Sparks Auctions

Lot 728, Canada 1868 Advertising Cover Galt to Derenham, three cent Large Queen on laid paper

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Lot 728, Canada 1868 Gore District Mutual Fire Insurance advertising cover Galt to Derenham, three cent Large Queen on laid paperLot 728 Canada #33 1868 3c Large Queen on Laid Paper on Advertising Cover, from the Gore District Fire Insurance Co., mailed from Galt (OCT.14.1868 duplex) to Derenham, with Ingersoll (OCT.14) and Tilsonburg (OCT.15) transits on back. The stamp is a fine centered single on laid paper (tiny tear and corner crease), which was removed to confirm and placed back. A very fine and attractive cover, with accompanying 1991 Greene Foundation certificate. Unitrade CV$2,500.

Lot 917, 1867 British Columbia cover, Victoria to Nova Scotia via Panama

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Lot 917, 1867 British Columbia cover Victoria to Nova Scotia via PanamaLot 917 1867 Victoria BC to Nova Scotia Via Panama and the United States, franked with a perforated 5c rose British Columbia issue (Scott #5) paying the Colonial domestic rate, tied by an oblong oval “Post Office / Victoria Vancouver Island / Paid” in blue. The cover was forwarded to San Francisco (arrived there SEP.30) and franked with a 5c Jefferson and 10c Washington, both tied by cogwheel cancels, the rate necessary for the rest of the voyage, which consisted in travelling south in a closed packet by steamer to Panama, where it would have crossed by rail to the Atlantic side, took another steamer to New York, and then on to its destination. The back shows three datestamps: Amherst NS (OCT.23.1867), Pugwash (OCT.24) and finally Wallace receiver (OCT.24). According to Robson Lowe, the entire trip was of 6,455 miles (sea distance). Small faults to two of the stamps, still a very fine and rare cover, the only one we have seen with this exact franking to the Maritimes. A similar cover to Nova Scotia (with same US franking but with a 2½d imperforate) recently sold for US$35,000. From a recent find by a descendant of the addressee, therefore on the market for the first time ever. Estimate C$2,500.

Lots 339, 340 & 341 — Canada 2003 $5 Moose errors

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Lot 339, Canada #1693 var 2003 $5 Moose with Dramatic "Misplaced Moose" variety, a mint never hinged full pane of fourLot 339 Canada #1693 var 2003 $5 Moose with Dramatic “Misplaced Moose” variety, a mint never hinged full pane of four, with all Moose and foliage, etc. engraved colours shifted up by about ¾ inches. Very fine, and as far as we know unique. Accompanied by a 2020 Greene Foundation certificate. One of the most visually striking modern varieties. Different but just as impressive, if not much rarer than the “Missing Moose” variety, both would look great side by side in a collection. Estimate $5,000.

Lot 340, Canada #1693a 2003 $5 Moose with Engraved Colours Omitted, a mint never hinged lower right corner single Lot 340 Canada #1693a 2003 $5 Moose with Engraved Colours Omitted, a mint never hinged lower right corner single, missing the Moose and foliage, etc. engraved colours, very fine and desirable. Accompanied by a 2020 Greene Foundation certificate. The Moose stamps were printed on sheets with six panes of four stamps. the stamps are printed first by lithography (background colours, etc.) then by a separate printing pass through an intaglio press, which prints the engraved Moose. The “Missing Moose” error occurs when two of the gummed sheets temporarily adhere together and go through the intaglio press, resulting in a normal sheet on top and a sheet with a faint albino impression (but no ink) on the bottom. One of the most visually striking modern varieties, and arguably more so than the Inverted Seaway. Unitrade CV$7,500.

Lot 341, Lot 341 Canada #1693a 2003 $5 Moose with Engraved Colours Omitted, a mint never hinged full pane of fourLot 341 Canada #1693a 2003 $5 Moose with Engraved Colours Omitted, a mint never hinged full pane of four, missing the Moose and foliage, etc. engraved colours, very fine and desirable. Accompanied by a 2020 Greene Foundation certificate. The Moose stamps were printed on sheets with six panes of four stamps. the stamps are printed first by lithography (background colours, etc.) then by a separate printing pass through an intaglio press, which prints the engraved Moose. The “Missing Moose” error occurs when two of the gummed sheets temporarily adhere together and go through the intaglio press, resulting in a normal sheet on top and a sheet with a faint albino impression (but no ink) on the bottom. One of the most visually striking modern errors, and arguably more so than the Inverted Seaway. Unitrade CV$35,000.