one cent yellow

Lot 48, 1886 pamphlet of Sir John A speech, franked with one cent yellow SQ, sold for $2530

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Lot 48Lot 48 1886 1c third class pamphlet rate, franked with 1c yellow, tied by a segmented cork cancel, paying the third class, less than 4oz pamphlet rate. Mailed from Ottawa, Ont. (undated) to Durham. This is a 23 page pamphlet with a copy of a speech given by Sir John A. MacDonald (then Prime Minister of Canada) to the “Workingman’s Liberal Conservative Association of Ottawa and Le Cercle Lafontaine” on the 8th of October, 1886. Stitch bound, with a bit of edge wear, still a rare publication and franking. (Unitrade 35)

A truly remarkable solo use of the 1c Small Queen on a rare and historically-significant document. This may well be the most exceptional domestic use of a single 1c Small Queen.

Estimate $750, sold for $2,200 plus buyer’s premium.

Lot 380, 1879 fifteen cent non-UPU SQ cover to Cape of Good Hope, sold for $5520

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Lot 380Lot 380 1879 15c non-UPU cover to Cape of Good Hope, franked with 1c yellow (pair and single), perforated 11½x12, plus two 6c dull brown, perforated 12 (small faults), all cancelled by light cork cancels, paying the 15c non-UPU letter rate. Mailed from Noel, NS (OCT.18.1879) to Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope (Nov. 28 receiver). With “50” (50 centimes) British claim in red, equivalent to 5d, or 10c. The cover has staining at upper right, fine. Cape of Good Hope is a very rare destination and this is the only known cover prepaying the 15c non-UPU rate, and is also the earliest recorded Small Queen cover to Cape of Good Hope. (Unitrade 35vii, 39d)

Provenance: Charles de Volpi (1966), Harry Lussey (1983), George Arfken (1997), Ted Nixon (2012).

Illustrated in: Canada’s Small Queen Era 1870-1897 by George Arkfen, p.352.
Estimate $3,500, sold for $4,800 plus buyer’s premium.

Lot 49, 1890s one cent yellow SQ bisect on newspaper, sold for $7130

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Lot 49Lot 49 1890s 1c yellow, diagonal bisect, tied by squared circle, paying the ½c domestic second class rate for transient newspapers. The Railway News newspaper masthead (folded), mailed from Fredericton, N.B. (NOV.8.1897) to Westmorland Street in Fredericton. A rare franking, which was authorized by the Canadian Post Office for the Fredericton Post Office between the dates of November 5th and 8th, at which time no ½c adhesives were available. Bit of wear due to the nature of the paper, still very fine and a desirable usage of the 1c stamp, with only six legitimate examples of this bisect having been recorded. A famous item, with great provenance. Accompanied by 1982 RPSL certificate. (Unitrade 35c)

Provenance: Dale-Lichtenstein (1970), Dr. Alan Selby (1993), “Jura” Collection (2007), Victor Willson (2013).

Illustrated in: The Postage Stamps and Postal History of Canada by Winthrop Boggs, p.303.
Unitrade CV$6,000, sold for $6,200 plus buyer’s premium.

Lot 54, One cent yellow SQ with segmented cork cancel, double impression, sold for $9200

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Lot 54Lot 54 Canada 1890s 1c yellow, used with clean segmented cork cancel showing a complete double impression of the whole design. The discovery example and only recorded example of this important and dramatic error. Arguably the best example of a double printed Small Queen stamp. Fine to very fine. Accompanied by a 2013 Greene Foundation certificate. (Unitrade 35 var)

This particular stamp was featured in an article co-authored by Danny Cantor and Geoff Browning published during 2013 in Confederation, the newsletter of the BNAPS Large and Small Queen study group.

Estimate $3000, sold for $8000 plus buyer’s premium.

Lot 39 — Canada 1879 one cent yellow Small Queen, mint NH block of nine

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Lot 39Lot 39 Canada 1879 1c yellow, perforated 11½x12, mint block of nine with full streaky, dull whitish gum, never hinged. Every stamp is very nicely centered and the block is quite fresh. Extremely fine, and as fine a block of this scarce printing as can be found, with very few larger blocks still remaining intact. Accompanied by 2007 Greene Foundation certificate. (Unitrade 35vii)

Provenance: Michael Roberts (2006)
Unitrade CV$16,200