Lot 756, Canada 1929 fifty cent dark blue Bluenose with “Man on the Mast” variety, XF NH, sold for C$8,775

Lot 756, Canada 1929 fifty cent dark blue Bluenose with "Man on the Mast" variety, XF NHLot 756, Canada 1929 fifty cent dark blue Bluenose with "Man on the Mast" variety, XF NHLot 756 Canada #158iii 1929 50c Dark Blue Bluenose with “Man on the Mast” Variety, mint never hinged, with pristine, immaculate gum, fresh colour and great centering, extremely fine. Widely believed to be the finest known example of the scarce and popular variety; this stamp has broken records whenever it is offered on the market. One of the gems of this collection.

Ex Dennis Dunn collection
Accompanied by a 1991 Greene Foundation certificate.
Unitrade CV$6,000, sold for C$7,500
plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Varieties Noted

Two years ago Sparks Auctions was pleased to offer the discovery example of the 1946 Hydro Electric Station imperforate at right margin. It was a lower right plate block which is now listed and illustrated in the Unitrade Catalogue. In this auction we offer the second known example almost certainly from the same sheet. The example in this auction is a used single with a small fault which will sell as Lot 388.

Canada #270var
Lot 388 -- Canada #270var

Canada #270 1946 14c black brown hydroelectric Station imperforate at right margin, used, with part cds cancel. One pulled perf at top, fine. Catalogue value is for fine mint and was based on the sale of the unique plate block we discovered in 2009, and likely this is the unique used example, ex. “Trillium” Collection. Unitrade CV$2500.

This means there are likely to be seven more either mint or used examples awaiting discovery.

Many other varieties are harder to spot. I was looking at some lots for the future auction #9 this morning. In one lot there are dozens of used Bluenoses. One of the popular varieties of this stamp inspired the central storyline for a Tommy Tricker movie about twenty years ago. Did I look for the “Man on the Mast?”  No, and I sometimes wonder how many varieties are not noticed during the lotting process because of laziness or time pressure or lack of knowledge. It certainly gives anyone a bit of a thrill to find a celebrated variety. Here are three that we offer in this auction:

Canada #158iii
Lot 340 -- Canada #158iii

Canada #158iii 1929 50¢ Bluenose Man on the Mast, used with postmark well clear of the variety, very fine. A key used stamp for the variety collector. Unitrade CV$1500

Canada #208i
Lot 361 -- Canada #208i

Canada #208i 1934 3¢ Cartier with “burr on shoulder” variety, used, fine. Unitrade CV$60

Canada #208ii
Lot 362 -- Canada #208ii

Canada #208ii 1934 3¢ Cartier with “scarface” variety, used, fine-very fine. Unitrade CV$75