Auction #8 – Page 12 – Sparks Auctions

Highs and Lows

July 24, 2020June 17, 2011 by Ian

No, we’re not referring to pharmaceuticals.

With only a few days to go we decided to examine the opening bids and look at one high and a bunch of lows.

1893 8c violet black Small Queen, selected with precise centering within four oversized margins, light cds cancel, an extremely fine gem. Unitrade CV$6.00

Yesterday I spoke with a customer in the store who asked about this lot and he volunteered that he had bid $40 and wanted to know his chance of success. I told him that I thought he would be the under-bidder. It is now opening at $160 which more than 26 times full catalogue. Unless he has changed his bid he is certainly no longer the under-bidder. I have no idea what the high bid is (it might be $160). I do know there are at least a few lots with already respectable openings where the high bid is quite a bit higher than the current opener. There are also many lots which may or may not have one bid but still show as opening at $2 because there is only one bid on the lot. Here are three groups (and I could have chosen many) which deserve more consideration — and bids — from our customers.

1868-1875 ½c to 15c Large Queen issue, basic set of 9 different values in matched horizontal pairs, used with a variety of cancels including four with cds cancels, the ½c is on thin crisp paper, overall fine-very fine but we note small faults on the 12½c. A difficult group to assemble. Unitrade CV$1940.

A nice complete set of Large Queens in pairs is actually quite difficult to assemble. This lot and from the same consignor Lot 155 which is pairs of the Small Queens are two of the early lots which deserve better than an opening of $2.

Alberta Hunting Stamps 1964-1994, 63 stamps, 26 different. Most are for resident big game, deer, elk, moose and game birds. All used, in mixed condition, as they were affixed to licenses. Listed, but unpriced by Van Dam, largely due to their scarcity. Estimate $750.

A well-researched and extensive book on wildlife and conservation stamps will soon be published. It will open up a whole new area to consider collecting and add many hundreds of items to the listings of modern Conservation stamps which already receive a good philatelic following. Here is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor with this lot. It too deserves better than $2.

1992 43c Flag over Field, Leigh-Mardon printing, double printed grey cast. During a normal printing run of a high speed web press a double printing is impossible. However in preparation for the high speed press a “make-ready” is often fed through to check for ink registration. On this occasion a make-ready was fed through the press twice resulting in a weak impression and overlaying that with a normal strong impression. Normally make-readys would be destroyed but on this occasion two double printed panes were packaged, sent to Canada Post and sold to an Ottawa resident, who then, upon noticing the variety, sold the top blocks of 20. It is these two blocks of 20 with the doubling most pronounced upon which the Unitrade listing and valuation has been established. This part pane has a double printing with a grey cast. Mint never hinged, very fine. Unitrade CV $160,000. See also Lot 436 (block of 12 with the brown cast, the largest multiple from the top two rows) and Lot 438 (block of 80 with the brown cast).

With a catalogue value of $344,000 for these three lots there will obviously be lots of floor bidding if the opening remains at a paltry $2.

There are many more lows with a few days remaining. The opening bids can be easily accessed through this link to our listing on Stamp Auction Network. Once you see our Auction, click on the button at top left that says Opening Bids.

Catalogue Changes

July 24, 2020June 15, 2011 by Sparks Auctions

We are often asked why we sometimes use an estimate and other times a catalogue value in our auction descriptions. Obviously a carton of thousands of inexpensive stamps which would take weeks to catalogue will be estimated. A high percentage of large lots and also postal history have an estimate rather than a catalogue value. This estimate is what we feel is the likely result IF there is reasonable competition. Sometimes there is very little competition for a lot and it sells well below our estimate; other times there is keen competition and it might sell for a large multiple of the estimate (see our comments after Auction 7 for more details).

Most single stamps or sets as well as some larger lots quote a catalogue value. It is important when planning your bids to understand that the catalogue value is a suggested retail (not auction) price of a single stamp in very fine condition. Doing research on the distinctions and criteria for very fine will let you understand why a fair market price can range from less than 10 percent of catalogue to a multiple of catalogue.

With about a week to go one lot will already open at exactly 10 times the catalogue value; another lot is languishing with an opening bid of significantly less than one percent of the catalogue value. Three reasons why a lot might sell for a tiny fraction of catalogue value are:

the lot contains faulty stamps
a large percentage of the catalogue value is comprised of inexpensive stamps where a retail price is essentially a handling charge
there is a lot of duplication especially if the duplication is of uninteresting stamps.

Something else to consider is that catalogue values can change dramatically. Many of the best items of the People’s Republic of China doubled in price between the 2011 Scott Catalogue and the 2012 which came out about 5 weeks ago. We have just received Volume Three which covers the alphabetical listing from G to I countries. In the new catalogue, for example, many of the classic Great Britain stamps have increased by about five percent. That might not affect your bidding very much but several have increased by more than 10 percent.

Lot 801 — We wrote about this in a previous posting. The catalogue value of a mint Penny Black has jumped 20% from $7500 to $9000. This reflects a jump in demand, especially from China.

Lot 824 has seen a rise from $1000 to $1200.

Lot 826 has seen a rise from $1300 to $1500.

There are certain to be other increases (and possibly a few decreases).

Certainty and Certificates

July 24, 2020June 13, 2011 by Ian

The great majority of all stamps can be identified with certainty. When one comes across a stamp which raises questions, however, certainty is often difficult. Questions may concern the catalogue number, whether genuine or not, with or without original gum, with or without postmark, evidence of alterations or repairs, etc. A certificate from a recognized authority can often answer these questions. Certificates are prepared by humans, however, and mistakes can be made between a determination of genuine and not (in either direction!).

Generally speaking one should prefer an opinion which is unequivocal — “is genuine in all respects” or “is a forgery” usually settles the matter. “Appears genuine as far as one can tell” or “no opinion” does not help much. Whole books have been written on the subject.

With this background in mind, we’ll look at two lots in our current auction. Both have certificates from the VG Greene Foundation which is the pre-eminent expert committee for the stamps of Canada and British North America.

1851 3d red Beaver on laid paper, used with three jumbo margins and fourth well clear of outer frameline. 1978 Greene Foundation certificate mentions a “small hole” which is a pinhole not on this stamp, or in the margin but in the portion showing the next stamp at top right. A very fine example of Canada’s first stamp. Unitrade CV$1600.

A careful reading of our description explains how we interpret the rather unflattering description reading “small hole.” This is an example of a harsh Certificate. A Certificate which might be ambiguous about whether the gum is original would be an example of a generous Certificate. Generally speaking, the Greene Foundation is more likely to give a harsh rather than a generous Certificate.

1860 2c lilac, pair one bisected on cover From a new find, backstamped Liverpool, NS APR.22.1868. As the Large Queen issue was introduced in April 1868, many postmasters wished to use up the old Nova Scotia stamps. Three cents was the new Dominion rate. In 2010 the Greene Foundation wrote “the item could be genuine but the lack of a cancel tying the bisect line to cover prevents us from giving an opinion.” Not noted by the Greene Foundation was the lack of evidence of a scoreline in the event someone has used a scalpel or knife to create a bisect and also a faint staining which ties the bisect to the cover. Envelope has a stain and is damaged in upper left and lower left corners. Both stamps have some damage. Unitrade CV$3500.

Here is another example of a lot where we added commentary to the description. I concur with the opinion of perhaps the foremost authority on Nova Scotia postal history that this is genuine. Both of us have examined it thoroughly and have the oral evidence of it being a new find (see also Lot 1269). An April 22 date (the new Dominion stamps were first available April 1) and the fact of a 50% increase in postage at the same time for an in-county Nova Scotia letter suggests that no respectable and frugal correspondent would voluntarily put two of his old colonial stamps on a letter.

However all that background is lost once this envelope changes hands several times. The faint stain which ties the bisect is evidence when the envelope first surfaces but hardly evidence decades from now. The Greene Foundation did not err with its “no opinion.”

For some items a collector has to live without absolute certainty.

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.