Sparks Auctions

Lot 1209 — 1832 Stampless Folded Letter Hallowell to Batavia NY, realized $1725

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Postal History can be a surprising category in an auction, with special qualities of receiver, route, cancellation etc. adding value unpredictably. This cover did so well we are not going to disclose our published pre-sale estimate!

Lot 1209

Lot 1209 CVR 1832 Hallowell to Batavia NY Stampless Folded Letter. Left Hallowell NOV.20 (red broken circle, manuscript dated – earliest unrecorded date), went through Kingston (NOV.23), then likely Cape Vincent. This cover bears a rare “BRIT’H POSTAGE PAID U STATES Do PAID” rate handstamp in black alongside the manuscript rates. Very fine and written-up on exhibit page. SOLD for $1,500 plus premium.

Sale #12 Prices Realized, Shipping & Pickup

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We are working hard to organize the great bulk of lots from last night’s very successful conclusion to our twelfth public auction. Prices Realized are on Stamp Auction Network, or at this link.

Much of the material will be ready for invoicing and shipping early next week. Local Ottawa bidders can pick up their winnings on Weds. April 10th at 62 Sparks Street between 10:00am-5:00pm.

Prices in postal history, worldwide and the Canada mint sheets were quite strong. We will start featuring some of the better realizations on Monday.

Diefenbaker Memorabilia

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Despite a slow start with the sound yesterday, we managed to pick things up and broadcast as normal from about 11:30 onwards. We thank our bidders in the classic Canada section for their patience while we “ran silent.”

We start today with Commonwealth at 10:00am, followed by Worldwide, Postal History and then Lots & Collections.

Dief & PETWell toward the end of the sale is a section of ancillary material from an excellent Canada consignment. These are letters, photos, keepsakes and other memorabilia of Canada’s thirteenth Prime Minister, The Right Honourable
John Diefenbaker.

Included in lots 1747-1754 are hand- and typewritten correspondence from Diefenbaker, handwritten letters from his wife Olive to Diefenbaker’s personal secretary Iris Axford, official or candid photographs of “Dief” in ceremonial and family situations, etc.

Very interesting material and a bit out of the ordinary for us.

Auction Day — New provincial taxes and featured lots

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Our twelfth public sale begins at 10:00am EDT today. New rules for Canada harmonized tax calculations in Prince Edward Island and British Columbia have prompted us to make featured lots of some stamps from those jurisdictions.

BC #10Lot 726 British Columbia #10 1869 10c on 3d lilac rose Perf. 14 Surcharge, mint hinged with original gum and fine. A nice stamp. Unitrade CV$2,400.

PEI #2Lot 775 Prince Edward Island #2 1861 3d blue Queen Victoria Perf 9, used with grid cancel, well centered among large margins and very fine. Unitrade $900.

Lot 755 — Nova Scotia three pence dark blue heraldic, unused no gum

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With the auction a day away, we can’t resist highlighting another item from the strongest British North America section we’ve ever had:

Nova Scotia #3 unused no gum

Lot 755 Nova Scotia #3 1857 3d dark blue Heraldic, unused (no gum), with bright colour and four margins. Very fine. Accompanied by 2013 Greene Foundation certificate. Unitrade CV$2,200.