Some years ago when a good Ottawa collector and I were in New York to attend an important stamp auction, he took me to see the musical Miss Saigon on Broadway. It was a wonderful performance and the event which sticks in my memory happened during the finale. The great majority of the audience were so caught up with the performance that their collective emotion felt like a tsunami in the theatre. It greatly impressed me. That situation underscores one difference in the collective memories of those who lived through the Vietnam years. Canadians did not lose classmates; we are observers not participants during the finale.
A Canadian diplomat who served in North Vietnam returned to Canada in 1962. His collection of North Vietnamese stamps was kept intact for nearly 50 years and now is offered in Sparks Auctions as Lots 1162-1192.
1945-1946 2c and 4c Governor General Paul Dormer with overprint, on Indo-China (#253-254) with “VIET-NAM DOC-LAP TU-DO HANH-PHUC BUU-CHINH” overprint and wavy line obliterators. Three of the stamps have the third line “HANH-PHUC” inverted which is unlisted in Scott, no gum as issued, very fine. Estimate $300.
A number of varieties are offered in the sale, this being the most dramatic.
While public viewing was going on Friday, David and Stein were hard at work preparing material for Auction #9. As you can see we already have substantial consignments.
-Ian Kimmerly,
Sparks Auctions
