The Kershaw books (5c,10c, 12 1/2 and 17c) are great, because the images are large, hi-res, and in real colours, based on plate proofs that became available. They are probably available at Lonley auction, who is the book guru for the main philatelic associations references in Canada.
I also highly recommend you join BNAPS (BNAPS.org which contains great references and also has a newsletter dedicated to Pence and Cents, which is a must for any one interested in the early Victorian issues of Canada.
Themore recent reference for the 17c is based on actual in-use stamps, singles, nultiples, as well as early plate proofs (1859 dark Blue) and late plate proofs (1867) which allows to differentiate re-entries and features that evolved during the 12 printings troughout the life of the single plate. example of those variations include the Burr on shoullder, scratch through oval (pos. 29), fly on hat (pos. 80), to name a few. (available at
www.Cartier17cent.com