Lot 846 — 1933 Newfoundland Balbo Flight with inverted surcharge, repaired

Lot 846Lot 846 Newfoundland #C18a 1933 75c bistre Balbo Flight with Inverted $4.50 Surcharge, mint hinged (regummed), from a block of four which was officially destroyed, then later expertly repaired. Accompanied by a 2013 Sismondo certificate explaining in detail this repair and stating in part “…from Position 3 in the block, was formed by rejoining two parts (a right and a left part); but the lower-left corner was added from another stamp since the lower left corner of the original error stamp is still attached to the (officially destroyed) stamp from Position 1 in the block, which still survives…”. A true world rarity despite its condition, and SG notes that four copies were repaired and four remain intact. Their valuation of a repaired copy is £20,000. Unitrade $50,000.

Introduction to Auction #16

Sparks Auctions is pleased to announce our 16th Public Auction, to be held at our premises at 1550 Carling Avenue, Suite 202/203, Ottawa, Canada, on January 27-29, 2015.

Our January 2015 sale starts with a solid representation of top quality Canada classics, with three very fines among the three penny Beavers and several respectable mint examples included the thirty-one pence lots. The thirty-four lots of the 1859 are notable for eleven used blocks including the largest used multiple of the ten cent Consort, the very rare two cent, and three blocks of the 17 cent Cartier.

Dominion issues of Large and Small Queens offer quality singles, varieties, and even intact collections in sixty-three lots. The Late Victoria through Edward’s reign offers 200 lots with many never hinged, often extremely fine, examples of stamps which are scarce and sought after in this top condition.

The Summerhill Collection of Admiral Issues is one of consistently high quality in the offering of singles and multiples of this popular collecting field. The major re-entries, and the jumbos including MR4a are among the temptations. In addition to new discoveries and rarities the modern issues are anchored by two very fine Seaway Inverts, one never hinged and one used.

Lot 846Back of the Book include a strong selection of Official Plate Blocks with ‘missing periods.’ British North America offers more tantalizing gems especially a Jumbo Newfoundland number two, the equally scarce first issue one shilling and the very rare Balbo Flight Inverted Surcharge.

The Stanstead Collection offers nice, solid and consistent quality British Africa in 154 lots followed by more than one hundred lots of British Commonwealth with strength in Great Britain (five pound Orange), unused New Zealand number two, and especially a collection of Falkland Islands. USA number one kicks off a smaller than usual worldwide section.

Postal History has a wide range of Canadian and worldwide single covers, a thematic grouping of covers and a physically massive quantity of filled banker’s boxes with interesting commercial mail from several consignors. This will require more viewing than usual.

Bidders will find abundance in the Lots and Collections. The overall quality and breadth of these will be a daunting task to view so plan accordingly in order to secure the best of the bargains.

For the first time, our new location at Suite 203, 1550 Carling Avenue (actually accessed via Coldrey Avenue — check our map on the bidsheet and don’t use GPS) will be the venue for the auction. On site daily parking is available and bus service is convenient.

Beginning the week of January 5th, full-colour print catalogues will be mailed to regular customers, and are available by request for C$25. Digital PDF versions of the catalogue are available now for preview at:
http://sparks-auctions.com.
The auction will be posted to stampauctionnetwork.com before the New Year.

We look forward to your bids, and want to wish Happy Hannukah to our Jewish customers who are presently celebrating the Festival of Lights. We also wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best in health and collecting for the New Year 2015.

-Sparks Auctions
Ottawa, Canada

Auction #16 will take place on January 27-29, 2015

After organizing our new offices and getting comfortable, we are gearing up for an excellent sale in the new year. Most lotting is complete, and catalogue production will start very soon.

Our Canada & BNA offering has many highlights, including two Seaway Inverts (mint NH, and seldom seen used), a collection of plate block Officials including high values with missing periods, an XF unused Newfoundland #2, a 1933 bistre Balbo Flight with Inverted Surcharge.

Canada also features the lovely Summerhill Collection of Admirals. The owner made a point of collecting the very best quality of every Admiral listed in the Unitrade catalogue. All mint never hinged, fresh, very fine centered or better, in singles and often in blocks, including coil multiples. A few major re-entries (used) are also included.

The British Commonwealth is highlighted by the Stanstead Collection, primarily Africa to 1953. With consistently high quality, where used sets were available in nice condition, these were preferred. Overall the offering has very rich, deep colour. In some sets the high values are mint (sometimes never hinged), reflecting the owner’s wish to avoid used high values that may have had suspect cancels.

Commonwealth also includes a very nice Falkland Islands collection.

We continue to offer consistently good Postal History, with both individual and grouped lots, and many wide-ranging collections & accumulations of considerable volume that will reward inspection.

The auction will be held on January 27th, 28th and 29th, 2015 in our new premises at 1550 Carling Avenue, Suite 203, Ottawa. Catalogues will be mailed early in the new year, with posting on sparks-auctions.com and Stamp Auction Network at that time as well.

We have already amassed much material for a spring sale. Please contact us if you have anything you would like included.

-Sparks Auctions
Ottawa, Canada

Lot 1644 — Canada 1859-1952 used collection, sold for $2530

The exceptional quality in this used collection, brought some spirited bidding and yielded a handsome realization for the consignor.
Lot 1644Lot 1644 Canada #15-321 1859-1952 Collection of Selected Used in a Rapkin Album. A collection spanning many decades of selected attractive stamps, many with CDS postmarks. Noteworthy are the used blocks and coil strips including Scott # 141-8, 156-8, 177, 202-4, 208-10, 226-7, 241-5, 262 and 302. Some stamps represented with up to 20 examples. Overall very fine. Includes a small box with glassines of extras. Estimate $1000, sold for $2200 plus buyer’s premium.

Lot 1120 — 1891 Madagascar 5c to 1fr Numerals, sold for $207

This lot is another example where rare stamps find a market even when they are faulty. While not as impressive as the 15centimes Cérès head featured last month, this is still a strong result.

Lot 1120Lot 1120 Madagascar #8-12 1891 5c to 1fr Numerals, used with 1891 cds cancels, 5c with large thinned area, 10c and 25c have a pinhole each, else mostly fine. Scott CV$381, sold for $180 plus buyer’s premium.