Lot 115 Canada #95 1908, 50c purple King Edward VII, never hinged, a superbly-centred example, bright colour and post office fresh, rarely available in this quality, very fine; with 2024 Greene Foundation certificate. Unitrade CV$5,250, sold for C$10,000 plus 18% buyer’s premium.
Our Spring 2025 General Sale 53 is over. Prices Realized can be checked on our Stamp Auction Network listing or downloaded from this link. A number of unsold items are still available for purchase at the reserve price plus buyer’s premium, taxes and shipping; you can see the list here.
Invoices were sent out on June 17th by e-mail, please contact us if you were expecting an invoice and did not receive one. Local customers please note that we will be coordinating appointments for those who wish to pick up their lots. If you would rather have your lots shipped to you, e-mail or call us to make arrangements.
Our Mailing List is always the best way to find out the schedule of future auctions, updates, and other information about Sparks Auctions.
We are pleased to present our Spring 2025 auction, featuring our signature offering of stamps and postal history from Canada and around the world.
Our Canadian section includes a strong showing of proofs, among them the ever-popular “Dickens Head” and “Vikings Head” designs, alongside an extensive range of very fine singles and multiples from the reign of Queen Victoria through to modern errors and varieties. Small Queen specialists will find much to explore, with both individual items and collections including postmark studies and lifetime accumulations. The Admiral issue is particularly well-represented, with a notable selection of extremely fine examples, many accompanied by graded certificates—seldom encountered in this quality on today’s market.
We are especially pleased to introduce the first offering from the extraordinary “Simone Collection” of Canadian Revenues, one of the most comprehensive and refined holdings in existence, assembled over decades with a focus on both rarity and quality.
Lot 497 Great Britain #229a, 1935 2½d Prussian blue Silver Jubilee error of colour, lower sheet margin single, part original gum, with hinge remnant, nicely-centred and with fresh colour, a lovely example of this iconic rarity, with only four sheets having been printed, an ever-popular stamp of great desirability, and one of the most famous errors of British philately; with 1962 B.P.A. certificate. (S.G. 456a, £11,000), Scott CV U$13,500
We also continue to present material from the collection of the late Dr. Earle Covert, including additional Canadian tobacco tax stamps and an exceptional research group of Victorian postal stationery.
Our British Commonwealth and worldwide sections feature many attractive sets and singles, including the iconic 1933 Falkland Islands Centenary, high-quality Great Britain with a superb example of the elusive 1935 Silver Jubilee Prussian Blue error, and scarce varieties and re-entries from the acclaimed collection of noted expert Ralph Trimble, from whose collection we also offer many specialised lots and collections.
Postal history collectors will discover another fine selection of classic India, as well as early aviation and balloon mail, including covers signed by famed aviators such as Amelia Earhart, alongside military and disaster mail, Zeppelin items, and more.
The Lots and Collections section is rich with seldom-seen classic-era material, including noteworthy holdings from Belgium, the Italian States, Spain, and Switzerland—much of it drawn from a single, dedicated collector’s lifelong accumulation. For those who cannot view the sale in person, many of our larger lots are supported not only by extensive online photos but also by video walkthroughs offering complete views of their contents. As always, for full details on our approach to the conduct of the sale, we encourage all bidders to carefully review our Terms and Conditions before each auction.
We are now accepting consignments for our upcoming sales, including our traditional Autumn auction and the second of our dedicated Postal History sales. We welcome the opportunity to help you realise the full value of your philatelic collections, whether through consignment or direct sale.
Thank you for your interest in the auction, and best of luck with your bidding!
Lot 291 India 1865, 6a purple, cancelled with “B/1” octagon and blue “F.Casella & Co / Calcutta” merchant marking, to Naples, Italy, endorsed “per Str. Nubia” and “via Alexandria & Brindisi, Alexandria (6 Sep) transit c.d.s. on front, backstamped Calcutta Paid (3 Aug), Brindisi, and Napoli, reduced slightly at left, but a scarce franking. (S.G. 66) Estimate C$400-600, sold for C$1,450 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Our Spring 2025 Postal History sale is over, and you can find Prices Realized at this link.
Invoices were sent out the afternoon of Friday, April 4th by e-mail, please contact us if you were expecting an invoice and did not receive one. Local customers please note that we will be coordinating appointments for those who wish to pick up their lots. If you would rather have your lots shipped to you, please e-mail or call us.
Our Mailing List is always the best way to find out the schedule of future auctions, updates, and other information about Sparks Auctions.
Lot 291 India 1865, 6a purple, cancelled with “B/1” octagon and blue “F.Casella & Co / Calcutta” merchant marking, to Naples, Italy, endorsed “per Str. Nubia” and “via Alexandria & Brindisi, Alexandria (6 Sep) transit c.d.s. on front, backstamped Calcutta Paid (3 Aug), Brindisi, and Napoli, reduced slightly at left, but a scarce franking. (S.G. 66) Estimate C$400-600.Sparks Auctions is excited to announce its Spring 2025 Postal History Auction, featuring an outstanding selection of covers, postal stationery, and postcards from around the world. This sale marks the first in an ongoing series of dedicated postal history auctions, focusing on single covers from around the world. With over half of the lots opening at $100 or less, this auction presents an ideal opportunity to acquire quality covers, postcards, and postal stationery at a range of price points and it continues our international expansion with bidding possible on the two leading stamp auction platforms in North America and Europe – both catering to an international clientele.
This sale offers a diverse range of material, including:
Asia – with scarce frankings and unusual usages from China, Japan, Manchukuo, and Thailand.
British Commonwealth – from pre-stamp through King George VI, with a strong emphasis on Victorian-era India.
Canada & British North America – covering early manuscript markings to Second World War military mail.
Europe – featuring sought-after classic France and German States postal history.
Latin America – highlighting elusive material from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and beyond.
United States – including stampless covers, Civil War mail, illustrated advertising, Exposition covers, and more.
Zeppelins & Airships – with a desirable selection of Graf Zeppelin material and worldwide first flights.
This sale is now available for viewing and advance bidding on Stamp Auction Network and Philasearch. We will also welcome bidders on the floor (and by telephone) at our offices in Ottawa, Canada on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 starting at 10:00AM Eastern time.
Our Winter 2025 sale is over. Prices Realized can be checked on our Stamp Auction Network listing or downloaded from our site. A small number of unsold items are still available for purchase at the reserve price plus buyer’s premium, taxes and shipping; you can see the list here.
Invoices were sent out the morning of February 4th by e-mail, please contact us if you were expecting an invoice and did not receive one. Local customers please note that we will be coordinating appointments for those who wish to pick up their lots. If you would rather have your lots shipped to you, please e-mail or call us.
Our Mailing List is always the best way to find out the schedule of future auctions, updates, and other information about Sparks Auctions.
Lot 881 United States 1866 (April 30), illustrated Thorough Bred Spanish Merino Sheep cover and contents, to Bastrop, Texas, franked with 3c rose, Woodstock, Vermont segmented cork double circle cancel alongside, with corresponding c.d.s., the reverse and contents with lovely sheep illustrated advertising, a superb exhibit piece. (Sc. 65) Estimate C$150, sold for C$1,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
