Die Proof in Blue
Perforation and color varieties
Dates
The dates shown below are at best approximate.
I have dated stamps that match the dates shown, but there are undoubtedly others.
Shades
The colors in the table are arbitrary since there is an almost infinite progression of shades between any of the colors.
Perforations
The perforations in the period 1870-75 are very consistent, they are always 11.9x11.9
In the period 1876-1879, 11.9x11.9, 12.0x12.0, and 12.0x12.2 are known.
All mint blocks or imprint items that I have are perfed in the manner shown in the table.
There are numerous used single stamps dated in this period that have slight differences in perforation,
such as 11.8x11.9. I am quite suspicious of any single used stamp since it has probably been exposed to water
and may have shrunk or been pressed out.
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Only one plate was used for the initial printings.
It was a plate with two panes of 100 subjects, with a Type IV Montreal and Ottawa imprint.
Each pane also had a counter in seriffed shaded capital letters.
This plate was also used in the early printings at Montreal.
Orange Perfed 11.9x11.9
Montreal Printings
Six new plates with a similar layout were made in the early years at Montreal.
These had the Type V Montreal imprint and seriffed, shaded counters.
Check letters "C","D",and "H" are known to exist.
Light Orange Perfed 11.6x11.9
Light Orange Perfed 11.6x11.9
Dull Yellow Perfed 11.6x11.9
Orange Yellow Perfed 11.9x11.9
Orange Yellow Perfed 11.9x11.9 with shaded counter
Yellow Perfed 11.9x11.9
Dull Yellow Perfed 11.9x11.9
Lemon Yellow Perfed 11.9x11.9 a distinctive shade with hints of Brown and Green.
At some point in the late 1870's or early 1880's the 11.9 perforation wheels were replaced by
new ones measuring 12.0 and 12.2. A few exam[les of the first group of Montreal plates can
Be found with these perforations.
Orange Yellow perfed 12.0 horizontally but both 12.0 and 12.2 vertically.
Imprint block of eight, Bright Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.0.
Imprint block of four from the "H" plate defaced to show that the plate was destroyed.
Seven new plates were made in about 1880 each having the Montreal Type V imprint.
These plates had the usual top and bottom imprints, bur did not have side imprints.
Plates S1,S2,S3,S4 are known.
Strip of ten from plate S2, Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.0.
Strip of six from plate S3, Bright Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.0.
Strip of four, Bright Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.0.
Strip of ten from plate S4, Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.0.
Block of four, Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
In 1892 four additional plates were made with the Type VII Ottawa imprint.
They had plate check numbers "A","B","C","D"
The plates had two panes of 100, and each pane had a plain lettered counter.
Pair from plate "A", Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Pair from plate "B", Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Pair from plate "C", Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Strip of four with bottom imprint, Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Block of eight with counter from the left pane, light Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Block of eight with counter from the right pane, light Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Lower block of twenty with imprint, light Orange Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.2.
Lower block of four with imprint, Bright Yellow, perfed 12.0x12.0.
A relatively rare perforation for the later Ottawa printings.
Upper block of four with part counter, light Orange Yellow, imperforate.
Plate "H" is known for certain.
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