Canada #465 25c Slate Green, The Solemn Land, 1967-1973 Centennial Definitive Issue, Rare Single Use on Returned Acknowledgement of Receipt Card

A rare, completed acknowledgement of receipt card from January 1969, after the November 1968 rate increases in which the acknowledgement of receipt fee increased from 15c to 25c. As a result of this increase, the use of this service declined, though it was never a high demand service, and eventually it was added on as an additional charge on registered mail. This card is also franked with a single 25c Solemn Land, paying the entire fee, rather than a combination of lower values, which makes it even scarcer. It was mailed on December 9, 1968, but curiously the stamp was not affixed until January 6, 1969, and the acknowledgement was added on January 29, 1969.

The Centennial issue covers have been priced according to the overall scarcity of the rates, the destinations and the frankings, as well as the specific paper types of the stamps used. Although there are many common covers to be found during the life of this issue, many are quite scarce, and the estimates reflect this. The following specific comments can be made:

1. Many of the stamps that are common off-cover, are much scarcer on cover. These would include any hibrite paper printing, as this paper was only in use a few months, the fluorescent orange ink on the 6c, the 7c emerald, as its period of use was just 6 months, most all Winnipeg tagged stamps as they were only available in Winnipeg, and finally some of the scarcer booklet singles.

2. The most common covers will of course be local drop letters or domestic single weight covers. This would be followed by single weight covers to the US and single airmail to Western European countries. It is these covers that are generally $1-$5 if they are VF and have some nice cancel or other marking of note.

3. Registered covers, special delivery and third class or printed matter rates are all somewhat scarce, and at a minimum are generally in the $10 range. If they are to a better destination, or are paid with a combination of definitives and commemoratives, or include a better paper variety they will be $15-$20.

4. The scarcer covers are generally multiple weight steps, or combinations of services, such as special delivery and registered, or registered for higher indemnities. These covers are typically estimated in the $30-$40 range.

5. Advertising, corner cards or special addressees or other markings will add to the value also.

While these prices may seem high it must be emphasized that these are not the kinds of covers you will see in a standard dealer's dollar box or junk box of covers. They are often cherry-picked from large cover accumulations or dealer stocks.