Lots 1998 and 2012

One of the essentials in lotting is that every description should stand on its own and not be dependent on the preceding lot (except perhaps with two or more identical lots where the expression “as above” can safely be used). Lots 1998 and 2012 illustrate this.

Lot 1998 is one where perhaps the Commonwealth stamps should have been emphasized first. The individual stamps don’t catalogue as much as the Great Britain, but taken as a whole, the other Commonwealth is more appealing and more valuable than the British material, which is mostly used with typical commercial postmarks. We have added fifteen pages of scans to our image gallery to give a better idea of this lot.

Lot 2012 is owned by the same consignor. We have corrected the description where we used the misleading phrase “collector’s duplicates;” an expression that would only apply if the two lots were offered together, making it clear they are from the same owner. In this case, the “duplicates” are more accurately described as a second collection. Eight pages of new scans in our image gallery will show this lot to be more appealing than our initial catalogue description.

Please check our Image Gallery for hundreds of additional scans not found in the printed catalogue. These scans are enlarged 200-300% for detailed viewing. Many of the regular scans appear only on-line, as do all of the “A” and other “letter” scans. The Extra Scans section contains newer scans that do not appear on Stamp Auction Network or anywhere else. It is well worth checking these. Follow the links in this paragraph, or choose “Image Gallery” in the sidebar to the right or from the “Auction #9 pull-down menu above.

Sorting Cartons & Stockbooks

One of our earliest consignments came into Sparks Auctions right after our last sale. It was a lifetime accumulation in fifty-nine cartons. Some of the cartons were as small as an “archive” or “banker’s” box, but others were at least twice that size. There was a lovely Commonwealth Collection and an extensive collection of U.S. precancels. Unfortunately for our describers, many of the stockbooks were arranged somewhat haphazardly. We would find several pages of Channel Islands, followed by Falkland Islands, then used Canada blocks, and so on. Some of these were lotted as we received them; others we carefully re-arranged or took out single lots.

BCOF

As you can see, there were many interesting items in the stockbooks.

We spent time debating how to lot the U.S. precancels. I won’t spoil anyone’s anticipation but the lots deserve interest and inspection. Since then we have received several more lots from another consignor with tens of thousands more U.S. precancels.

Ian with boxes
Ian Choosing From Among 454 cartons

And as you can also see, we continue working on the 454 carton consignment!

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