Canada

1888-93 "Small Queens"

Quick History
Canada is located  north of the border with the United States on the North American continent. The Capital is Ottawa, and the population was 11,500,000 in 1941. The government is a self-governing dominion in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Areas of Canada which formerly has stamp issues include British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. The Province of Canada began issuing stamps in 1851.

Language: 58% speak English, 22% speak French, and 18% speak both languages.

1898 "Map of the British Empire"

Big Blue Picture
On 10 pages in Big Blue('97), there are 211 stamp spaces for regular, air post, special delivery, postage due, and war tax categories. The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue has 280 major descriptions in the same categories. Coverage by Big Blue is 76%.

Unbelievable.
The coverage is really really good. True, many collectors of Scott Volume 1 have a natural interest in the stamps of Canada, so the editors made the right choice. But if the Big Blue collector wants to fill the early classical issues, be prepared to spend serious green.  ;-)

Setting aside the heavy cost of classic Canadian for the moment, what jaw dropping magnificent stamps!

The "Queens" 1868-93, both "Large" and "Small", are in the top rank of Victoria designs. And who does not like the "Beaver" motif of 1851, 1852-57, and 1859?

The 1897 Jubilee's are lovely, but I suspect  they were influenced by the long- and expensive- 1893 American  "Columbian Exposition" issue.

The 1898 "Map of the British Empire" stamps with the quote;"WE HOLD A VASTER  EMPIRE THAN HAS BEEN".  Truth...and hubris?

The Canadian commemorative 1897-1939 (generally large stamp) designs are classic and elegant. The most iconic in my view is the 1929 Scott 158 50c dark blue Schooner "Bluenose" ($60+). Wow!

Now for some cautionary notes...

If you have the '69 or '97 editions, you are probably aware that there was a mistake in the layout of  the 1897 Jubilee issue introduced by the '69 editors. (The error is not in the '47 or '41 editions.) There are two spaces (an 1/2c illustrated space and a blank space) on the first page, and then on the next page an illustration again for the 1/2c, designated spaces for the 1c, 2c, 3c, and 5c; and then three blank spaces as choices. What to do?
1) Leave blank the "error" spaces.
2) Fill the spaces on the first page with "cheap" Jubilee's. Recommend the 3c($2+) and the 1c($5+).
I will probably use this strategy as I have a few extra's.
3) Fill the spaces with the "correct" denominations. Costly though :The 1/2c is $110+!
4) Use the opportunity to have even more Jubilee's- choices include Scott 58 15c steel blue ($180+), Scott 59  20c vermilion ($180+), or Scott 60 50c ultramarine ($180+). The Bill Gate's approach.
Your choice....  ;-)

Also,  the "1912-18" King George V issue spaces show evidence of Big Blue NOT getting an editing upgrade that is evident in the recent Scott catalogues. Based on dates, Big Blue calls for a '12 wet printing 20c olive green($2+), which now has a minor number-119c- in the Scott catalogue.  Scott reserves the  major number 119  for the 20c olive green a '25 dry printing ($1+). There is no space for the major number stamp. Similarly, the '12 wet printing 50c "gray black" in BB ( now "black" in Scott) is a minor number-120a; while the major 120 number is a black brown '25 dry printing. Again, no space for the major number stamp. So either look for the stamps BB calls for; or change the "date" headline to "1912-25", and put in the major number 119 and 120.

Finally, Big Blue includes only two of the 1916 War Tax stamps (MR1,MR3), not including MR2 and MR4. All of the stamps are <$1!   :-)

Additionals......
Big Blue did a through job of covering the classics. Not much to add.  Be glad, though,  that Big Blue left out nine $1,000++ 1851-59 stamps, and a few of the $1000+ 1897 Silver Jubilee's.

But, if you are interested in the classics, and have a large budget for Canada, consider 12 1/2c Scott 18 yellow green ($110+) and 17c Scott 19 blue ($18+0).

1877 "Small Queens"
Scott 40 10c dull rose lilac($70+)

1897 The "older" Queen
Scott 71 6c brown ($30+)

The "coils": BB does not provide spaces for the Canadian coils. Some are quite inexpensive, you may already have them in your collection.
1912-24 Coil stamps
125,127,128,129,($1+)

1930-31 Coil
180,181,182,183,(<$1-$2+)

1933 Coil
205,206,207,($2+-<$1)

1935 Coil
229,230,($1-<$1)

1937 Coil
238,239,240,($1+-<$1)

1931
184($2+)

War Tax
1916
MR2,MR4 (<$1)

Big Blue does not cover the Canadian Official stamps, which are regular issues perforated O.H.M.S.- "On His Majesty's Service". Beginning in 1912, there are 144 of them listed in the Scott catalogue.  Most are fairly expensive, but here are a few possibilities... ( Also check one's collection for "hidden treasure" O.H.M.S. perforated stamps.)

1937 King George VI
OA231, OA232, OA233, ($5+)

1937 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth
O231,O232.O233,O235,O241,(<$1)

1933 Scott 204 Steamship Royal William

Big Blue Checklist
1851-59
Three pence red "Beaver"
1852-57 Scott 4 ($220+) or 1851 Scott 1($1,000+)

1859 Scott 14 1c rose Queen Victoria ($80+)

1859 10c (illustrated)
Scott 17 red lilac ($140+) or Scott 16 black brown ($5,400+)

1859 Scott 15 5c vermilion "Beaver" ($30+)

1868 "Large Queens"
1/2c black Scott 21 ($7+)
1c Scott 22 brown red ($100+) or Scott 23 yellow orange ($200+)
2c green Scott 24 ($90+)
3c red Scott 25 ($30+)
6c dark brown Scott 27 ($120+)
12 1/2c blue Scott 28 ($100+)
15c Scott 29 gray violet ($50+) or Scott 30 gray ($50+)

1870-89 "Small Queens"
1/2c Scott 34 black ($10+)
1c Scott 35 yellow ($1+) or 35a orange ($5+) or  35d orange ($10+)
2c Scott 36 green ($2+) or  36d blue green ($2+) or 36e green ($20+)
3c Scott 37 orange red ($2+) or 37c dull red ($2+)or 37e red ($10+)or 37a rose ($10+)or 37b copper red ($50+)
5c Scott 38 slate green ($20+) or 38a slate green($50+)
6c Scott 39 yellow brown ($20+) or 39d brown ($20+) or 39b yellow brown ($60+)
Note: 35d, 36e ,37e, 38a, 39b are Perf 11 1/2 X 12, while rest are Perf 12.

1888-93 "Small Queens"
3c Scott 41 bright vermilion (<$1) or 41a rose carmine ($10+)
5c Scott 42 gray ($2+)
6c Scott 43 red brown ($10+) or 43a chocolate ($20+)
8c Scott 44 violet black ($2+)
10c Scott 45 brown red ($50+) or 45a dull rose($50+) or 45b pink ($50+)

(1893)
20c Scott 46 vermilion ($100+)
50c Scott 47 deep blue ($70+)

1897 Jubilee ( '69 and '97 editions)
1/2c Scott 50($120+)
Blank space: suggest Scott 51 ($5+)
Note: These spaces are repeated again on the next page in the '69 and '97! See Big Blue Picture for discussion.

1898 Map of British Empire
85($5+)
86($5+)

1897 The "older" Queen
66,67,($5+-$1+)
68,69,($2+- $1+)
70,72,($5+-$10+)
Scott 73 10c brown violet ($70+)

1897 Jubilee issue
1/2c Scott 50 black ($110+)
1c Scott 51 orange ($5+)
2c Scott 52 green ($10+)
3c Scott 53 bright rose ($2+)
5c Scott 54 deep blue ($40+)
Three blank spaces: suggest Scott 55 6c yellow brown ($170+) and Scott 56 8c dark violet ($60+) and Scott 57 10c brown violet ($110+)
Note: The '69 and '97 editions also have 2 spaces on the preceding page ( 1/2c and blank) for the Jubilee issue. See Big Blue Picture for discussion.

1899 Surcharge
87 ($5+)
88($5+)

1898 The "older" Queen  (Numerals on bottom corners, rather than maple leafs)
74($2+)
75,76,(<$1)
78,79,($1+-$2+)
80 6c brown ($40+)
82,83,($20+)

1901-02 The "older" Queen
77(<$1)
81($20+)
84 20c olive green ($100+)

1908 Quebec Tercentenary Issue
96,97,98,($5+-$2+)
99 5c dark blue ($50+)
100 7c olive green ($100+)
Blank space: Suggest Scott 101 10c dark violet ($120+) or Scott 102 15c red orange ($120+)

1917
135($1+)

1903-08 King Edward VII
89,90,(<$1)
91,92,93,($2+-$5+)
94 20c olive green ($50+)
95  50c purple ($170+)

1912-18 King George V
104,106,108,111,(<$1)
113 ($2+) Note: olive bistre in BB is yellow ocher in Scott
116($2+)
119c 20c olive green '12 wet printing ($2+) Note: Scott now has major number 119 20c olive green a '25 dry printing ($1+).
120a  50c  "gray black" now "black" in Scott for '12 wet printing ($5+). Note: Major number 120 50c black brown is '25 dry printing ($2+). See discussion of 119c/120a in Big Blue Picture.

1917-24  King George V
105,107,109,(<$1)
110($2+)
112,117(<$1-$2+)
122 $1 orange ($10+)

1924-25 King George V
114 7c red brown ($10+)
115 8c blue ($10+)
118 ($2+)

1923-24 Imperf  Note:spelled "Imperfect" in BB  ;-)
Scott 136 ($30+) 1c Note: "yellow" in BB is "orange yellow" in Scott
Scott 137 2c green ($30+)
Scott 138 3c carmine ($10+)

1926 (surcharged)
140($20+)

1927
147,146,148,($2+-$5+)

1927
141,142,143,145,144,(<$1-$5+)

1928 King George V & pictorials
149,150,(<$1)
151($10+)
152,153,154,($2+-$5+)
155 ($2+)
156,157,($5+-$10+)
158 50c dark blue Schooner "Bluenose" ($60+) Iconic design!

1930 King George V & pictorials
162,164,(<$1)
168,169,($5+)
171,173,($10+-$1+)
174,175,($5+-$1+)
176,177,($10-$20+)

1930-31 (King George V)
163,165,166,167,(<$1)
170,172,($1+-$5+)

1931
190(<$1)

1932
191(Surcharge),192,(<$1)
193,194,($2+-$5+)

1932 King George V
195,196,197,(<$1)
198($7)
199,200,(<$1-$2+)

1932
201($2+)

1933
202,203,($2+-$10+)
204($2+)

1934
208,209,($1+-$5+)
210,($2+)

1935
211,212,(<$1)
214($2+)

(1935)
213,215,216,(<$1-$5+)

King George V & pictorials
217,218,219,(<$1)
220(<$1) Note: 4c "yellow" in BB is "yellow orange" in Scott
221,222,(<$1-$2+)
223(<$1)
224,225,(<$1)
226,227,($5+-$10+)

1937 George VI
231,232,233,234,235,236,(<$1)

1937
237(<$1)
242,241,243,(<$1)
244,245,($5+)

1939
246,247,248,(<$1)

Special delivery
1898
E1($10+)

1927
E3($10+)

1922
E2($5+)

1930
E4($10+)

1935
E6($5+)

1933
E5($10+)

1939
E7($3+)

1938
E8($20+)

1939 (surcharge)
E9($6+)

Air Post stamps
1928
C1($5+)

1930
C2($20+)

1935
C5($1+)

1932
C3,C4,($2+-$10+)

1938
C6(<$1)

Postage due
1906-28
J1,J2,($2+-$1)
J3($20+)
J4($2+)
J5($10+)

1930-32
J6,J7,($2+-$1+)
J8,J9,J10,($5+-$10+)

1933-34
J11,J12,($5+-$1+)
J13,J14,($5+)

1935
J15,J16,J17,J20,(<$1)

War Tax
1916
MR1,MR3, (<$1)

1915-16 War Tax  stamps: Big Blue has two spaces

Kinds of Blue
The '69 and '97 editions are identical for content.

The '47(and '41) gives a space for "small queen" 1889 2c "blue green"($2+) - now a Scott minor number: 36d. The '69 editors (rightfully) removed this stamp space, so it is not found in the '69 and '97 editions.

Of note is Scott 41 3c "bright vermilion" in the '47 and ''41 editions becomes "vermilion" in the '69 and '97 editions.

Also, as mentioned earlier, the '69 editors added two spaces ( Scott 50 1/2c black "illustration", and blank space) on the first page for the 1897 Jubilee issue, while NOT editing out the spaces for these stamps on the next page. This error remains in the '97 edition.

The '69 (and '97) has a space for the 1939 special delivery Scott E9 ($6+). The '47 and '41 editions do not.

The '47 and '41 editions had a space for two 1875-79 Registration stamps (F1($5+) and F2($5+)). The spaces were removed in '69 (and '97) editions.

1897 Jubilee 1c  Scott 51 orange

Big Blue Bottom Line
Great coverage of Canada by Big Blue. Really not in the same league as Big Blue's "the rest of the world" coverage. But thirteen stamps over $100, some WAY over with the 1852-57 Three pence red "Beaver" Scott 4 @ $225. Should I laugh or cry? :-)