We are very pleased to announce our 32nd public auction. This is another exciting sale for us, as we have been again entrusted to sell a wide variety of interesting and impressive material by many different consignors. We also take pride in announcing that from now on, we will endeavor to include either a scan or a photograph online with each and every lot. We think this is yet another step, along with our exacting descriptions and live internet bidding, in helping our customers from around the world to have easy access to our auctions.
Also starting this auction is another step towards our aim of better transparency: all lots that have a reserve (a minimum starting price agreed to between the seller and Sparks Auctions) will be marked as “Rsv.” and the minimum starting bid will be disclosed both in the print catalogue, and online. The fact that many of our buyers give us their bids before the day of the sale attests to their trust in our trustworthiness and integrity, and our past buyers will attest that a great number of lots are won at far lower amounts than their top bids.
Highlights from this sale include:
- Our most comprehensive offering ever of early Canada and BNA with many listed varieties, etc.;
- Extensive collections of Large and Small Queen stamps, postmarks and postal history;
- Historically important documents from the 1759 Québec Campaign, consisting of three letters written during the battle at the Plains of Abraham and a Commission Document signed by King George II, all belonging to an officer who fought alongside General Wolfe;
- Part two of a consignment of mint never hinged Canadian blocks and multiples from the late 1890s to early 1930s, all being on the market for the first time;
- Part one of The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Tucked away since the 1930s, these are being offered on the market for the first time;
- The long-awaited Robert Heasman collection of early Canadian machine cancellations in 104 lots;
- An extensive and fresh collection of People’s Republic of China, mint never hinged and used, from 1949 to 1979 including rarities;
- Another installment of 1938 British Commonwealth SPECIMEN perforated sets;
- A rarely offered collection of New Zealand Pigeon Post stamps and flimsies;
- Part two of the extensive Jack Gray collection. Jack was a well known local topicalist, and this offering consists of his worldwide country collections. These lots are marked “JG” for identification.
As always, we invite you to view our lots online at stampauctionnetwork.com and as a reminder all our lots are sold in Canadian dollars at a competitive 17% commission rate. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require additional scans or would like to consign to one of our future sales.
Enjoy the sale,
Stéphane Cloutier
Director of Lotting & Consignments