Month: December 2008

The printer’s production file for the 1952 Red Cross stamp will be of interest both to serious students of Canadian philately as well as topical collectors of the Red Cross. The development of the final design and the essays tell a fascinating story. This one lot could form the basis of a Gold Medal exhibit (lot 672).

While Ian was teaching a course at the 2008 American Philatelic Society Summer Seminar he was asked his advice on a one frame exhibit of the postal history of the 1942 One Dollar Destroyer (lot 1049 shown).  This had been given to the Society to help fund their activities.  The result was an interesting consignment to Sparks Auctions and we will donate our commission to the APS (lots 1042-1057). 

Another discovery came in a lot offered as postage.  Many of the stamps had some disturbed gum and while counting the face value, our lotter noticed something quite spectacular.  The plate block of the 1946 Peace Issue is imperforate at left.  This discovery example is now the most important item in a Peace Issue stamp collection. Only discovered after 62 years, it almost certainly unique and joins two similar errors issued in 1942 and 1950 on the "impossible" list (lot 664).

We wish all of our customers around the world a Merry Christmas!

One of the joys of working with stamps and describing them is the discovery of a treasure.  While describing a strong collection of Hong Kong, one of our lotters noticed a variety on a Queen Elizabeth stamp. Issued in 1973 on glazed paper, the ten dollar value of the definitive series is a variety not listed in the major North American catalogues.  In the Stanley Gibbons catalogue it is #209d with a catalogue value of £2,250.  The result is that a buyer is going to acquire a rare and elusive stamp and the seller will be very happy (lot 124).

We would like to wish a Happy Hanukkah to our customers who are beginning to celebrating the Festival of Lights.