Step By Step, Building My 1859 Decimal Issue Collection.

Hello everyone!

I have a huge passion for plating, flaws, and varieties, and I recently discovered all the variations present on the first decimal issue of Canada. I literally fell in love with these varieties. This is so fun to look at the scan pictures of your stamps from this issue, looking at the details to detect a variety, and, if there's one, writing the variety on a small piece of paper, putting it in your album next to the stamp, and looking at the other specimens you have, and being just simply...happy.

And, because I'm starting a first decimal issue collection, (#14 to 20) I wanted to share with you my happiness, and the new stamps I get from this issue. Each time I get a new one, I'll share here.This is a really not expensive issue when used, so it's easy to get one, and, most of time, you pay the same price for a variety than without variety.

Feel free to post yours here too, it'd be a pleasure to see the ones you have.

Here are most of mine:



Three #18, positions unidentified yet. Still struggling with the different color variations of this issue. While I'll be trying to figure out the different color variations, these are stil fun to look at the major variations.




Two #19 and a #19a. The first one, position 46, "short entry and scratches". The second one, still hesitating between position 62 and 72. The third one, position 76.




#17 "X' flaw, position 79. The flaw is due to plate damage.

Captainstamp, here is a lower corner of a late plate 17, showing the x flaw at pos 79, as well as the 3 C-flaws of column 10.
those are hi-res images, very useful for your journey...Enjoy

Wow! Really lovely block! Thank you really much for showing me! Yes, I indeed really enjoy.

Little update: I recently gone to my seller's shop, and I've put in reservation two #17, one #17a, and one #17b. I noted all the key characteristics of the existing varieties of the #17s on pieces of paper and then, when I'll go to my seller's shop, I'll look carefully at each of the #17s there, looking for a variety to get in my collection.

Probably going to go to the shop in the next month. Who knows, I'll maybe find a "string of pearls" variety or another amazing one!


Could someone give me a reference for the color varieties of the #18s? Would be really useful for me.

I would suggest that for good understanding of the 1st cents issues, the book from G. Withworth ( The first decimal issue of Canada) is probably one of the best reference to use). The upcoming auction from Maresch, lot 113, has one, among other useful references.

Thank you, Gilles! That helps.