Coils (100 / 50):
 |
Booklets:
 |
Souvenir sheet:
 |
Background
Initial release date: Nov 16/06 (Permanent) and Dec 19/06 (all others)
The denominated stamps were released (December 19, 2006) nearly a month before their intended
postage rates came into effect on January 16, 2007.
Click for Canada Post's website announcement of the PERMANENT(tm)
stamps.
Designs:
- P [Permanent(tm)] Spotted Coralroot
- 93c Flat-leaved Bladderwort
- $1.10 The Marsh Skullcap
- $1.55 The Little Larkspur
Scott/Unitrade numbers:
- 2187 (Permanent coil)
- 2194 (souvenir sheet)
- 2195-2197 (coils)
- 2198-2200 (booklet singles)
- BK343-BK345
(booklets)
Printer: Lowe-Martin (Ottawa, ON)
Printing method: Lithography (5 colours)
Paper: self-adhesive, TRC
Designers: Monique Dufour, Sophie Lafortune
Postage rates (Jan 16/07 - Jan 13/08):
- P = 51c (from Nov 16/06 - Jan 15/07, 52c thereafter) - domestic lettermail (0-30g)
- 93c -USA (0-30g) and domestic (30-50g)
- $1.10 -domestic non-standard (0-60g), domestic oversize (0-100g)
- $1.55 - International (0-30g)
Format:
Coil Checklist
| |
Self-adhesive |
Water-activated gum |
| |
Coil |
Souvenir sheet |
| |
Die cut
7.4 – 8.71 |
Die cut 7.9 – 8.3 |
Die cut 8.0 – 8.82 |
Die cut 8.4 – 9.0 |
Die cut 6 3/4 – 7 |
Perf 13.4x13.1 |
| |
C paper |
C paper |
C paper |
C paper |
Quarterly pack |
C paper |
| Domestic First-class rate: |
| P
Spotted Coralroot |
Nov 16/06 |
Nov 16/06 |
Feb 07 |
Jul 07 |
Apr 15/07 |
Dec 19/06 |
|
USA rate: |
|
93c Flat-leaved Bladderwort |
|
Dec 19/06 |
Feb 07 |
|
Apr 15/07 |
Dec 19/06 |
| Domestic
Non-standard and Oversize rate (0-100g): |
|
$1.10 The Marsh Skullcap |
|
Dec 19/06 |
Feb 07 |
Sep 07 |
Apr 15/07 |
Dec 19/06 |
|
International rate: |
|
$1.55 The Little Larkspur |
|
Dec 19/06 |
|
Sep 07 |
Apr 15/07 |
Dec 19/06 |
The date shown is the date of issue of that specific variety. A "blank" means the item does not exist.
Notes:
1 - includes compound perf in row 5 (see below)
2 - includes a couple of die cut anomalies in column 5
Coil Distribution
The coils were distributed to post offices in boxes, with 10 rolls per box.
Self-adhesive labels were applied to one end of these boxes that contained
several pieces of information:
- quantity of rolls per box
- Canada Post product number
- printing roll number, date, and time
- internal barcode and number
| Permanent |
|
93c |
 |
 |
| |
|
| $1.10 |
$1.55 |
 |
 |
Box construction
Starting with coil boxes dated September 2007, the construction of the box
has changed.
All of the boxes with dates up to, and including August 2007, have a flap at
both the top and the bottom. The new box construction has a flap only at the
top. The bottom now "flips" into itself causing it to 'lock' in place.
| Left (original, with flaps at top and
bottom); Right (flap only at top) |
 |
Inspector Marks
Starting in mid-November, boxes were found dated in September and October
that contained "inspector" mark - either a circular rubber stamp or an
hand-written number in pen.
| Hand-written inspector mark |
|
Rubber stamp inspector mark |
 |
 |
Coil wrappers
The rolls were wrapped around a thick inner core or cardboard. A clear,
self-adhesive sticker was applied on the end of the roll to keep it rolled. This
'wrapper' had a UPC barcode which would be scanned at the post office checkout.
Each wrapper was colour-coded to match the corresponding stamp.
Coil Start/End Cutting All of the
flower coils in this series have the "wavy die cut" at the start and end of the
rolls. All rolls are affixed to the inner cardboard tube. Illustrated at the
starter strips of 4 (the generally accepted method of collecting these items).
Coil Serpentine
Die Cutting
Four different major die cutting “perforations” have appeared on some of these four stamps (all are approximate or average measurements):
- 7.8 – 8.9 horizontally (P only) — 9½ to 10 peaks with 2-3 'nibs’ per stamp
[includes compound die cut and 'ski bump' variety]
- 7.9 – 8.3 horizontally (all 4 values) — 10 peaks/4 'nibs' per stamp
- 8.0 – 8.8 — 10 peaks/4 'nibs' per stamp [2 rows of die cutting are 8.0;
includes die cut anomalies in 5th roll of stamps]
- 6 3/4 – 7 — only singles from Quarterly Pack
We say “approximately” because the serpentine die cutting is not consistent across the full
printing press. In fact, even across a single stamp the peaks and valleys will vary both
in depth and width. It is as if a piece of metal were made into an
accordion and then
stretched by hand with no apparent effort to precision.
It is even possible to get a different “perf” for the top of a stamp compared to the
bottom of the same stamp. There are literally dozens of different combinations of
measurements available on each of the two major die cutting values! In theory
it is quite possible that all 100 positions (10 stamps between each gutter times
10 rolls across the printing press) for each die cut “perf” can be plated (giving
us 200 different "P" stamps).
Top: original perf
8½ (2-3 'nibs' per stamp)
Bottom: reprint perf 8 1/4 (4 'nibs' per stamp)
Compound Perf
The Permanent stamp that uses the die cutting mat of "8½ – 9 horizontally — 9½ to 10 peaks
with 2-3 'nibs’ per stamp" includes an interesting die cutting configuration.
The die cutting between the 6th and 7th row of stamps above the gutter is a full
1½ perf different from the adjacent rows:
These measurements are averages, based on counting all of the peaks across the entire printing
width of 10 rolls. An individual stamp could, and likely will, have a slightly
different measurement.
Coil Plating
As has been hinted at above, the serpentine die cutting is variable across the
stamp. That is, it is not consistent from one stamp to another, between the top
or bottom of the same stamp, and even inconsistent across a single stamp!
Recall that there are 10 rolls printed across the printing sleeve and a gutter
every 10 stamps along a roll. Thus, the printing "plate" for these coils is 10
stamps across by 10 stamps down.
It is actually possible to place 10 rolls beside each other and watch how the
die cutting flows from one roll to another. With this layout, one can plate all
100 positions because of the uniqueness of the die cutting. Said another way,
each stamp has a unique set of die cutting that can be plated.
Click for more on "plating".
Since there were (at least) two die cutting mats used, there are 200 different
(unique) stamps for each of the three denominations of these coils. The
following image needed to be shrunk to "fit your screen", but it is in fact a
group of 10 rolls placed beside each other - a plating "sheet":
Here is a table that lists the average die cutting 'perforation'
across each of the 11 rows for each of the three die cutting patterns seen to
date on full rolls of the Permanent stamp:
|
Permanent stamp
Average die cutting 'perforation' across each of the 11 rows from
each of the die cutting mats seen to date |
| |
|
2–3 nibs per stamp |
|
4 nibs per stamp |
|
4 nibs per stamp |
|
4 nibs per
stamp |
| row |
|
Die cut
7.4–9.3 |
|
Die cut
7.9–8.3 |
|
Die cut
8.0–8.8 |
|
Die cut
8.7-9.0 |
| |
|
gutter |
| 11 |
|
8.17 |
|
8.17 |
|
8.50 |
|
8.42 |
| 10 |
8.00 |
8.33 |
8.54 |
8.92 |
| 9 |
8.17 |
8.08 |
8.04 |
8.67 |
| 8 |
8.92 |
8.17 |
8.71 |
8.75 |
| 7 |
7.42* |
8.17 |
8.58 |
8.67 |
| 6 |
8.83 |
8.25 |
8.63 |
8.92 |
| 5 |
7.83 |
8.25 |
8.67 |
8.67 |
| 4 |
8.00 |
8.25 |
8.58 |
8.83 |
| 3 |
7.83 |
8.25 |
8.83 |
8.75 |
| 2 |
8.33 |
8.33 |
8.04 |
8.92 |
| 1 |
8.67 |
7.92 |
8.63 |
9.0 |
| |
|
gutter |
| |
|
* compound die cut [ski bump in Col 10] |
|
|
|
[die cut anomalies in Col 5] |
|
|
| box dates: |
|
Sep /06 |
|
Oct /06
Mar /07 |
|
Feb 07 |
|
Jul /07 – |
Notable Die Cut Anomalies
As we have mentioned previously, the die cutting is not consistent across the
rolls, down a strip of stamps in a single roll, on the top vs. bottom of the
same stamp, and in fact, even across a single stamp.
Here are some examples of very apparent die cut anomalies that make it
relatively easy to plate these particular specimens:
(pictures to come shortly)
- Col 1, Row 1
- Col 1, Row 7
- compound
- Col 3, Row 5 (revised)
- ski bump
- third 'printing' of the P, Col 5 die cut anomalies
The 93c, $1.10 and $1.55 designs were issued in booklet "panels" of 6 stamps.
Booklet Checklist
| Booklet panes |
| |
C paper |
F paper |
|
back cover: |
Collection 2006 |
Rates |
Collection 2006 |
| 93c Flat-leaved Bladderwort |
Dec 19/06 |
May 2007 |
Dec 19/06 |
|
$1.10 The Marsh Skullcap |
Dec 19/06 |
Jun 2007 |
|
|
$1.55 The Little Larkspur |
Dec 19/06 |
Jun 2007 |
|
Booklet Paper
The "F" booklets are in fact actually printed on "C" paper. This is not the
first time that a printer has used the wrong paper designation on printed stock.
All of the booklets were initially printed on C (Tullis Russell Coatings) paper.
It was thought that a small supply of 93c Flower "F" booklets started to show up in
selected post offices in southern Ontario shortly after the first day of issue.
It turns out that the "F" booklets were those distributed to collectors who had
a "Standing Order" with Canada Post. As such, both the C and F types were
available from the start. As of this writing (Feb 2007), the F booklets have not
yet been seen at post office outlets outside of southern Ontario.
Booklet Cover
The original printings of these booklets advertised the Collection Canada 2006 on the back cover.
In late May 2007, the 93c booklet was found with a new backing: postal rate information now appears.
The $1.10 and $1.55 booklets were found with this same reprint (i.e. rate information) in June 2007.
Booklet Doubling
At least two of these booklets ($1.10 and $1.55) exhibit some doubling of the
black UPC barcode and the bottom of Canada Post log on the back covers. This
seems to occur on about every 4th to 6th booklet in a bundle of 50.
93c Booklet Misregistration
The 93c booklet has been reported with improper placement of the advertising and
images on the back of the pane. The front looks normal.
At least three different types of misregistration examples have been noted (two
are illustrated below).
93c Booklet Colour Shifts
The 93c booklet has been reported from the Montreal area with some fantastic colour shifts.
| 
Perf gauge
