Canada Small Queens Perforations

Out of all of the line perforated Canada postage stamps, the Small Queens represent the most variable combination line perforations in the range from around 11.5 to 12.5 gauges. This is most evident from the perforation charts put together by Jack Forbes in his BNAPS book "Colours, Shades and Perforations as seen on Blocks of Canada's Small Queens Era, with Cancellation Commentary".

This most likely is due to the large quantity of stamps that were perforated over a long period of at least 25 years with 19th century equipment that wore down due to long usage wear and tear. Also, It did not help that the equipment had to come from a U.S. manufacturer, George C. Howard, who was connected to the ABNC which was BABNC's rival since BABNC took the Canadian stamp printing contract away from ABNC in order to get to print these stamps.

Yes, this is a wide field of collecting. I also look for perforation varieties when I have a pile of small queens before me.
What I wonder about: Some of Forbes' data is showing perforation differences of 0.1 about which I understand that this is not something we can call a new stamp find. But some perforation is really different from all I see in the Unitrade catalogue or anywhere at auctions. Which stamp of those would you call an own stamp in reality, if there is any?

And: I only know perforation information with with equal perforation on opposite sides, is there no stamp with perforation different at only one side? (I think the Monteral Gazette perhaps?)

Basically for this period concerning U.S. stamps, there were two main perforating wheel diameters of 4 1/32" and 4 1/16" made by George C. Howard, Philadelphia, PA along with 192 pins and holes on the perforating wheels which gave around 11.94 perforations per 2 cm and 11.85 perforations per 2 cm.

From these perforating wheels can be put together a range of perforations gauging from around 11.5 perforations per 2 cm to 12.5 perforations per 2 cm which could cover all of the possible perforations for the Large and Small Queens. Such a new perforation gauge is being put together.

The Kiusalas Canada specialist gauge has 6 readings for this range from 12.5-63 to 11.5-68. This new gauge has 36 different possible gauge readings for this range. However, as time goes on and more and more stamps are matched to gauge readings, the gauge readings that are not matched will be removed as not existing.

There is also confusion regarding the following writing which is against the Kiusalas gauge for Small Queens:

https://www.rpsc.org/Library/SmallQueen/perf.htm

On the other hand, the Unitrade Canada catalogue has a Small Queens Kiusalas perforation gauge chart on page 55.

The John Hillson Small Queens collection is being auctioned off by Sparks Auctions.

https://stampauctionnetwork.com/ik/ik30.cfm

While sorting through many 1 cent, 2 cents and 3 cents used Small Queen stamps, the following five different perforations were mostly found in different combinations:

11.75, 11.9, 12, 12.1, 12.25

The Small Queen stamp perforations:

11.6, 11.75, 11.9, 12, 12.1, 12.25*, 12.5*

They are found in the following combinations:

11.6 x 11.75, 11.6 x 11.9, 11.6 x 12, 11.6 x 12.1

11.75 x 11.75, 11.75 x 11.9, 11.75 x 12, 11.75 x 12.1

11.9 x 11.9, 11.9 x 12, 11.9 x 12.1

12 x 12, 12 x 11.9, 12 x 12.1, 12 x 12.25*

12.1 x 12.1, 12.1 x 11.9, 12.1 x 12, 12.1 x 12.25*

12.25 x 12.25*, 12.25 x 12*, 12.25 x 12.1*

12.5 x 12.5*

*Combinations not found on Large Queens.

For perforation measurements, I use the "Yellow Instanta" that Hillson recommends in his book.

Regardless, I still have trouble distinguishing up to 0.1 differences when the stamp is a single.

The difference between a perf 11.6 and 11.75 isn't too hard to tell.

Do you have any personal tips that help you tell the difference between (e.g.) an 11.9 and a 12.0, or 12.0 and 12.1?

3Dadeo I have found the following perforations to be the most common: 12 x 12, 12 x 11.9, 12 x 12.1, 12 x 12.25
This allows the use of these stamp perforations in order to compare against other stamp perforations.
Also, the use of a new Canada specialized line perforation gauge that has been developed helps.

So do you mean that once you have measured one stamp, you use it to compare other stamps?

Also, which gauge are you referring to?

thanks

A few copies of stamps with the same gauge are needed for reference along with the perforation gauge.
The perforation gauge is one which is being developed with regards to Large and Small Queen stamps.

Got it, thanks.

The following line perforation gauges have been put together:

There is some interesting Small Queens stamp perforation information.

http://www.dglphilatelics.com/sq.html

http://www.dglphilatelics.com/sq_perf.html

http://brcstamps.com/sq/