Canada's first design error was in the Sept. 18, 1946 airmail special delivery stamp, CE-3. The French word Exprès was accented with an incorrect circumflex accent (ê). It should have had a grave accent (è).
Here's the stamp, which was part of Canada's "Peace Issue". Only 300,000 were issued.
The error in detail:
On December 3, 1946, the Postal Department quietly re-issued the stamp, with the correct grave accent:
Three times as many of the corrected stamps were issued — 900,000. According to the Unitrade catalogue, no FDC's were issued for either stamp. The error stamp on cover is valued at CAN $18 in my 2006 Unitrade. The corrected stamp is valued at CAN $175 on cover. You would think those values would be reversed, considering the relative scarcity of the error stamp compared to the corrected stamp.
The aircraft shown is the Canadair North Star, a Canadian-built variant of the DC-4, with Rolls-Royce engines (basically the same engine that powered the famous Spitfire and Mustang fighters during the Second World War, and the same aircraft which collided with an RCAF Harvard over Moose Jaw, Sask. in 1954. I have recently completed a new web page about that tragedy, which was Canada's worst aviation accident up to that time: North Star Falling. My web page is the most complete story of that incident on the internet, and is illustrated with images of stamps, postcards, crash covers, newspaper stories, etc. Feedback, especially if you note errors, will be welcome.
Bob
Chinese stamp designer Wan Wei Sheng lived in fear of being jailed after making a major error (both politically and philatelically), when he designed the 1968 issue of the 'large' Whole Country is Red stamp.
Sheng failed to colour the island of Taiwan in red, leaving it in white. China has always claimed that Taiwan is part of their empire.
The stamp was quickly pulled from circulation but only after a number had already been sold to the public (1000 copies, being one estimate).
This error has been one of the most sought after Chinese stamps over recent years, commanding very high prices in auction.
The island of Taiwan (in white), can be seen just above the lady wearing the white headscarf.
This copy sold for $HK3,680,000 (US$ 475,000) in October 2009.
From the auction catalogue:
"1968 Large "Whole Country is Red" (Yang W83).
A simply superb example of this legendary rarity possessing all the qualities one would hope for, with full, intact perforations and flawless original gum, which is never hinged. Completely trivial printing ink smudge at top left corner mentioned solely for accuracy.
An Extremely Fine Gem, undoubtedly one of the finest of the very few examples extant. A stamp which can only reside in one of the finest formed collections of the People's Republic."
Great story. Unfortunately, that won't be in my exhibit
Keep them coming.
Roy
Roy - HERE is a fun site with hundreds of "OOPS" moments.
Example from the DDR:
Fun indeed, Bobby! I took a look and was reminded of my favourite aviation-goof-on-stamps. The stamp…
And a detail of the stamp:
I figure that some of Walt Disney's cartoon aircraft were based on this stamp (and the orange 2Kr value from the same set). The "aircraft" has no means of propulsion, and drag must have been rather high!
Bob
You may want to have a look at this site:
http://www.edbmb.net/stamps/
This thread is spurred by a previous thread in the "Middle East" category about the error in design of the Egypt Suez Canal stamps. ( See the original thread here.)
"OOPS!" That's a great topic for an exhibit at the local stamp club. Think I might give it a try.
How about some suggestions for stamps to look for? With pictures, if possible, to keep it interesting for all readers. If you don't have the pictures, go ahead mention it anyway, as we may be able to add a picture from elsewhere.
Let's set the parameters: I'm looking for stamps noted for errors in design, not printing errors, inverts or other errors -- just in design -- from any country. "Intentional errors" (like disputed boundaries) are ok too. If the error was corrected in a new issue of the stamps, even better. Show that too.
Let's see what you can come up with!
Roy
re: "OOPS" - Help me with a new exhibit idea!
Canada's first design error was in the Sept. 18, 1946 airmail special delivery stamp, CE-3. The French word Exprès was accented with an incorrect circumflex accent (ê). It should have had a grave accent (è).
Here's the stamp, which was part of Canada's "Peace Issue". Only 300,000 were issued.
The error in detail:
On December 3, 1946, the Postal Department quietly re-issued the stamp, with the correct grave accent:
Three times as many of the corrected stamps were issued — 900,000. According to the Unitrade catalogue, no FDC's were issued for either stamp. The error stamp on cover is valued at CAN $18 in my 2006 Unitrade. The corrected stamp is valued at CAN $175 on cover. You would think those values would be reversed, considering the relative scarcity of the error stamp compared to the corrected stamp.
The aircraft shown is the Canadair North Star, a Canadian-built variant of the DC-4, with Rolls-Royce engines (basically the same engine that powered the famous Spitfire and Mustang fighters during the Second World War, and the same aircraft which collided with an RCAF Harvard over Moose Jaw, Sask. in 1954. I have recently completed a new web page about that tragedy, which was Canada's worst aviation accident up to that time: North Star Falling. My web page is the most complete story of that incident on the internet, and is illustrated with images of stamps, postcards, crash covers, newspaper stories, etc. Feedback, especially if you note errors, will be welcome.
Bob
re: "OOPS" - Help me with a new exhibit idea!
Chinese stamp designer Wan Wei Sheng lived in fear of being jailed after making a major error (both politically and philatelically), when he designed the 1968 issue of the 'large' Whole Country is Red stamp.
Sheng failed to colour the island of Taiwan in red, leaving it in white. China has always claimed that Taiwan is part of their empire.
The stamp was quickly pulled from circulation but only after a number had already been sold to the public (1000 copies, being one estimate).
This error has been one of the most sought after Chinese stamps over recent years, commanding very high prices in auction.
The island of Taiwan (in white), can be seen just above the lady wearing the white headscarf.
This copy sold for $HK3,680,000 (US$ 475,000) in October 2009.
From the auction catalogue:
"1968 Large "Whole Country is Red" (Yang W83).
A simply superb example of this legendary rarity possessing all the qualities one would hope for, with full, intact perforations and flawless original gum, which is never hinged. Completely trivial printing ink smudge at top left corner mentioned solely for accuracy.
An Extremely Fine Gem, undoubtedly one of the finest of the very few examples extant. A stamp which can only reside in one of the finest formed collections of the People's Republic."
re: "OOPS" - Help me with a new exhibit idea!
Great story. Unfortunately, that won't be in my exhibit
Keep them coming.
Roy
re: "OOPS" - Help me with a new exhibit idea!
Roy - HERE is a fun site with hundreds of "OOPS" moments.
Example from the DDR:
re: "OOPS" - Help me with a new exhibit idea!
Fun indeed, Bobby! I took a look and was reminded of my favourite aviation-goof-on-stamps. The stamp…
And a detail of the stamp:
I figure that some of Walt Disney's cartoon aircraft were based on this stamp (and the orange 2Kr value from the same set). The "aircraft" has no means of propulsion, and drag must have been rather high!
Bob
re: "OOPS" - Help me with a new exhibit idea!
You may want to have a look at this site:
http://www.edbmb.net/stamps/