June 2011 – Page 3 – Sparks Auctions

Scarce Singles

July 24, 2020June 11, 2011 by Sparks Auctions

One of the joys of our hobby is the search for the elusive. If you collect an esoteric field like modern postal history there might be a difficult-to-find rate cover — when and if you ever find it, it might only cost you a few of the coins in your pocket.

There are also postage stamps which are more elusive than the catalogue value indicates. In the back section of each country listed in the Scott Catalogue are stamps for special purposes. These have a prefix and most collectors are familiar with “C” for airmail, “J” for postage due, “O” for Official, etc. Not many could immediately identify what type of special service uses the prefix I. Our lot 879 offers the “Late Fee” stamps of Victoria complete (there was only one). Although we have bought and sold this stamp a number of times the one offered here is likely the best we have handled. One indication of its rarity is the fact that the Scott Classic Catalogue still has a black and white image of this stamp. This lot came from a consignment which included some interesting Australian States (Lots 876-882)

Australain States #I1 — Lot 879 -- Australian States-Victoria #I1

Australian States-Victoria #I1 1855 6d lilac and green Late Fee, imperforate, used with four full margins, fresh colour and very fine. Scarce this nice. Scott CV$300.

Another consignment offers a stamp which is scarce because of a rare postmark.

St. Vincent #42 1883 1p drab Victoria, Crown CA watermark, with abbreviated village handstamp in red of Chateaubelair dated MY.23.1883. A comparable example sold in the 2006 Jaffe sale for a hammer of £140 (then about $300), fine-very fine. Est. $200

And a third consignor brought in rare proofs and progressive proofs which we offer as Lots 886-888.

Barbados E/P 1892-1910 ½d Seahorse trial colour proof in black and carmine on unwatermarked gummed paper, nice margins and very fine appearance but with horizontal crease and thin in top margin well clear of proof. Est. $200.

All of these are much less available than the very expensive British Commonwealth high values. However because there is less demand for the esoteric, they are more affordable.

Fast Communications

July 24, 2020June 10, 2011 by Sparks Auctions

In past features we have remarked on the large number of cartons filled with stamps which visually dominate the auction and viewing floor. Most of these are filled with albums, collections, or even loose stamps, but approximately five dozen contain envelopes or postcards. And many of these postal history cartons will contain interesting items, perhaps even gems.

Today we feature two non-Canadian covers. First up is the cover we think will likely sell for the highest price in the postal history section.

Newfoundland #C5 50c on 36c olive green Columbia flight on cover, tied by St. Johns SE.25.1930 slogan machine cancel to cover addressed to Pulborough, England via London. Notation at top states “Per Air Mail Columbia Hr Grace Nfld to London, England Sept 1930”. Back has a Harbour Grace dispatch cds OC.9.1930 and pencil notation “Guaranteed in every aspect by Geo. C. Ginn & Co. Small piece missing at bottom, very fine with fresh colour. Unitrade CV$17,500.

It interests us to note that when we first posted Auction #8 on our website and sent out an e-mail to Sparks customers, one sharp-eyed collector across the Atlantic noticed this lot and alerted yet another collector, who owns a Columbia Cover with some handwriting. Within about three hours of posting the auction, we had an e-mail from the overseas owner of another Columbia cover asking about our offering.

Our Canadian covers include a number of wonderful items that could be featured, but we’ll show off a letter in a remarkable state of preservation despite being more than 550 years old.

Fiume-Venice cover — Lot 1346 -- Fiume Venice cover

1459 Fiume to Venice, an entire letter mounted on Exhibit page from the Free City of Fiume to Venice with seal (shows through slightly in front) and full Guild mark. Very fine. A lovely early document which dates back to more than 550 years ago. Estimate $500.

Varieties Noted

July 24, 2020June 9, 2011 by Ian

Two years ago Sparks Auctions was pleased to offer the discovery example of the 1946 Hydro Electric Station imperforate at right margin. It was a lower right plate block which is now listed and illustrated in the Unitrade Catalogue. In this auction we offer the second known example almost certainly from the same sheet. The example in this auction is a used single with a small fault which will sell as Lot 388.

Canada #270 1946 14c black brown hydroelectric Station imperforate at right margin, used, with part cds cancel. One pulled perf at top, fine. Catalogue value is for fine mint and was based on the sale of the unique plate block we discovered in 2009, and likely this is the unique used example, ex. “Trillium” Collection. Unitrade CV$2500.

This means there are likely to be seven more either mint or used examples awaiting discovery.

Many other varieties are harder to spot. I was looking at some lots for the future auction #9 this morning. In one lot there are dozens of used Bluenoses. One of the popular varieties of this stamp inspired the central storyline for a Tommy Tricker movie about twenty years ago. Did I look for the “Man on the Mast?” No, and I sometimes wonder how many varieties are not noticed during the lotting process because of laziness or time pressure or lack of knowledge. It certainly gives anyone a bit of a thrill to find a celebrated variety. Here are three that we offer in this auction:

Canada #158iii 1929 50¢ Bluenose Man on the Mast, used with postmark well clear of the variety, very fine. A key used stamp for the variety collector. Unitrade CV$1500

Canada #208i 1934 3¢ Cartier with “burr on shoulder” variety, used, fine. Unitrade CV$60

Canada #208ii 1934 3¢ Cartier with “scarface” variety, used, fine-very fine. Unitrade CV$75

Some Interesting Finds

July 24, 2020June 8, 2011 by Sparks Auctions

As regular auction followers know, there is a great amount of ordinary material in most collections. When describing these for an upcoming auction one cannot always resort to superlatives. On the other hand, it is hardly fair to say something like “and here’s another boring collection.”

Many such collections have no prominent feature whatsoever, while others have items which are pleasant surprises. One consignor described his uncle’s accumulation of modern American stamps as ordinary postage. Fortunately for him our describer is familiar with the Americana Series of USA stamps and immediately noticed the different colour of the twelve cent value. The result is our offering of lots 1024 and 1025.

1981 12c brownish red on reddish beige Americana precancel pair, mint never hinged with “PRESORTED/FIRST CLASS” service inscription, fine. A regular 12c coil is included for comparison. Scott CV$2250.

At other times we work on a collection where the possibility of varieties or even rarities is much more likely. In an extensive collection of early Vietnam we took the time to look closely and found a number of unlisted items. Likely the most important of these is Lot 1166.

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.

Hidden Treasure

July 24, 2020June 7, 2011 by Sparks Auctions

Many collections contain one or more gems which even the consignor was unaware of. Every Sparks Auction has brought such items to light. Sometimes it is a new discovery, previously unknown; other times it is an item buried in an old-time collection which will excite at least one collector who has been searching for the “missing piece” for a long time.

Lot 1224 was noticed by one of our lotters in an otherwise ordinary and nondescript group.

1918 Peck flown registered air mail cover, Montreal to Toronto, franked with 5¢ Admiral and 2¢ War Tax Admiral. Cachets are dated JU.23.1918, but flight took place on JU.24 due to the weather. There were stops for gas at Kingston and Deseronto. Has Toronto, JU.24.1918 receiver on back. Only 124 pieces were flown, of which only a small percentage were registered. Flown in a Curtiss JN-4 “Canuch” aircraft. Opened at top. CV $2500 in Airmails of Canada.

Maybe you have hidden treasure. Contact us at info@sparks-auctions.com to discuss consigning.