There is really no other place to start our account of the good realizations from Sale #6 than with lot 85, the 3¢ bright red Large Queen on laid paper. Local CBC television news was here to witness as bidding opened at $11,500, and two bidders some 10,500 kilometres apart took the price to $18,000.
Canada #33 1868 3c bright red Large Queen on laid paper, unused (regummed) single possessing nice bright colour, full perforations and pleasing centering, fine. Accompanied by 2002 APS and 2010 Greene Foundation certificates (latter one pink due to regumming). This is one of Canada’s rarest stamps with fewer than ten mint or unused examples recorded to date. In fact, from all Canadian stamps with major Scott numbers, only the 1851 6d Consort on laid paper (#2) and the 1868 1c Large Queen on laid paper (#31) are known in similar small quantities. This specific stamp is likely the second finest example (only the original gum example that was in the Firth collection appears to be of a higher quality). Unitrade CV $25,000
The record price drew the attention of CanadianStampAuctions.com, which has provided detailed commentary about this item and several other stamps in the sale.