Lot 2 Canada #1 1851 3d Red Beaver Imperforate on Laid Paper, unused (with trace of original gum), with bright colour and sharp impression. The stamp possesses three large margins, and the bottom one just touches the outer frameline at right, fine-very fine.
A very rare unused example of Canada’s first stamp, as one census of mint and unused Three Penny Beavers on laid paper puts the number at about 20. Although this might be a little bit low, many of these mint and unused stamps are cut into or have faults, and some are in institutional collections. It is likely that fewer than a handful of sound number ones are available to private collectors. A rare opportunity for the mint Canada collector.
Accompanied by a 1959 Royal Philatelic Society certificate issued to W. E. Lea, Esq. Unitrade CV$45,000.
