Name: Canada postage stamp year 1912 50c Grey Black
SKU: 3050
Availability: InStock

Canada postage stamp year 1912 50c Grey Black MLH stamp

The Canadian postage stamp you are asking about is the 50-cent value from the definitive series that began the reign of King George V.¹ This series is universally known to collectors as the “Admiral” Issue.²

Here are the details for the Canada 1912 50c Grey Black stamp:

Canada “Admiral” Issue (1911-1928)

Feature	Details
Monarch/Design	King George V in the uniform of an Admiral. The design is a key characteristic of this long-running series.
Denomination	50 Cents (50¢)
Color	Grey Black (Note: This is the general color. Shades vary greatly and are important for identification and value.)
Year of First Issue	1912 (The first stamps of the Admiral issue appeared in late 1911, with the 50c value appearing in early 1912).
Perforation	Perforated 12 (P.12)
Printer	American Bank Note Company – Ottawa
Catalog Numbers	Scott #120 (General number for the 50c Admiral) or #120a (Often used for the early 1912 printings, especially the “Black” or “Grey-Black” shade on wet printing paper). Stanley Gibbons (SG) #214 (General number).

The Importance of the “Grey Black” Shade

The 50-cent Admiral stamp is particularly complex for collectors because it was printed over many years (1912–1928) and exists in numerous shades and varieties, which significantly affect its market value.³

The “Grey Black” or “Black” shade is generally associated with the earlier printings (1912-1914) and is sometimes categorized as:

Wet Printing – Black (often the rarest of the 50c shades)⁴
Dry Printing – Black Brown (a more common shade that is actually a variation of grey-black/brownish-grey-black)⁵

Value Considerations

The value is highly dependent on the exact shade, paper, gum condition, and centering:

Common Shades (Used): A common used example of the 50c Admiral, regardless of the year, will be the most affordable, often selling for a few dollars.
Common Shades (Mint Hinged/MLH): The more common shades (like the later printings) in Mint Lightly Hinged condition can be valued in the tens of dollars.
The Rare Shades (MNH/MLH): The scarcer shades, such as the true “Black” from the early wet printings (Scott #120a), can be highly valued, with catalogue values often reaching into the hundreds of dollars for well-centered, Mint Lightly Hinged (MLH) examples, and even higher for Mint Never Hinged (MNH).

For a definitive valuation, you would need to consult an up-to-date specialty Canadian stamp catalog (like Unitrade) or have the specific shade and condition verified by an expert.