Auction #9

February 21-23, 2012

Beautiful Blue

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The postal reforms initiated in Great Britain lowered rates significantly when the first postage stamps were issued. The two values of one penny and two pence were adequate for most mail within Great Britain. When a higher rate was indicated, usually a pair or a strip was sufficient. Blocks are scarcer than strips of four or more. Used blocks of the Penny Black are scarce, but any block of the two pence is rare indeed. The result is a very high catalogue value for this block, likely destined for an Exhibition Collection.

Great Britain #2 used block of fourLot 603 Great Britain #2 Used 1840 2p blue Victoria, block of four, with Maltese Cross cancels. Margins are large to clear all around and bright colour. A rare block with Bühler and Calves signatures on back. Very fine. Scott CV $22,500

The Description Says It All

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Now we wait to congratulate the successful bidder.

Canada #43 NH block of 30

Canada #43 6c Red Brown Small Queen Block of 30. A gorgeous and fresh, mint never hinged block (5 by 6) from centre of left sheet, showing full imprint in left selvedge. We note a particularly strong re-entry in position 24. Very fine as a block and with very light gum disturbance on seven stamps and small reinforcement between two stamps, all mentioned for the record. Quite possibly the second largest multiple extant and worthy of the finest collection. Catalogued as 23 never hinged and 7 hinged. Unitrade CV$22,800

Splendid Militaria

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Lot 1458The Collection of Captain Conrad Charles Viner represents a departure for us. The owner, a grandson, brought in a remarkable archive with some philatelic content. The potential intrigued us and we commissioned military postal history expert Ron McGuire to write up these lots. The extensive results are presented as lots 1449-1460; the more detailed commentary can be found on our site. This group is impressive. Will it attract bidders in a stamp auction?

Red on Red

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At the recent auction of the Danny Cantor Collection, the coloured cancels on pence issues were bid up to very strong realizations. In our last sale, a six penny with red target cancel sold for $3680. Here’s a stamp with similar characteristics which would, in the past, have found a home in the Cantor Collection.

Canada #8

Lot 16, Canada #8 1857 ½d rose Victoria, used with a bold red target cancel, deep colour, very fine. Unitrade C$1,000

Extensive Japan

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The late H. T. Mayeda was Member #2 of the International Society for Japanese Philately. He willed much of his collection, contained in more than twenty cartons, to the Society for reference and/or sale. Sparks Auctions was chosen to offer the balance. We are confident the family will be happy with the result.

 Scott Japan #435

Lot 1129, Scott #435 100y Blast Furnace watermark wavy lines, fresh block of four, mint never hinged, very fine. (Sakura Yen380,000 for hinged). Scott CV$2,400

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