small queen

Auction 7 Followup #2 — A Strong Realization, and Re-Capping Highlights #1 & #2

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At Sparks Auctions we try to cover worldwide stamps.  When offering something out of the ordinary, even the most experienced describers can be surprised at the level of demand.  Lot 719 is one which we fully appreciated the rarity of an imprint block and yet were still pleasantly surprised with the realization.  If this lot was merely four hinged stamps with less than VF centering, it would have struggled to reach $250.

Lot 719 Canada #OX1 1879 yellow brown Officially Sealed stamp, right margin block of four showing full imprint, mint with full original gum, hinged and with some separation which was sensibly reinforced. We do not recall seeing another imprint block of this issue. A great opportunity for the specialist to acquire an important and potentially unique imprint block. It is often forgotten that this stamp was issued during the Small Queen era. Estimate $2000; realized $3680.

Although there were only 5 advance bids this lot opened very strongly at $2400, and then an agent on the floor took the lot right up to the top bid in the book of $3200.

ABOUT ADVANCE BIDS

We receive advance bids in the traditional auction ways by mail, fax, telephone, email, and hand delivered.  While we are recording these, many other bidders are using the services of Stamp Auction Network.  Hundreds of bids are received in the few minutes before the start as potential buyers check out opening bids.  Only after we print out the bidbook about two minutes before the start of each session do we see all the bids and the highest bid prior to calling the lot.  We (and our consignors) then hope for strong competition on the floor or live through the internet.

RECAPPING PRE-AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS 1 & 2

Our first highlight was the Boy Scout stamps on offer.  Lot 958 — the 21mm wide Baden Powell Scott #180 — had a pre-sale estimate of $750, received 5 advance bids, opened at $625 and sold for $725; just under our estimate despite a higher advance bid.  The Boy Scout collection in 16 volumes was right at the end of the sale as Lot 2052, opened at $1600 and sold for $1800, just under the top bid of the successful buyer who purchased both lots.

Our second highlight featured fancy cancels on Canadian stamps.  Lot 294 a lovely postmark on an inexpensive stamp was estimated by us to sell for $40. It opened at $95 and sold to the book after floor bidding at $120.  A mixed lot of fancy cancels, Lot 1558, was estimated by us at $250, had 6 advance bids opening at $210 and sold to the floor for $275.

Lot 294 Canada #35 Used 1889 1¢ yellow Small Queen, selected used with perfect strike of fancy “C” in twin rings cancel from Ottawa House of Commons, very fine. Estimate $40; realized $138.

Highlight #12 — What Appeals To You? (Part 2)

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Sparks Auctions will have hundreds of bidders who will, we hope, place thousands of bids. Very, very few lots get multiple bids from different bidders. Some expensive lots will receive a number of bids from people realizing that, for example, $2000 in usable postage is a steal at only $2; so bids of $10, 20, 50, 100, 200 etc. might be placed. Other lots of real value might slip by the attention of most potential bidders and sell well below their real value. That is where placing lots of bids (perhaps combined with a limit on purchases) can result in picking up bargains.

And we have a exceptionally diverse group of lots and collections on offer. We offer collections from dozens of countries. Our usual offerings of extensive collections of Canada and to a lesser extent Great Britain and USA are tempting. There are strong collections of Barbados, Bermuda, Cuba, Fiji, France, Germany, Monaco, and New Zealand, to name a few. There are many others with a greater or lesser degree of specialization. Lot 1986 may very well be under-described because so many of the identified varieties are not Scott listed.

Lot 1986 — Eastern Europe 1860s-1960s Mint/Used Collections of Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia housed in three volumes, plus Poland, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Russia and Yugoslavia. Owner has identified stamps according to perfs, papers and watermarks which have not been verified by us. Some light duplication, average condition, some stamps affected by poor storage. Despite these negative comments, if you have an interest in this area, you will want to thoroughly inspect this lot as it contains many scarcer issues. Estimate $500.

Many collections are found in old albums dating from the 1800s to the period between the World Wars. Two examples are:

Lot 1957 — Four old-time albums, with two Scott Junior Internationals to about 1915, a Scott album circa 1900 and an Yvert and Tellier blank album with a few stamps from the 1920s. The first 2 each contain hundreds of stamps, though U.S.A. is stripped in each and Great Britain in one. We note quantities of early China and a few interesting covers. Condition varies. If you only have time to view one lot, this would be a good choice. Overall mostly about fine. Estimate $250.

Lot 1962 — 1896 Excelsior Album 1840-1908. Apparently never added to or stripped out since about 1908 with many hundreds of classic stamps, strong, as expected, in the European countries, U.S.A. and Canada (1897 Jubilees to $1 unused but stuck down). Strength is in used which are hinged and typically have fresh colour and some postmark interest. A good representation from smaller British Commonwealth and some other smaller countries. Condition mixed as always in a collection of this kind. Estimate $750.

There are multi-album collections like Lot 1758, a 26-volume collection of British Commonwealth. There are accumulations found in bundleware Lot 1515 (with about one million stamps), and others in file drawers like Lot 1950, or still in envelopes like Lot 1928.

Lot 1928 — Collector’s worldwide accumulation, organized by country in envelopes mostly mint with some used throughout. An interesting accumulation filling half a large carton. Many stamps are in sets. We note the following: 1956 Jamaica definitive set, 1902-1903 Labuan crown set, 1935 st. Helena Silver Jubilee set, 1903 St. Kitts-Nevis first issue, a few French imperfs from the 1980s, 1937-1940 French Equatorial Africa pictorials, 1929-1940 French Guiana pictorials, 1938 Bahamas KGVI definitives, 1953 British Honduras QEII pictorial definitives, 1968 B.I.O.T. pictorial definitives and many more. Also includes a large envelope with the following: Gutter pairs from around the world, 1973 Princess Anne’s Wedding, 1972 QEII Silver Wedding Anniversary, 1978 25th Anniversary of QEII Coronation and the 1980 Queen Mothers 80th Birthday. A great selection of stamps. Estimate $500.

We have a Post Office sign in Lot 2114, any of several cartons of literature, topical and thematic collections, and many lots of useable postage. We think there is something for everyone; but if we made that claim too loudly then we would hear how we don’t have kiloware from the Malagasy Republic, or classic Mongolia on cover!

One final group is the 35 collections from the Lindhurst consignment which are written up in the catalogue on page 133. Unfortunately this text does not appear in the online catalogue but you can read the text by clicking on this link. Postal history lots 1387 and 1469 are also from the Lindhurst consignment.

Highlight #2 — “C in Circle” postmarks

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The scarce "C in circle" postmark is found on more than 20 stamps spread over 6 lots in the first session.  It is found on Large Queens (Lot 281), Small Queens (Lots 281, 294, 315, and 321) as well as the 1897 Leaf (Lot 371) and 1898 Numeral Issue (Lot 391).

LOT 294 — CANADA #35 1889 1¢ yellow Small Queen, selected used with perfect strike of fancy "C" in twin rings cancel from Ottawa House of Commons, very fine. Estimate $40.

Many other postmark specialties can be found throughout the catalogue for Canada and worldwide. A sample of the Canadian ones includes Lots 1514, 1558, 1603, and 1644 to 1655.

LOT 1558 Canada Collections — Queen Victoria era group selected for cancels, mostly Large and Small Queens and some registered mail stamps. A wonderful selection for the collector interested in postmarks. There are over 130 Small Queens, mostly 2¢ and 3¢ values, but with high values to 10¢ and 8 Large Queens. Better items noted including 3¢ Large Queen with #43 2-ring, 15¢ Large Queen with Halifax straight line, 3¢ Small Queen with fancy "EM" cancel, 5¢ RLS with K in 2-ring from Kentville, two blocks of 3¢ Small Queens. Inspect for other better and interesting items. Estimate $250.

Lot 1531, Canada collection of fancy cancels — Realized $1150

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Another Canada collection, this one with scans, which obviously held treasures for those who took time to view it thoroughly.

Canada Collection of fancy cancellations in two binders, a better than average collection with over 1,400 mostly Small Queens (virtually all 3¢ value). We noted many coloured cancels, good quantity of better early shades and a wide variety of cancels with not much duplication. Many cancels are illustrated with D&S numbers. A very clean collection and rarely offered in this extensive a lot. Condition generally fresh and fine or better. Estimate $500, sold for $1000 hammer.

Lot 1539, Canada Collection, Estimated $750 — Realized $2185

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This was one that rewarded further inspection: Collection of CDS cancellations in three binders, an above average quality collection of over 4,250 stamps from Small Queens (great majority) to 1950s. Large portion are socked on the nose, fully dated cancels. Noted small Prince Edward County collection, cancels from most provinces. A nice collection. Estimate $750, hammer price $1900.

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