Question About A Canada #86 Map Stamp.

Hello everyone!

I've been looking at this map stamp and I have a question about it. I got pretty glad when I discovered it is a nice variety from plates 2A, position 39. So, let's go back to my question.

Does anyone know what is this small "scratch"? (See images below) I know it can't be the cancellation, because it doesn't fit at all with the black ink of it. This "scratch" is not a characteristic of position 39, so I wonder if someone knows what it is.

Thanks in advance,


CS

IMO it IS part of the cancellation.

It's quite hard to determine if it's from the cancellation or not. Would need someone to show me another example of this "scratch" to prove it's a variety or without that I can't be sure.

Sounds like a project in your wheelhouse.

No, not at all. Was only curious to read some thoughts about it.

I agree with rogdcam's hypothesis that it is related to the cancel.

Specifically, rather than damage to the cancel (where one could find other near-identical examples), it looks like a transient effect caused by a small fiber/thread picked up by the cancel, taking ink and then printing on the stamp. Any contaminant like this would be raised slightly from the surface of the cancel bars causing them NOT to print adjacent to the contamination - exactly as your stamp shows.

The concept that this is an unreported plate scratch after so many years of study of this issue AND exactly the width of the cancel bar is hard to fathom. Just saying.

I completely agree. Thank you really much for the interesting explanation. It completely makes sense.

LOL, my explanation is worth what you pay for it, but that most oddities come from simple causes, rather than a complex conspiracy theory of unlikely coincidences.

Yes, I completely agree again. But I'm pretty glad I have a special position (39) with nice characteristics that nobody can't say it's not that, because the details are too evident.

So are you agreeing that the mark is part of the cancellation, or are you asserting that you have a unique stamp? If you think unique, then please send it in for a certificate and report back.

Why do you say that? Do you have a doubt it's not part of the cancellation? I got pretty convinced by John Becker's explanation, but why would I send it for a cert?

I have couple of these stamps as well, they are very interesting to look at, but I for one am still not understanding how to find a specific stamps plate position.

These are some really interesting stamps, of course! I'll be purchasing a handbook about the plating of it. There's also some other books about that, but to start, this one looks nice. If you're interested too, here's the link: https://longleyauctions.com/product...ating-study/