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Canadian Stamp Auctions |
Recent Auction Highlights
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:
6¢ Small Queen - Colours illustrated
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
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
These stamps need no explanation. They just want to be admired! Scott
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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
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.
A number of beautiful and rare semi-official airmails were offered in this auction. We show a few examples above.
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
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