A Traditional Philatelic Auction House — Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Sparks Auctions Our second feature for Victoria Day shows two nice Jubilee stamps, which honoured Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee of sixty years on the throne.
Lot 136 Canada #62 1897 $2 dark purple Jubilee, mint never hinged, very fine. Unitrade CV$6,000.
Lot 140 Canada #65 1897 $5 olive green Jubilee, mint never hinged with lightly disturbed gum (likely from storage), else very fine. Accompanied by a 2015 Greene Foundation certificate. Unitrade CV$6,000.
Today is the Victoria Day holiday in Canada, the traditional beginning of summer. So it is fitting that we feature Canada #8, the second Canadian stamp featuring the Queen’s portrait. (The first is of course the twelve penny black, Canada’s most expensive stamp.)
Lot 16 Canada #8 1857 ½d rose Queen Victoria, mint, with full never hinged original gum, with four margins, very fine. A few tiny toning spots on back do not detract from this rare stamp. Accompanied by a 2008 Richard Gratton AIEP certificate. Unitrade CV$2,800.
Lot 463 British Columbia #15 1869 10c on 3d lilac rose Heraldic Surcharge, Perforated 12½, mint, with full original hinged gum (tiny bit disturbed). Very nicely centered for issue, fine-very fine (catalogue value is for fine only). Accompanied by a 2013 Greene Foundation certificate. Unitrade CV$2,400.
Lot 744 Tasmania #1 1853 1d pale blue Queen Victoria on Soft Paper, used, with #6 in grid cancel. Dry printing at top, resulting in weak or non-existent outer frameline. Four full margins, fine-very fine. (SG 1, £1,500) Scott CV$1,350.
Lot 961 Greece #8a 1862 1l dark chocolate Hermes Head, Athens Printing, used, with #1 in lozenge of dots (Athens), four margins (close at right), very fine. Accompanied by a 2014 Sergio Sismondo certificate stating in part “the stamp presents an extraordinary plate flaw… located in the medallion, directly at upper right of the Hermean helmet.” Scott CV$1,325.