Canada's Efos And Weird Mistakes.

John,
Since it is bacterial, I assume that there could be at least several of the adjoining layers in the paper roll that could be affected as the bacteria ate is way outward. I am sure you have viewed millions of stamps over your lifetime (like many others here), have you ever seen a 'slime hole' before? Did bacterial 'slime holes' become less likely as paper making process became more and more refined over the decades? (The link you gave showed a slime hole in late 1930s paper, I wonder if modern paper chemistries reduce the chance of bacterial issues?)

The bug images show the block as having perf separation at the bug squish; I wonder if the block is fully separated and got folded over with the bug in it?
Don

Edit: I agree that a bug part might reject ink to a degree, but it appears there is not a single bit of ink on ANY bug part. This makes me dubious that the bug was in the paper pulp.

The moth seems to have some inking on it, would need way better photos
it could just be pixels, can't be sure.
Did my best to try and show the separation of the bug from the ink.

I have seen slime holes in modern photocopy paper, but have that folder packed away too deeply with the holiday house cleaning to get to it for a while. I have no data as to frequency.

Just_fella,
I have worked with digital imaging for decades, at the end of the day you are dealing with an image and not the actual stamp. There is no way to know exactly how the image was generated, what was or wasn't not done to it when it was generated or saved, what (if any) filtering was done to it before you add even more software algorithms/filters to it.

I cared about Wert (Robert) a lot, but he had a bad habit of posting images that he applied incorrect assumptions to, it would not be productive to go down the same path. The images illustrate the stamps, the stamp really need to be in hand and/or subjected to accurate analysis. As John mentioned, it might not be feasible to send them into for a cert. There are some theories and great discussions on the table on how they might occur, but I think that beyond that we are throwing darts in the dark.
Don

Dear friends,
We only see what we want to see, that is right. May I stir the pot a bit more? Here is the photo I took. Not the best, that is true.




I have taken some close-ups with a digital microscope type thing. For the skeptics who could not see printing on top of the bug, since it was not very clear, here is a better picture.


This one is fairly clear. To me at least. And here are a few more from a different place. This was a hairy little critter as you will see.






As I have already stated above, this strip is split in two. Yes I feel I need to have it certified just for the fun of it. I don't care about the price. It's about knowledge, it's about the hobby and the weird ones like me who enjoy it and learn from it.

I wish to thank John Becker for his knowledge and insight.

I have also found some links on the net for slime hole for the polar bear stamps. Wonderful stuff. Looking forward to learning more.

Could you share some of the links please!

Sorry, as a new member I don't have 50 posts so I can't share links.
But it's simple.
Google "slime hole" paper
exactly like that and have fun reading and looking at other stamps with slime holes. There are also images.
Enjoy.

Slime hole? Is our hobby sliding down an agonizing slide or are we reaching new heights?

The remains of the bug are not opaque. Simple test would be to take a small sharp object like the tip of a pen knife and gently scrape some bug off. My money says that you are seeing ink THROUGH the remains of Frederick the Bug.

I'll let you scrape your own stamps. Have a good look at the close-ups. You will find lots of areas of opaque bug scale with printing on it.

I'm paying whatever to get this expertized if they let me. Then I will post the certificate. Good or bad.

'"I'm paying whatever to get this expertized if they let me."

Why, What's your reason?
Just curious,

Because I'm curious.

If it is or isn't, what would a certificate matter to you?

I would not have to talk so much or take more pictures. I would show the certificate. Should have done that first.

you seek a certificate for nobody to question you?
Sounds boring…. Lonely even….
I've learned off the images what I could and as you suggested I can Google the rest,
much appreciated game of darts,
Look forward to reading your updates

Best of luck.