Sparks Auction #2 — June 6th & 7th, 2008

We are pleased to announce the dates for our second auction. It will be held on Friday June 6th and Saturday June 7th, 2008.

The auction offers nearly 2000 lots in Commonwealth, WorldWide, Canada, Postal History and Lots & Collections. Highlights include SouthWest Africa, Mafia Island and East Africa, lovely pence issues of Canada and B.N.A., Large and Small Queens, rarities and die proofs from King George VII and Queen Elizabeth II, back of the book and provinces, postal history (especially Nova Scotia), and featuring a magnificent De Pinedo cover of Newfoundland and a very large volume of lots and collections that despite the sheer size does not sacrifice quality.

We will use this space in the coming weeks to detail specific lots and tell more stories about the terrific items in this sale.

The catalogue is now at the printer and is expected to arrive back in our offices for mailing during the week of May 12th. We will have the catalogue PDF files on our site by that date as well, with the complete supplementary image galleries later in the same week. The auction will also appear on Stamp Auction Network for bidding soon after.

Please contact us if you would like to receive a copy of the printed catalogue, if you want to register to bid, or with any other questions.

Featured Item #14

Lot #77 Canada# 25P – Queen Victoria – 3¢ Red. Plate proof block of four in colour of issue on card mounted india paper.
Large margins all around. Plate proofs of the Large Queen issues are scarce and very few multiples remain. Research has failed to verify that another block of the 3¢ value exists (the Firth collection only contained a pair). Unitrade:$2400

Ian notes: "In the tenth feature below, I recounted an auctioneer’s claim. In those days it was a little more difficult to research scarce items. Also, we try to be very careful when making an assertion, hence the language ‘Research has failed to verify… etc.’ in this description. Regardless, making a claim like that is like a red flag. A long-time collector has very gently informed us that he has a block. Maybe a decade from now we will be able to offer a second block. Nevertheless, it is a rare and stunning addition to anyone’s collection (except one gentleman’s!)."