Often Misidentified Precancel Types

by David Marasco

The following types are often misidentified. I have detailed what I look for in order to distinguish between the types but there are other differences besides the ones I mention which you may also note and refer to. 
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Edmonton types 2 and 3:
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Neither type has any scroll work at the bars. 
In type 2 the letters are all noticeably bigger than the type 3. If you already have a copy of both types 2 and 3 the comparison is easy. 
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Hamilton types 3 and 4:
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Neither type has any scroll work at the bars. 
To distinguish: 
Look at the H of Hamilton, type 3 is narrow and type 4 is wide. 
Look at the A of Hamilton, type 3 the bottom of the legs of A are spread wide, type 4 the bottom of the legs of A are closer together. 
Look at the 'foot' of the R of Ontario, type 3 is curved downward, type 4 is straight angled downward. 
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Montreal types 2 and 4:
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This is an easy one, look at the tail of the Q in Quebec, type 2 the tail is two pronged (like ^ ) and type 4 the tail is curled down then back up. A difficulty arises if the Q part of the overprint is not shown or is somehow not clearly visible (ie: the overprint impression is light or partly missing) and there is no scroll work at the bars. The way to distinguish is to put the sample beside a known type 2 with scrollwork and a known type 4 with curly tail and compare the other letters. 
You will see these differences. 
The B in Quebec: type 2 the B is  taller and narrower, type 4 the B is shorter and wider. 
The A in Montreal is wider in the type 4. 
The M in Montreal is wider in the type 4. 
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Ottawa Types  1 and 3:
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If there scroll work is missing on the type 1 they can be distinguished by: 
The N in Ontario is narrow and tall in type 1 and shorter and wider in type 3. 
The foot of the R in Ontario is curved in type 1 and straight in type 3. 
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Toronto types 3 and 5:
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If the scrollwork is missing on type 3 you can distinguish by: 
The foot of the R in Ontario is curved in type 3 and straight in type 5. 
The A in Ontario is narrow at the base in type 3 and wider at the base in type 5. 
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Toronto types 7 and 12:
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No scrollwork on these types. 
In type 7 the 3 bars are bowed apart in the center of the overprint. type 12 the 3 bars are parallel. In type 7   ONT is longer, there are larger spaces between the letters, in type 12 the letters of ONT are closer together. 
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Windsor types 1 and 3:

If the scrollwork of type 1 is missing: 
Look at the A of Ontario, type 1 the base of the A is narrow, type 3 the base of the A is wide. 
In type 3 the letters in Windsor are slightly taller and sharply printed, in type 1 the letters are often partly missing and smudgy looking. 
 
 
 

Winnipeg types 1 and 3:
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If the scrollwork of type 1 is missing: 
Look at the A of Manitoba, type 1 the base of the A is narrow, type 3 the base of the A is wide. 
Look at the M of Manitoba type 1 the M is narrower and taller, type 3 the M is shorter and wider. 
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