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

I would not be surprized if the number 3 I posted sells for higher $ than the last 32. (300k$+) A classical one, well preserved, and one of the best quality ever put up for sale. I am considering mortgaging the house... but my wife oppposes to it......

At the moment I would be happy with at least getting a 3P plate proof which is more affordable, but out of reach of my current stamp budget.

The Holy Grail is dependent on what you like to collect. As a general collector the #32 was my Holy Grail find. Just because it was hard to find, as it appears to be just another 2-cent LQ. The laid paper makes it the rare stamp it is. And whether a major catalog number or a sub-listing it is still very rare and a desirable stamp to have. The paper varieties make many of the LQ stamps more valuable than others.

As a re-entry and plate flaw collector each individual stamp becomes a possible special variety, especially those printed from steal engraved plates. Here are two of many I consider Holy Grails:

Watermark - is the Beaver a SC15v ?

Both stamps are in fantastic VF condition. Congratulations !

BlackJag, The 5-cent Beaver is a plate proof copy Unitrade # 15Pv. A very tough proof to come by. This is position 28 on the late plate.

The 50-cent is #158iii "Man on the Mast" variety position 58.

On the bluenose stamp, it is interesting how the numbers 1 and 2 are found on the sails of the schooner(s).

I like #3, because it is a face-different, seldom-seen, hard to acquire item. Its not an esoteric variety or printing error.

Watermark, the 5-cent Beaver plate proof is one sharp looking copy!

IMHO 195d. Why? A web-fed Stickney rotary press dry printed stamp which marked an important improvement and development over web-fed Stickney rotary press wet printed stamps which were their norm.

Interesting viewpoints and some rather 'attractive' gems
I believe this discussion is as likely to find a conclusion as if we were to discuss and agree on what food have the best taste - at the end of the day its down to personal preference.

In my mind #32 should never had a major catalog number - it should have been given a minor number as any other variety. Then it would not have caused so many empty spaces in collectors stamp albums - and it would not been as sought after and famous - and most of us would not even know it existed.

No.3 - the 'Black Empress' - on the other hand.... That is a face different rarity in its own right - and its a remarkably beautiful rarity to - truly iconic. So I agree with Gilles, BeeSee and txstamp. Preferably tied on a sweet cover like this

The Walsh British North America Specialized Stamp Catalogue ( http://www.nfldstamps.com/ ) lists stamps according to the die that they are based on. So that all stamps that were printed from the same design die but that have other differences such as paper, perforation, etc. are all listed together under the same number with a different sub-letter in order of issue date. This allows for better classification and completion of many stamps.

Blaamand, we agree that the number 32 is a 2c Large Queen (Scott or Unitrade number)....but I fail to see that stamp as a minor number ? please explain your thoughts - Thanks !

Sure Rene, I will explain my thoughts a little more clearly (excuse my poor Norwegian-English). Today the 2c Large queen on laid paper has a separate major catalog number, Scott/Unitrade #32. In my mind it would have been more logical to list this stamp as a minor variety of #24 - e.g as # 24d. We know the Large queens where actually printed on a wide range of different papers - why should the laid paper be treated differently than the other paper varieties - e.g Bothwell paper? I realize that laid paper is more easy to recognize - still I think it is nothing but a variety - and not a separate stamp issue.

Guess it makes no practical difference for anyone - had it not been for the stamp album publishers that strive to include spaces for all Major catalog numbers. Had the 2c laid paper been given the number 24d, this variety would not have been included in many stamp albums - and most of us would not even know about it or pay much attention to just that particular 'freak' stamp. However - someone decided to give the laid paper variety a major catalog number - and things worked out differently - and as result many collectors are dreaming to fill that empty space in their albums - simply because it is an empty space to fill.

The 1859 issue 10c Consort in the Black Brown shade is another stamp that has its' own separate catalog number 16, even though it is the same stamp as the other 10c Consorts #17.

I don't agree with the OP's Unitrade 195d choice since it is described as a flat plate stamp and not a dry printed stamp in the catalogue. As to the other choices, these rare stamps are all about fancy show pieces with high price tags.