Lot 882 Cape of Good Hope 1890 Cover Addressed to “The Highly Honoured and Well Renowned and Famous Queen A. Victoria,” mailed from Robertson, Cape of Good Hope on JAN.21.1890 (free strike of c.d.s.), with four strikes of #25 grid obliterator canceling four 1d stamps (folded over top, and paying the 4d rate in effect from 1888-1890) and addressed 146 Queen Victoria Street, London, England. Back has a Cape Town JA.22 c.d.s. and London FE.10 receiver. According to Charles Verge, former RPSC President, “all covers addressed to Queen Victoria were to be stored with their correspondence unless the Queen gave her Ladies in Waiting special permission to keep them, and very few are in public hands.” Bit of overall toning, still very fine. A rare cover, the first we have handled, and would be a great addition to any royalty or Cape of Good Hope collection. Estimate C$150.
Sparks Auctions
Lot 249, Canada eight cent blue grey Small Queen horizontal imperf pair, VF Mint
Lot 249 Canada #44d 1895 8c blue grey Small Queen Imperforate, a mint hinged horizontal pair, very fine and scarce. ex-John Hillson. Unitrade CV$1,000.
Lot 1744, Canada 1918 25c red and black Aero Club of Canada Toronto to Ottawa, mint hinged tête-bêche pair
Lot 1744 Canada #CLP2 1918 25c red and black Aero Club of Canada Toronto to Ottawa Flight, a mint hinged tête-bêche pair, quite fresh and very fine. Unitrade CV$1,750.
Lot 99, Canada 1885 two cent Small Queen bisect on Halifax cover
Lot 99 Canada #36c 1885 2c Small Queen Bisect on Cover, mailed from Halifax (duplex dated NOV.30.1885) and addressed locally, franked with a 2c stamp bisected in half vertically (and properly tied) to pay the 1c drop letter rate, contrary to regulations. Tiny opening tears at top and partially slit open at sides, still a very fine example of this scarce usage. From the John Hillson Collections, illustrated on page 55 of The Small Queens of Canada (Revised Second Edition) by John Hillson as well as in H&N, page 57. Very similar to another cover mailed two days earlier in Halifax illustrated in Canada’s Small Queen Era 1870-1897 by George B. Arfken. Unitrade CV$3,000.
Lot 652, Canada 1899 twelve cent “AR” registered cover Montreal to New Orleans
Lot 652 Canada #76, 79 1899 12c “AR” Registered Cover to New Orleans, mailed Montreal (squared circle precursor AUG.9.1899) to New Orleans Louisiana (AUG.13 receiver on front), franked with two 5c plus a 2c purple Numerals (paying 2c postage, 5c registration and 5c “avis de réception” or acknowledgement of receipt), stamps are tied by oval Rs and there is a rare free strike of an “AR” in circle. Stamps have faults and cover with small tears and light stains, still a rare and early AR cover. Ex. Liptak collection. Estimate C$300.