Lot 49, Canada #28b pair with datestamp, realized $575

Canada #28b 1868 12½¢ deep blue Large Queen on thin paper, pair from an early printing with deep rich colour, and full early AP 20, 1868 Saint John datestamp, fresh and extremely fine. A lovely item for the connoisseur. Unitrade CV $360 Realized $575 including premium.

This pair with deep colour and the dated cancel truly earned the extremely fine designation. There were eight advance bids with the lot opening at $400 and selling for $500 to a bidder who is very happy to have purchased it. Incidentally, the owner originally consigned an even dozen Scott #28 as one lot. The other ten became Lot 47 and were sold for a respectable but very reasonable price of $325.  I doubt very much that as a lot of twelve stamps it would have received $825 in total.

Introduction to Auction #5

Once again, our Sale #5 of December 1, 2 & 3, 2009 is a well-rounded auction.

The Early Canada section includes the ten penny Cartier with a red postmark that complements the colour of the stamp (Lot 11); a pair of 12-1/2c Large Queens that is quite delightful (Lot 49); a two cent Small Queen with major re-entry (Lot 62); and the ten cent Leaf issue with dated cancel which is rare in this quality (Lot 143). There are numerous fresh, immaculate, extremely fine stamps, especially in the Admirals. We offer a very fine never hinged Inverted Seaway (Lot 425), and a Large Die Proof of the $1 Canadian Exports which appeals as a unique collectible (Lot 427).

British Commonwealth contains many rare and great stamps including a full pane of Antigua five shillings (Lot 729), and Western Australia deep colour centered Swan (Lot 752). There are many other tempting items in the Commonwealth section including South Australia proofs, British Honduras, and used blocks from South West Africa.

The dominant item in the Worldwide is the section on Bolivia. Despite some condition problems with a few lots, this group — as well as the stampless covers and later collections — will provide a chance to get a good start with many scarce items. The four lots of Iceland offer rarity and quality (Lots 999-1002). Israel #7-9 NH with tabs are also offered (Lot 1006).

There are many interesting and appealing lots in Postal History, one of the featured items being the Henry Hechler collection (Lot 1231), and an award-winning collection of airmail (Lots 1126-1212). An 1893 London Philatelist has the complete set of Die Plate Proofs from Prince Edward Island.

The final session of Lots & Collections is to be held on Thursday with about 250 lots. Virtually all are interesting, and offer an opportunity to buy such diverse items as a collector-made album, a carton, or even a bookshelf full of stamps!

Lot 714, Great Britain #95

Great Britain 1883 6d in carmine on 6d violet Queen Victoria block of 40, from positions KI-KL to TI-TL, showing the "slanting dots" variety in positions MI, PJ and SJ, as well as the "left dot only" variety in position OI, fresh and mint never hinged with fine or better centering, positions TK-TL are faulty. It is understood that this issue was overprinted in a setting of 40 onto blocks of 40 stamps and, as such, this pane of 40 is the largest possible multiple (only 2 panes of 40 have been recorded). A lovely showpiece in lovely quality. It should be noted that the catalogue values quoted are for hinged only with never hinged worth a significant premium, and no premium for the varieties in the Scott value. (SG #162, 162a £23,950 = $47,900, not counting the "left dot only" variety). Scott CV $21,000

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