A Traditional Philatelic Auction House — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Auction #48 begins today. This Extremely Fine Three Penny Beaver on laid paper will be the second lot on offer.
Lot 2 Canada #1 1851 3d Red Beaver Imperforate on Laid Paper, used with a target cancel, possessing clear laid lines and four large to huge margins, showing part of adjoining stamp at bottom, extremely fine. Accompanied by a 2018 Greene Foundation certificate. Unitrade CV $1,600.
Lot 2 Canada #1 1851 3d Red Beaver Imperforate on Laid Paper, unused (with trace of original gum), with bright colour and sharp impression. The stamp possesses three large margins, and the bottom one just touches the outer frameline at right, fine-very fine.
A very rare unused example of Canada’s first stamp, as one census of mint and unused Three Penny Beavers on laid paper puts the number at about 20. Although this might be a little bit low, many of these mint and unused stamps are cut into or have faults, and some are in institutional collections. It is likely that fewer than a handful of sound number ones are available to private collectors. A rare opportunity for the mint Canada collector.
Accompanied by a 1959 Royal Philatelic Society certificate issued to W. E. Lea, Esq. Unitrade CV$45,000.
Sparks Auctions is proud to have been chosen to sell this remarkable collection. It is being sold in two parts, Part 1 on Saturday, January 21st, 2023 and Part 2 on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 with both sales presented in a single print catalogue. This specialized collection ranges from the first issues of 1851 to just after World War II, including back of the book, regularly issued stamps, imperforate pairs, blocks and multiples, plate proof singles, pairs and blocks, as well as die proofs, progressive proofs, varieties and more.
Major highlights include an unused 3d red Beaver on laid paper, one of the only two known mint never hinged 12d black Queen Victoria imperforates, a used sheet margin 12d black Queen Victoria imperforate, and all three Admiral gutter blocks of the part imperforate coil blocks.
Just a few of the interesting varieties offered over the two sales are all of the inter-panneau imperforate tête-bêche booklet panes (Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V), “Shilling mark,” “Broken leg,” “Inverted Seaway” (mint and used) and more.
The quality present is consistently very high, as the owner bought only the best from the most reputable sources, with cost not being an impediment. Below you will see a list of the lots with recent graded certificates. Many of the stamps in this sale will not be seen again for a long time, and these stamps are sure to be remembered and referenced for years to come, as “ex Athena collection.”
The sale will be conducted both with a traditional live floor, on StampAuctionNetwork, and we can also accommodate telephone bids.
Enjoy the sale, and good luck!
Lot 147 Canada #1iii 1851 3d Red Beaver Imperforate, on Laid Paper, with Major Re-Entry, used with light target cancel and clear laid lines, four clear to large margins, showing part of the next stamp at top, fine-very fine. This scarce stamp is from position A-47 and clearly shows doubling in several areas. Accompanied by a 1964 B.P.A. certificate. Rsv. $1,000. Unitrade CV$2,250.
Lot 13 Canada #1TCvi 3d Beaver Trial Colour Plate Proof in Orange Yellow, an upper margin block of four on India paper, attractive and very fine. Unitrade CV$1,400, sold for C$2,600.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Sale #40-41 is coming on February 26! Bid on StampAuctionNetwork.
