Lot 179 — Canada 1890s six cent red brown Small Queen, mint with double impression in top selvedge

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Lot 179Lot 179 1890s 6c red brown, mint with sheet selvedge at top showing a dramatic double impression of whole top of stamp, including CANADA POSTAGE printed on selvedge. Full shiny gum, never hinged and very well centered. The stamp has a minor diagonal gum bend, mentioned for strict accuracy which does not detract from this stunning error. Superb eye appeal, very fine and quite possibly unique. Accompanied by a 2014 Greene Foundation certificate (not mentioning the gum bend). (Unitrade 43 variety)

Two examples of the 6c red brown exist with doubling at the bottom of the design which is not as major or prominent as the doubling at the top of the stamp offered here.
Estimate $3,000

Lot 227 — Canada 1891-94 ten cent rose carmine Small Queen, mint

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Lot 227Lot 227 Canada 1891-94 10c rose carmine, mint with sheet selvedge at top showing part of the plate imprint, perfectly centered among four large, even margins. Full original gum, never hinged. Extremely fine and desirable. Accompanied by 1990 and 2014 Greene Foundation certificates. (Unitrade 45a)

Our search for a finer never hinged example of the 10c value has failed to identify a stamp which rivals this stamp in terms of overall quality. This stamp is an absolute “must have” for the collector who is looking to assemble a collection of the finest stamps of Canada.
Unitrade CV$2,700

Lot 39 — Canada 1879 one cent yellow Small Queen, mint NH block of nine

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Lot 39Lot 39 Canada 1879 1c yellow, perforated 11½x12, mint block of nine with full streaky, dull whitish gum, never hinged. Every stamp is very nicely centered and the block is quite fresh. Extremely fine, and as fine a block of this scarce printing as can be found, with very few larger blocks still remaining intact. Accompanied by 2007 Greene Foundation certificate. (Unitrade 35vii)

Provenance: Michael Roberts (2006)
Unitrade CV$16,200

Lot 102 — Canada 1870 three cent indian red Small Queen, unused

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Lot 102Lot 102 Canada 1870 3c Indian red, perforated 12½, unused (no gum), with deep, rich colour and a wonderfully fresh example of this rare mint stamp. Fine-very fine. Accompanied by 1986 Greene Foundation certificate. (Unitrade 37d)

Only eight mint or unused examples of the 3c perf 12½ are recorded. Taking into consideration the lovely colour, perforations and overall “bloom” of this stamp, this example is arguably the second finest example, with only the ex-Dr. Clare Jephcott and Bill Simpson example being finer (this stamp sold for $26,000+15% in 2014).

Provenance: Julian Smith (1986).
Unitrade CV$9,000

Lot 461 — Canada 1877 illustrated Small Queen cover to Portugal, rated 16 cents

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Lot 461Lot 461 Canada 1877 16c pre-UPU cover to Portugal, franked with 1c yellow orange, perforated 11½x12, and 5c olive green strip of three, all cancelled with neat target cancels, paying the old 16c pre-UPU letter rate. Mailed at Gaspé Basin, Qué. (FEB.28.1877) to Lisbon, Portugal (Mar. 27 receiver on back) via Québec (Mar. 7) and London, England (Mar. 21), and with FRANCA paid handstamp applied upon arrival in Portugal. For a period of three months (Oct. 1875 to Jan. 1876) the letter rate to Portugal was reduced from 28c to 16c, prior to being further reduced to 10c. This cover was mailed in the 10c rate period, but franked at the old 16c rate, probably due to the postmaster not being aware of the change, or the sender wanting to ensure that the cover was sent fully prepaid. A lovely and clean cover, with illustrated advertising from John LeBouthillier & Co. depicting drying cod fish, pristine and extremely fine. (Unitrade 35d, 38)

This much-heralded cover has always been considered to be one of the most important and desirable Small Queen covers in existence due to the combination of a rare destination and rate, the rarity of illustrated pre-UPU covers, and the overall quality and attractiveness of the stamps and envelope. One of the highlights of the Cantor collection and a rare opportunity for a collector to become the next custodian of this fantastic cover which has graced several important Small Queen collections.

Provenance: Charles de Volpi (1966), “November” collection (1994), S.J. Menich (2000).

Illustrated in: Canada’s Small Queen Era 1870-1897 by George Arfken, p.321.
Estimate $6,000

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