Canada: Small Queens, 3c First Ottawa - Any Thoughts On The Cancellation Date?

Any thoughts on the partly obscured date of this 3c Small Queen? I can see MAR 29, and either 70, 76 or 79.

Characteristics include perf 12.9 (definitely under 12), and vertically woven smooth paper. I do not see any rose in the color.

Could that be a "7" BeeSee...?

Robert

Retro reveal results

I tried that to Don..Almost looks like 78, I must be wrong..

Robert

The dates submitted as possible would suggest Montreal printings (1973-1888) with orange reds (or dull reds) with a yellow undertone.....I cannot decipher the date . If 1870,different shades.....Hope you can find it !
The position dot is not there but that is another story.

And reviewing my small queens literature,i believe date stamps were not allowed during the era of the First Ottawa printings (1870-73)

Thanks for the comments, and thanks for the Retro Reveal Don.

Renden, there is actually a position dot, but it is partially obscured by the cancel. I will try to get a better scan when I am back home.

While date stamps were not supposed to be applied to the stamps during the era of the First Ottawa printings (and earlier), they are not uncommon, and I have quite a few from the 1870's.

Wert, yes 1878 is another possibility. While I was leaning towards 1870, perhaps I was just being hopeful :-)

Agree with your comments, BeeSee. As for the small queens, I did read the 9 page posts on SC and also have a reference from the UK which is close to Unitrade Cat. I am trying to put my hands on this 400+ page Book on the subject, from the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada...

Canada's Small Queen Era 1870-1897 (George B. Arfken, 1989, Hardbound, 459 pages)

After that I might be more knowledgeable on the subject !!
Rene

I've applied a couple of filters in Photoshop, not quite sure it's clearer that way, but anyway, that's my two cents!



My guess is :
MONTREAL
PM
MR29
79

Hope that helps!

Nice work Cj on the date.....still not convinced but I am not the expert and author of this subject....