As an auction is prepared, it can be hard to predict which material will generate attention, especially from beyond the philatelic community. In the case of Auction #3, we were surprised and gratified to learn that lot 864, the New Brunswick Connell stamp, was earning interest from its home province and in mainstream Ottawa media as well.
An article in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner piqued the curiosity of New Brunswickers, and even local Ottawa descendents of Charles Connell himself. Local CTV news visited the auction gallery on the day of the sale to learn about the stamp. All of the Connell material did better than expected, with the unused example attracting three advance bids of $1600, and finally being hammered down at $2500 ($2875 with premium). The buyer was happy to share the fact that the "stamp was coming home to Woodstock, NB."
A followup article in the Woodstock Bugle Observer has more details.
Watch our site weekly for more features on the better realizations from Sale #3.