Lot 495 Great Britain #181 1919, 10sh dull grey-blue Seahorses, Bradbury, Wilkinson printing, never hinged, exceptionally well-centred and fresh, a superior example of this popular issue, very fine. (S.G. 417, £850 as hinged). Scott U$975.
Lot 121, Canada Admiral Issue Experimental Essays
Lot 121 Canada #104var Admiral Issue Experimental Essays, 1c green and 1c red singles, perforated 11.9, lithographed, with portrait of Postmaster General Pelletier, adapted from the Admiral issue, with design changes including the Maple Leaf being substituted for Crowns at the upper corners, and POSTAGE substituted for CANADA POSTAGE, believed to have been supplied by Stanley Deville of the Post Office Department in Ottawa to Montreal stamp dealer Allan Brophy, originating from two blocks of six that were offered in the famed Nickle sale (Firby Auctions, January 1996, lot 83), there described as unique, quite striking, and an important piece of Canadian philatelic history.
In the 1996 Firby sale, the blocks were accompanied by a letter from Mr. Deville to Brophy, noting “Here are the experimental stamps I spoke to you about. The transfer stamps bear the portrait of Hon. L.P. Pelletier, then Postmaster General, and are an adaptation of the 1910 design. The idea was that the stamp could not drop off if put on by means of a transfer. It was turned down as impractical.” Estimate C$2,500.
Announcing Our Spring 2025 Auction
Welcome to the Sparks Auctions Spring 2025 Sale!
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.
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!
—The Sparks Auctions Team
Lot 413, Spain 1873 folded letter from Málaga to New York, sold for C$210
Lot 413 Spain #196 1873 (August 11), folded letter from Málaga to New York, franked with five 40c España definitive issues, tied by four rhombus-shaped small dot obliterators, with “MÁLAGA” double-circle datestamp alongside, red oval “P.D.” and manuscript “via England” route directive on front, Madrid Estafeta de Cambio (13 Aug) double-circle transit on back, red London Paid (18 Aug) single-circle transit, and blue-gray “NY STEAMSHIP 3” (31 Aug) single-circle handstamp on front, indicating 3c postage due, most likely carried on the Calabria of the Cunard Line, which departed Liverpool (19 Aug), Queenstown (20 Aug), and arrived in New York (30 Aug), some creasing, horizontal fold, else a fine transatlantic usage. (Sc. #196 (x5)). Sold for C$180.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 301, India 1878 official cover Bombay to London, sold for C$210
Lot 301 India 1878, 2a orange strip of three, tied to official cover from Bombay to London, the stamps perforated such that portion of adjoining stamps show at foot, tied to official cover by Bombay JA 14 ‘1’ duplex, endorsed “via Brindisi”, with Bombay (14 Jan) and London (2 Feb) backstamps, piece removed from back flap, else fine. Sold for C$180.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.