Which Canada Stamp Is The Holy Grail Of Canadian Philately And Why?

Which Canada Stamp Is The Holy Grail of Canadian Philately and Why?

Historically, the Beaver 3p(Sc #1) would be the one......but Sc #158, Bluenose,50 cents, is the most beautiful.
Rene

The Seaway Invert?

Renden is spot on the money, one of the most beautiful stamps in the world, I think up there with the Seahorses of the UK

Since you specified Stamp that leaves three separate periods of control or stamp Issuing authority, so I'd think there would be 2 grails. One each for Colonial control, and the Dominion of Canada.

2c Large Queen on laid paper. Only 3 known with the last found in 2013. K. Bileski had one, too.

Canada # 3. One of the best copy, UL right margin on laid paper is up for sale at the coming Sparks auction in Sept.

It all depends how you define "Holy Grail"

If you're looking at "really expensive and I probably can only dream about it," your list of possibilities would probably include:
- 2c LQ laid paper
- 12d laid paper

If you're going to add a few "iconic" items that are pretty pricey, you'll probably add:
- Seaway invert
- $2 Truro invert

If you wanted one stamp that was "Classically Canadian," you might want to think about:
- 3d beaver
- Bluenose

If you wanted to think about a stamp that, while not costly, you probably won't ever see - that list would be longer and would depend on how esoteric you want to be, Among the classics, I'd put:
- 5c LQ Perf 12.1 x 12.1 (Unitrade 26a)
- 6d perforated with stitch watermark (Unitrade 13i)
- for that matter, a well centered copy of any of the 6d perforated stamps

Now, if I could only have one item of Canadian philately and I'd have to give up all the rest for now and forever, I'd want the combination 3d Beaver/strip of 5 of the US 5c cover from Toronto to London. That would be my Holy Grail.

chipg: Your definitions are very interesting. I am reminded of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Holy Grail) movie where most went for the largest, rarest, most expensive and/or most beautiful gold and precious stone/jewel covered cup. However, they failed to appreciate that it was the humblest and simplest wooden cup that had the most meaning and significance because it was the actual original one that was hidden, overlooked and forgotten. See:

SC32 2C Large Queens
Green - Engraved laid paper - 3rd ever found July 2013

Indeed, a beauty and rare !....as mentioned also by chipg

I agree with Gilles - Canada #3. It is also an extremely beautiful stamp.

I consider No. 32, the 3c LQ on laid paper a minor paper variety that can barely be distinguished looking at it from the front. If it was issued today it would be a minor Unitrade number. **DUCK!**

Then can we drop by and have a look at any Large Queens you may have just lying around? Just for fun, you understand.

The romance to that stamp is that example was found in 2013; there could still be others out there. We can readily ignore the fact that 90 years passed before this one was found, and that generations of collectors have tried and failed to find another 1c British Guiana (Scott #13). Even Donald Duck.

I like it for the SOTN cancel. [Ducks behind BeeSee for cover]

Hy-brasil, if I found one in my collection I would immediately sell it and get a No. 3 .

Yes, I like the SOTN cancel, I can see it clearly. But I cannot tell from the picture that it is on laid paper. But I can tell the No.3 is a No. 3 **Duck again!***

BeeSee: I agree with you that it is a variety of # 24 like other such related paper varieties. There are other varieties that may be just as scarce but may not command the same evaluation since it does not have its own individual number but is a number with a letter.