different..Remember, every ones monitor sees different colours....Thats all.

Not trying to argue chipg....

Robert

I wasn't trying to change the "color," just pointing out that the smear and the stamp had the same relative CMY values - I was implying that it was a density issue - your sample came from a lighter spot where the white of the paper lightened the values. That's all.

C.

chipg I will coincide...nice ink smear.

Robert