Small Queens (1870–1897 Canadian stamps)

Dominion of Canada definitives, 1870 to 1897 If one series can keep a Canadian collector busy for life, it is this one. The Small Queens shrank the Large Queen half-cent portrait so more stamps fit on each plate, and they stayed in use for more than 25 years, printed at different places along the way. That long life is the appeal. Common used copies cost little, yet sorting them by printing, shade, paper and perforation is a puzzle specialists still argue over. Start with a stockbook of cheap used singles and a good catalog, and the differences between Montreal and Ottawa printings soon start to show.