The Admiral Stamps of Canada

Seven Cents Bistre

Date of Issue: 27 December 1911
Quantity: 103,200,000
Method of Printing: Wet process.

Introduction

A total of six plates, numbered 1 to 6, were used in the printing of the seven-cents bistre stamp. Plate nos 1 and 2 were of Type A, 3 and 4 were of Type B, and 5 and 6 were of Type D. (See Formats for an explanation of sheet types.) See Summary for detailed information on the various plates.

Shades

The earliest printing was in a distinctive straw colour. Next came a rather scarce shade of pale sage green in 1914, which was followed by a less greenish yellow colour, which can be described as olive bistre, lasting until 1916. The colour was changed to ochre until the early part of 1918. The last printings, from 1918 to 1924, were of a lighter shade compared their predecessors and may be described as golden yellow.

SEVEN CENTS STRAW
Straw		 SEVEN CENTS SAGE GREEN
Sage Green		 SEVEN CENTS OLIVE BISTRE
Olive Bistre
SEVEN CENTS PALE OLIVE YELLOW
Pale Olive Bistre		 SEVEN CENTS GREENISH YELLOW
Greenish Yellow		 SEVEN CENTS OCHRE
Ochre

Retouches and Re-entries

RE-ENTRY
Doubling Outside of Frame		RE-ENTRY DETAIL
Detail		 There were a total of seven significant re-entries. For a detailed description, see George Marler's book, Canada: The Admiral Issue, which is listed in References. The illustration depicts a re-entry that caused a doubling outside of the left frame.

Although they are not common, retouches of the vertical lines in the spandrels do exist. They are from the later plates. VERTICAL SPANDREL RETOUCH
Retouched Vertical line in Spandrel		 VERTICAL SPANDREL RETOUCH DETAIL
Detail
(Enhanced)

Lathework

Type B on Plates 5 and 6. (See Lathework for an explanation of lathework types.)

Updated: 24 Apr 01