Lot 246 Canada #2152b var 2003, 89c 150th Anniversary of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, complete booklet missing all die-cuts, a striking and very scarce modern error, notably rarer than the pane of four listed in Unitrade at $2,000, this complete booklet offering greater visual and philatelic appeal, very fine. Unitrade CV$4,000, sold for C$3,800.00 plus 18% buyer’s premium.
Lot 348, Canada 1913 $500 black and green Chinese Immigration Tax Certificate, sold for C$6,136
Lot 348 Canada #FHT1 1913 (July 16), $500 black and green Chinese Immigration Act tax certificate, commonly known as a “Chinese Head Tax” certificate, number 77212 issued at Vancouver, bearing the embossed seal of the Immigration Office and an oval purple handstamp reading “Dominion Immigration Agent / July 16, 1913 / Vancouver P O”, with manuscript signature of the Controller of Chinese Immigration, all tying an affixed portrait of the applicant secured with a metal grommet, a powerful artifact of Canada’s exclusionary immigration policies toward Chinese nationals in the early 20th century; as these documents were required to be presented upon demand, the certificate exhibits expected multiple folds and some edge wear, still remarkably well-preserved and exceptionally rare.Under the Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 and its subsequent amendments, Chinese immigrants were required to pay an increasingly punitive entry tax, reaching $500 by 1903, a sum equivalent to more than two years’ wages for a labourer, in an attempt to restrict Chinese settlement in Canada. Ex-Simone Collection. Estimate C$3,500, sold for C$5,200.00 plus 18% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1252, Spain 1850/1868 Queen Isabella II collection, sold for C$3,068
Lot 1252 Spain 1850/1868, Isabella II in-depth collection, of mostly used examples, neatly presented and annotated on album pages, used unless otherwise noted, beginning with the 1850 Isabella II issues, including 6c black (x6) with both Type I and Type II as well as various paper types, 12c lilac, 6r blue, and 10r green (appears unused, but significantly repaired and rebacked), 1851 6c black (x5) including a thick paper example, 12c lilac (x2), 6r blue, and 10r green, 1852 Isabella II issues including two 5r yellowish green and single 6r greenish blue, 1853 issues including 5r light green and three 6r deep blue, 1854 Arms of Madrid with a range of shades of the 4c, note also 2r scarlet (x2), 5r green (x2), and 6r blue (x2), further range of approximately 200 singles from the 1855 imperforate through the 1868 perforated issues, with better including the 1860 imperforate 19c brown on buff, 1865 perforated 2c rose red and 1r yellow green, 1866 19c brown, condition varies, with flaws to be expected including on the higher-cataloguing items, some dubious examples also noted, but a broader holding of these early issues than often seen written-up by a collector with an eye for detail, a high-cataloguing collection of generally fine appearance, ideal for the specialist. Estimate C$500, sold for C$2,600.00 plus 18% buyer’s premium.
Spring General Sale 53 Has Finished
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.
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Lot 828, Italy 1923 BLP overprints on registered advertising cover to Firenze
Spring Sale #53 continues today with Postal History.
Lot 828 Italy 1923 (July 16), BLP overprints on registered BLP advertising cover to Firenze, franked with pairs of 10c claret and 40c brown, each overprinted with blue BLP (11mm) overprint, tied by multiple strikes of Firenzuola c.d.s., with black-on-white Firenzuola registration label on front, addressed to Firenze with c.d.s. receiver (17 Jul) on reverse, minor edge wear, very fine; an extremely rare franking and highly desirable BLP usage. (Sc. #B5(x2), B8(x2); Sass. #B5, B8) Estimate C$2,000.