The Admiral Stamps of Canada

One Cent Green - Sheets

Introduction

One die and 170 plates were used in the production of the One-cent green. It is recognised by collectors in two distinct states: The Original Die, which was used for the first 30 plates, and The Retouched Die, which was used with the subsequent 140 plates.

All of the first thirty plates were used in printing stamps in Type B format (see Formats for an explanation of types), on a rotary press. Sheets from Plates 1 - 30 each bore the inscription, respectively, OTTAWA-No-1 to OTTAWA-No-30. The inscriptions are inverted on the first six sheets. Lathework was not present on any of the sheets until Plate No 141. See Summary for detailed information on the various plates.

Types

The distinguishing feature of stamps printed from the Original Die is the weak vertical line of the right hand upper spandrel, which was not corrected completely until the die was re-worked, and the extensively re-touched weak vertical line of the right hand numeral box. A combination of these two factors is probably the easiest way to identify stamps from the Original Die (See illustration). Students involved with close examination of the issue would do well to obtain George C. Marler's exemplary book, "The Admiral Issue of Canada," which deals with the plate differences in great depth and is beyond the scope of this discussion.

Original Die

Retouched Die (enhanced)

Shades

The colour of green chosen for this denomination, which varies from yellow-green to deep blue green, is only loosely associated with particular periods or printings. The paler shades are associated with worn plates, and the deeper green and blue green printings tend to be found with the earlier printings.

Green

Yellow Green

Blue Green

Retouches and Re-entries

The Retouched Die was used from Plate 31 onwards, and new plates were produced continuously up until April 1920, by which time the total had reached 170. The most significant reworking of the die was concerned with the upper right vertical spandrel line. Numerous retouches to all the plates or part plates were carried out in the life of the 1c. green, and the authors can but recommend the reader to Marler's work on the subject. The listing of retouches is so extensive that this subject is a study in itself. There is one major re-entry on the original Die printing from Plate 12 LR35, which involves the right numeral box, the '1' within, and to a lesser extent, the design generally below the level of the two crowns. Several stamps from Plates 11 and 12 show doubling re-entries, but none are quite as spectacular as Plate 12 LR35. The Plate Types used for the printing of the 1c. (Retouched Die) included A, B, C and D. (See Formats for a detailed explanation of the plate types.)

Hairlines

Hairlines The One and Two cent stamps were printed on rotary presses, and from plates that were case-hardened after approval, and then bent to fit the press. It was found that the bending caused very fine "Hairline" cracks, hardly visible to the eye, but which nevertheless, took up ink and transferred the mark to the stamp. It is generally thought that inferior materials at that time were responsible, it being during the time of the Great War, when materials were in short supply. Also, the shortages of skilled workers due to the War effort didn't help the situation.

---

Lathework

Type B on Plates 141 to 166, and Type C on Plates 167 to 170. (See Lathework for an explanation of types.)

Updated: 13 Oct 97