Canada 1999 95c multicolored "Year of the Rabbit" souvenir sheet in round-shaped format error with the tagging and red colour omitted, Unitrade 1768b.
A very fine unmounted mint, with full original gum, example.
A spectacular modern printing error showing the complete omission of both the red colour and the fluorescent tagging. The error sheet appears without the red “CANADA 95” denomination panel and the inner gold/orange shading, leaving the rabbit design in simplified form on the purple-to-yellow gradient background.
Accompanied with an example of the normal sheet for comparison and display purposes.
Accompanied with a Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation certificate of authenticity.
Unitrade catalogue value: $1,250.
Background
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The Year of the Rabbit design, by Hsin-Ying Ho, inaugurates the second cycle of Canada Post’s Lunar New Year commemorative series (begun in 1997 with the Ox).
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The sheet combines traditional Chinese calligraphy and zodiac imagery with contemporary graphic design. This was a landmark in multicultural philatelic design for Canada.
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Printing errors of this issue are exceptionally rare, due to tight quality control at the Canadian Bank Note Co. Most known examples of this omission originated from a single partially mis-fed print run before the red plate was engaged.
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The omission of the tagging (used for automatic sorting) also meant such sheets would not have been usable for postal service, adding to the rarity.
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The Greene Foundation certificate (Canada’s leading expertising authority) greatly enhances its market desirability and value assurance.
