Canadian Stamp Auctions

28 February, 2007 - R. Maresch & Son

It’s always a pleasure to review a Maresch sale. Their sales cover such a broad spectrum of collecting, from classics to modern, postal history, semi-postals, back of the book, revenues etc. Add to this, stamps from all over the world and it gives hours of interesting viewing. We start off with one of Canada’s most beautiful stamps.

Officially Sealed Proof - An outstanding beauty!

Shown above is a plate proof of the 1902 issue of the officially sealed stamp in black on India paper on card. There’s something so special and dignified about these old engraved stamps. But we wondered, how they use the stamps?

We found the answer in Clifton Howes’ book “Canadian Postage Stamps and Stationary” published in 1911, in which the author quotes from the Halifax Philatelist:

“Letters in Canada, as in the United States, very frequently have on the outside the well known notice containing the address of the sender, and a request that the letter may be returned if not delivered within a certain time. These of course are not opened at the Dead Letter Office, and in fact, I think, are ordered not to be sent there, but are returned direct from the office to which they were originally addressed or from the head office of the district. On the other hand, those that have no indication of the address of the sender on the outside are sent to the Dead Letter Office, and there necessarily opened; but neither of these classes thus properly dealt with is considered to require the officially sealed label. It is only if one of the former class, having the sender’s name and address on the outside, is sent to the Dead Letter Office and there opened in error that the officially sealed label is applied, to show that such letter has been opened officially, and not by any unauthorized person.”

6¢ Small Queen - Colours illustrated

Chestnut

Lot 571 Unitrade 43i Estimate $500 Realized $675

These colour varieties can be so difficult to distinguish. But when you put them close together, as above, it’s a whole lot easier. We imagine most auctioneers have samples like the above to guide them.

These two strips provide an excellent illustration of the difference between the regular red brown colour and the chestnut variety. The fact that each one has the printer’s imprint helps to confirm the distinction. According to Darnell, the red brown stamps were first issued in October, 1870 and Unitrade states that the chestnut stamps were issued in 1890.

Why are there so many colours of the 6¢ Small Queen….yellow brown, brown, red brown, chocolate and chestnut. These stamps were in use for almost 30 years and were printed in Ottawa and Montreal. There were probably a number of reasons and each one an interesting story in itself !!

Dated Copies

Lot 354 Scott 14 Catalogue $67 Realized $100

Lot 378 Unitrade 15v Catalogue $250 Realized $80

Lot 430 Unitrade 23i Estimate $100 Realized $110

As our viewers have no doubt concluded by now, we think there is something special about nicely dated copies of Canada’s stamps. Not just old stamps, but any stamps. Every once in awhile, a postal official takes the care to nicely stamp a modern envelope with a carefully positioned dated canceled. The results are as nice to see today as on a 100 year old envelope.

What is significantl about them from a collecting point of view is that the date cancel confirms two things. First, it shows whether the stamp has been used in the proper period of use. Second, it identifies the part of the country in which the stamp was used.

Finally, forgetting about the philatelic side of things, nicely dated stamps look special and definitely have the pizzazz that separates them from the ordinary!

Fancy cancels

Lot 124

Lot 429

Lot 517

Lot 644

These stamps need no explanation. They just want to be admired!

Scott 83

Lot 747 Scott 83 Catalogue $1200 Realized $3750

This block of the 10¢ Numeral was featured on the front cover of the auction catalogue and for good reason. It was described by the auctioneer as brilliant, fresh, never hinged, two negligible bends, extremely fine and an absolute gem. They described it as the nicest block of this stamp they had ever seen.

Unitrade 107bi Booklet

Lot 896 Unitrade 107bi Catalogue $4200 Realized $3250

This booklet pane of 4 with the pyramid guidelines was described as VF NH and extremely rare. One stamp had a hinge remnant and a bit of missing gum but not a thin. The only previous record we have of one of these rare panes was a copy that sold in a Hennok sale in 1999. That copy was not quite as well centered as this one and had a few small thin spots. It sold for $625.

Semi-Official Airmails

Lot 1116 CLP5 Catalogue $300 Realized $230

Lot 1117 CL1 Catalogue $1750 Realized $2600

Lot 1145 CL51e Catalogue $200 Realized $210

A number of beautiful and rare semi-official airmails were offered in this auction. We show a few examples above.

42,000 Copies of Scott 90

This offering was really something. 42,000 used copies of Scott 90, bundled per 100, useful for cancels, varieties etc., looking generally very clean and mostly f-vf. The catalogue value was $8,400 and it sold for $150. Quite the bargain!

For more details of the sale, please click on the highlights button