SC Booklet 166A 43 Cent Greetings Stamp SC 1508 January 28, 1994

In a recently purchased package were two Greetings booklets that appear identical under normal lighting conditions. However, under ultraviolet light one has significant overall tagging. I've photographed the pair to illustrate the ultraviolet light and normal light differences between the two booklets.

This may be a one-off as I haven't seen it reported before.

I'm unsure of the normal light version of the overall tagged stamps appearing to be lighter in colour than the correctly tagged one to the right of it. It may be an effect of the tagging or just the camera angle taking the photo.

Wow, it looks like the taggant was poured on and wiped towards bottom. I know unitrade lists an untagged variety too. Even from the photo the paper looks whiter or brighter and maybe even somewhat splotchy. I wonder if its not a booklet knockoff. Great one to get checked out by Vincent Graves Greene Foundation.

Not knowing the specific Canadian booklet, I'd guess that (from similar happenstances on US booklets):

1. The right example shows sharp "shape tagging". Here the tagging cylinder contained the outline of the "Canada 43" sign only. The taggant was transferred to the stamp as sharp outlines. I'd guess this is the way the stamps are supposed to be tagged.

2. The left example shows "smeared tagging". This usually happens when way too much taggant is transferred on the tagging plate and/or the plate wiping mechanism failed or was unable to remove the excess taggant. That means everything around the "Canada 43" outline was tagged too. That is not what was supposed to happen.

In any case, the left example would be of interest to Canadian booklet specialist looking for varieties/freaks (no Ferrari, though).