Admiral

Canada Lots 308, 309 & 549—Rare Admiral Specimens

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These three Admiral lots do not carry a high catalogue value, but we expect they will attract interest for their rarity.

The first set is Lot 308 Canada #MR2B-D, 1915 5¢ to 50¢ Admiral War Tax set of 3, each stamp with purple "Sample" overprint applied diagonally, mint hinged (paper h.r.) with some adhesions, fine-very fine, the 5¢ with natural straight edge at top and 50¢ centered to right and with small gum thin. Only about 5 such sets have been recorded to date. Est $200. The second set (Lot 309) is the Inland Revenue MR2Bi-Di 1915 5¢ to 50¢ Admiral War Tax again in a set of 3, each stamp with purple "Sample" overprint applied diagonally, mint hinged (paper h.r.) with some faults, 5¢ badly thinned, 20¢ trivial scuff and gum loss, 50¢ with thins and gum bends. The first such set we can recall seeing (The Harry W. Lussey collection was missing this Specimen set). Est $200. And to complete the subject, we have Canada #FWT7/FWT16, 1915 War Tax issue (Lot 549), 8 different values (4¢ and 8¢ values are missing), each with purple "Sample" overprint applied diagonally, mint hinged (paper or heavy hinge remnants), some with adhesion on gum and 50¢ value with gum soak stain at left, but overall fine or better. A rare group of specimens with less than 10 of each value recorded to date. Est $150.

Introduction to Auction #4

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Our fourth public auction is now posted at StampAuctionNetwork.com.

This sale offers, especially in the Canada section, an exceptionally strong showing.  The first issues of the province of Canada have nice quality and are comprehensive.  The pence issues on laid paper are represented with singles and a pair of the three pence and six pence as well as a rare Die Proof of the twelve pence.  We can offer a six pence with original gum printed on wove paper, a rarity from the General Gill collection.  The other pence values are offered as single lots, usually in fine or better quality, as well as in lots in the average quality more usually found in many collections.

There are a number of interesting and selected lots in the Large and Small Queen sections. We note in particular a never hinged ten cent value from the Montreal printings.   Many advanced collectors have had this on their want lists for years.

The offering of 1897 Jubilees and other Victorian issues continues the Sparks Auctions trend of offering more quantity and quality with every auction. Edwards, QuÈbecs, especially Admirals and later issues through George VI will help collectors fill in gaps in their collections.

Queen Elizabeth era stamps start in spectacular fashion with a block of the Inverted Seaway.  The later varieties and errors are very very strong indeed.  The lots of back of the book stamps will excite many with the opportunity to buy 5-hole OHMS perfins, and rare revenues including overprint varieties.

British North America offers rarities such as the $1 British Columbia, PEI #2, Newfoundland classics and ending with the spectacular block of the inverted overprint on the Halifax airmail.

British Commonwealth is headlined by the full pane of the Great Britain 1883 6d on 6d overprint.  Interesting and scarce items and a few nice collections are found throughout this section.

The worldwide section offers 50 lots of USA as well as many lovely items, complete sets and unusual varieties not often found.

Postal History offers many lots as well as selected individual items such as a ten penny Cartier with a circular dated postmark and the very scarce Officially Sealed on blue paper.

Lots and collections again fill our 32 bookcases.  This auction the number which are in the higher price ranges is increased; while we still offer budget-priced cartons of fun.  Viewing will allow interested buyers to see the full value.

Our Next Sale

Already, in the one and a half weeks since we finished describing this sale, four new consignments have arrived.  A collection of Large Queens from Australia, a suitcase from an estate, a strong collection of Switzerland including postal history, and miscellaneous items including a previously unknown major Canadian error give us a good start on Auction 5.

We solicit your consignment for our next sale.  All material which is in our hands by August 31 will be included for a sale we hope to be able to schedule for late October.

VIEWING  

Saturday June 6th, 2009    10:00 am to 5:30 pm  
Saturday June 13th    10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Monday June 15th    10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Tuesday June 16th    10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesday June 17th    10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Admiral Flag Cancels, Lots 1006-1023 and 1072-1077

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One consignment from the West offers 24 lots of one of the best collections of Admiral issue flag cancels ever formed. The individual assembling this collection understood how rare some of these cancels are, and he helped set many record realizations in obtaining his better items. Some of these previous realizations are provided with the lot listings for information purposes, but generally the more conservative values shown in the 2007 edition of the Coutts’ Slogan Postmarks of Canada catalogue have been used for valuation. These lots represent a great opportunity for anyone interested in, or starting out in, the challenging field of Admiral postal history.

See lots 1006-1023, and 1072-1077 (lot 1019 shown above.)

Happy New Year and best wishes for health and prosperity in 2009 from Sparks Auctions!

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