twelve penny black

Lot 3, Canada #3 1851 mint 12d black Queen Victoria Imperforate on Laid Paper

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Today is the day. We are proud to facilitate the auction of this world-class stamp.

Lot 3, Canada #3 1851 mint 12d black Queen Victoria Imperforate on Laid PaperLot 3 Canada #3 1851 12d black Queen Victoria Imperforate on Laid Paper. The twelve penny was recognized from the earliest days of philately as rare and desirable. The Chalon portrait was copied by Bahamas, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia as well as other British Colonies.

This stamp was sold by Charles Phillips and was owned by Charles Lathrop Pack as the top stamp in a vertical pair. It is position 60 within a plate of 100. The pair was sold at auction in 1944 and again in 1959 but by 1976 it had been separated and received a Certificate from Herbert Bloch. With deep colour and a clear distinct impression, four large margins, full original gum lightly hinged, easily visible laid lines, fresh in all respects and a full sheet margin at right put this stamp in the first rank. Among the very fine mint twelve penny stamps, there are usually three which are regarded as being the most desirable. The full sheet margin of this gem compares favourably with another exceptional twelve penny, the Dale-Lichtenstein single from position 80 with an irregular sheet margin. As a result a number of advanced collectors confirm the opinion that the example from the Outaouais Collection is the most desirable and best of the best.

This stamp has three Certificates of Authenticity. These are from 1976 the Friedl Expert Committee, 1983 Greene Foundation, and 2013 Greene Foundation “Scott No. 3, mint, O.G., position 60, genuine in all respects.” From the Outaouais Collection.

2013 V. G. Greene Foundation certificate1983 V. G. Greene Foundation certificate1976 Friedl certificateUNITRADE #3 C$300,000
SCOTT #3 US$175,000
S.G. #4 £200,000

Provenance:
1944 Harmer, Rooke (New York) the “Charles Lathrop Pack Collection”, lot 26. Pair (from which this is the top stamp).
1959 Robert Siegel Auctions Lot 27, Pair (from which this is the top stamp).
1983 Harmers of New York Inc. “The Provenance Collection of BNA”, Lot 2062.
1997 Maresch & Son Sale 322, lot 102.

The “Charles Lathrop Pack Pair” is illustrated (Plate IV) and discussed in the 1911 edition of Canada Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery by Clifton A. Howes B. Sc, FRPSL. Illustration courtesy of Harmer, Rooke & Co. “Charles Lathrop Pack Collection” catalogue, December 6-8, 1944, Lot 26.

Lot 9, Canada 1851 12 penny black plate proof block of eight with Specimen overprint

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Lot 9, Canada 1851 12 penny black plate proof block of eight with Specimen overprintLot 9 Canada #3Pi 1851 12d black Queen Victoria Plate Proof, with Vertical SPECIMEN Overprint in Carmine, a lovely block of eight on card-mounted India paper, fresh and very fine. A stunning block, and certainly one of the great showpieces of Canadian philately. This item would certainly form the cornerstone of a proof collection. Unitrade CV C$20,000.

Welcome to Sparks Sale #25

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We are thrilled to announce our Public Auction #25, to take place on September 26th-27th, 2017 at our premises in Ottawa.

The highly anticipated offering of gems from the Outaouais Collection of Canada is of course the showpiece section of the sale, featuring a very fine mint #1 (three penny beaver), #2 (six pence Consort), and an exceptional mint #3 (twelve penny black Queen Victoria, the classic rarity). Sparks Auctions is honoured to have the privilege of offering these three stamps.

There is much else to highlight, including a rare block of eight of the 12d with vertical specimen overprint, a pair of 12d with diagonal specimen overprint as well as mint #4, #5 and many others. The strong Canada section continues through to a choice of modern errors and varieties. Canadian Revenue collectors will enjoy our several lots of rare Canadian Pacific Railways Telegraph and Bell Telephone Company booklets.

Our worldwide section is highlighted by a lovely mint collection of Great Britain, with many outstanding items, many British Commonwealth never hinged SPECIMEN perforated sets, and more. The popular worldwide lots and collections section is, as usual, chock full of single country collections, a lovely collection of used British Commonwealth, part one of an extensive worldwide collection formed by Dr. Dubé, plus several more worldwide collections, including the O’Meara old time collection in Scott Specialty albums.

There are just under 400 lots of Postal History, with several lots of quality dealer stock, some early US covers plus many Canadian postmark lots including:

  • a collection of New Brunswick town cancels
  • the Jim Miller collection of Orb cancellations
  • the Murray Marchant collection of 2-ring numeral cancellations
  • many lots of fancy cancellations.

Sale 25 is now live on Stamp Auction Network. Printed catalogues are in production and will be going out in the first week of September. PDF versions of the catalogue can be downloaded here on our site.

We will publish corrections, highlights of featured items, and more here on our site in the coming weeks.

We look forward to your participation in yet another great sale!

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