Stampsandcanada - Errors, freaks and oddities - Canadian stamps

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Errors, freaks and oddities on canadian stamps

Errors, freaks, and oddities (EFO) refers to all the kinds of things that can go wrong when producing postage stamps. It encompasses everything from major design errors to stamps that are just poorly printed, and includes both some of the most sought-after and expensive of all stamps, and others that attract the attention of only a few specialists. Canada Post generally take some care to ensure that mistakes do not get out, but some of these mistakes were still sold to the public.


Tagging errors

The tagging process is done by overprinting a phosphorescent or fluorescent materiel.

Double tagging

Double tagging - Errors, freaks and oddities

Shifted tag

Shifted tag - Errors, freaks and oddities

Additional Tagging errors
  • Tag smear

Printing errors

This type of error is any of several types of failure in the stamp printing process that results in stamps not having the intended appearance.

Color errors

Color errors - Errors, freaks and oddities

Color shift

Color shift - Errors, freaks and oddities

Double impression

Double impression - Errors, freaks and oddities

Ink smear

Ink smear - Errors, freaks and oddities

Invert

Invert - Errors, freaks and oddities

Inverted overprint

Inverted overprint - Errors, freaks and oddities

Missing color

Missing color - Errors, freaks and oddities

Offset printing

Offset printing - Errors, freaks and oddities

Overinking

Overinking - Errors, freaks and oddities

Repellex

Repellex - Errors, freaks and oddities

Shifted overprint

Shifted overprint - Errors, freaks and oddities

Tête-bêche

Tête-bêche - Errors, freaks and oddities

Underinking (dry print)

Underinking (dry print) - Errors, freaks and oddities

Additional Printing errors
  • Double overprint
  • Missing overprint
  • Printed on gum side

Perforation errors

This kind of error happens during the perforation process.

Fold over perforation

Fold over perforation - Errors, freaks and oddities

Imperforate

Imperforate - Errors, freaks and oddities

Misperforation (misperf or perforation shift)

Misperforation (misperf or perforation shift) - Errors, freaks and oddities

Additional Perforation errors
  • Partial perforation

Paper errors

Fold over

Fold over - Errors, freaks and oddities

Pre-print paper crease

Pre-print paper crease - Errors, freaks and oddities

Additional Paper errors
  • Impurities
  • Inverted watermark
  • Missing watermark

Gum errors

In the early years of stamp production, gum was manually applied between the printing and perforating process. Nowadays the application of gum is fully automated, with pregummed paper used for the majority of stamps.

Additional Gum errors
  • Gummed on both sides
  • Missing gum

Design errors

This type of error is a mistake made during the design phase of postage stamp production process.

Misspelled text

Misspelled text - Errors, freaks and oddities

Wrong picture

Wrong picture - Errors, freaks and oddities

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