re: Canadian Scott 594 tagged and untagged varieties

If it truly untagged it is an 'error' stamp then I would say "yes, it could be worth $60". Obviously it is not a very common 'error' if the catalogue value is that high.

There are 14 different 10c Forest Stamps with 3 different taggings OP4, OP2, W2B and many different papers NF, LF, DF, MF, DF/DF, DF/NF, DF/LF, LF/DF & HB papers, plus two untagged 'error' stamps.

See the notations in the Unitrade Catalogue that appear under the images of the 5 stamps of this series on page 186 of the 2011 Unitrade Catalogue.

IF you have the OP4 tagging DO NOT put it anywhere near other stamps. That tagging migrates right through paper and will affix tagging to other stamps. OP4 tagging can be somewhat controlled by mounting and isolating the stamps in mounts or envelopes of acetate, glassine or polethylene.

The OP4 tagging is on the 10c, 15c, 20c, 25c & 50c Landscape Definitives.

Liz

(Message edited by patches on January 07, 2011)

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re: Canadian Scott 594 tagged and untagged varieties

Question - Does it glow AFTER you remove from under the UV light? Look at the back of the stamp too.

Also try tilting the stamp in natural light - any sign of a tagging that cannot be seen under a regular UV light?

I hate that set - I ruined so many stamps because of that OP4 tagging when that set was first issued!

I think I ended up throwing out any stamps I found with the OP4 tagging. The stamps the tagging migrated to were garbage.

Liz

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re: Canadian Scott 594 tagged and untagged varieties

Now that I look at the scan, makes me wonder if this is the "damage" you are talking about, Liz.

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re: Canadian Scott 594 tagged and untagged varieties

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re: Canadian Scott 594 tagged and untagged varieties

That is supposed to be tagging? Looks more to me like it was on a manilla coloured envelope and the colour from the envelope bled to the stamp.

You would be able to see the transfer of the tagging really well if it had transferred to your stamps. When OP4 tagging migrates onto other stamps it produces 'apparent' tagging errors (extra bars, etc.). They are not varieties, they are damaged stamps! OP4 fluorsces yellow under ultra-violet light. It is quite dull and ragged looking in comparison to the General Tagging of later issued Canadian stamps.

GT2 Tagging is tagging on each side of the stamp

GT3 Tagging is tagging on each side of the stamp and one parallel bar through the middle of the stamp.

GT4 Tagging is tagging along all edges of the stamps

GTX Tagging is a special general tagging used on the 'Greet More' Christmas stamps.

W1B Tagging is Winnipeg 1 bar tagging - a single tagging bar along one edge of the stamp

W2B Tagging is Winnipeg 2 bar tagging, a tagging bar along two opposite edges of the stamp.

WCB Tagging is Winnipeg Centre-Bar tagging, a single tagging bar through the middle portion of the stamp.

Winnipeg tagged stamps are best identified by tilting them under natural light. They may not show up under an ordinary UV light, but some do. Difficult to explain unless you experiment with tagged stamps trying to identify them.

Some taggings continue to glow once you take them out from under a UV light, but I can't remember which type this is.

I do not know of a tagging on Canadian stamps that is at the top and/or bottom of the stamps unless it is on all edges of the stamps.

Liz

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Cdj1122

re: Canadian Scott 594 tagged and untagged varieties

Having figured out the question about the stamp's tagging, the core question still remains; "... My question is, are they really worth that much? ..."
The only true way to determine that is to offer it for sale to see what an informed collector will pay for it, or watch for other sales of similar items to see what is offered and what is accepted.
Choose the former and you would lose possession of what, undoubtedly to you, is a prize, the latter, and there might be a question in your mind that lingers as to whether the sold stamp you compared your stamp to is really identical enough in comparative condition.
Ordinarily there are enough sales of reasonably equally common examples of most stamp issues that we can get a working average and that is what the catalog is supposed to be listing, an average determined from multiple sales.
Taking the thoughts about value even a bit further there is the matter of its value to whom ?
Staying within the community of collectors who are interested in Canadian stamps, a large percentage for whom pristine, mint, never even close to a hinge, condition is a paramount consideration, there are many collectors who would not personally value it much above floor sweepings.
Sadly, I feel that they are missing some of the best aspects of the hobby, but that is a personal opinion.
As a dyed in the wool member of the other branch of the hobby who consider used stamps not just collectable, but postally used, desireable, I would treasure such an interesting example if it fell into my hands, but probably would not seek it out at a price anywhere near C$60.oo.
So what remains is the smaller segment who pursue tagged and untagged varieties with a passion and if the opportunity arose would just have to have that stamp or one of its siblings securely mounted on a page of their Canada album. Two such fanatics in the same room bidding against one another could push the selling price even higher and to some degree affect the "value".
Of course, experienced collectors understand all this to some degree instinctively, and only use a catalog to determine relative rarity, not "value". I try to use the words "catalog listing" for the catalog's estimations when discussing such things with knowledgeable stampers.
Some hobbiests however confuse Stanley Gibbons, Mr Unitrade and J.W. Scott's efforts with Moses lugging stone tablets down the mountainside. They seldom read the extensive fine print in the introduction area of just about all catalogs and grade all stamps in their possession as super extra perfect when they try to figure out the "value" of their stamps.
I guess that the answer to the question
" ....... are they really worth that much?..." is, a definite, " It depends."
.
Charlie Jensen,
Lecanto, Florida
.
PS: Apparently there was extensive fine print engraved on the reverse of those stone tablets also, but few folks ever read or pay attention to that part either.

(Message edited by cdj1122 on January 08, 2011)

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