china

Lot 712, China 1909 ten cent Coiling Dragon on cover from Canton to Vacaville California, sold for C$826

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Lot 712, China 1909 ten cent Coiling Dragon on cover from Canton to Vacaville California, sold for C$826Lot 712, China 1909 ten cent Coiling Dragon on cover from Canton to Vacaville California, sold for C$826Lot 712 China 1909 (January 5), 10c Coiling Dragon on cover from Canton to California, franked with 10c ultramarine Coiling Dragon, tied by native square cancellation and struck with bilingual Canton c.d.s. on front, to Vacaville, California, with two indistinct Chinese backstamps, Victoria Hong Kong (6 Jan) and Vacaville (1 Feb) backstamps, fine-very fine. (Sc. #129) Estimate C$150, sold for C$700.00 plus 18% buyer’s premium.

Announcing Our Spring 2025 Postal History Auction

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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.

Lot 744, China 1940 Shanghai to New York censored registered airmail cover via Hong Kong, sold for C$497

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Lot 744, China 1940 Shanghai to New York censored registered airmail cover via Hong Kong, sold for C$497 Lot 744 China 1940 (late December), Shanghai to New York, censored registered airmail cover via Hong Kong, franked with single $5 brown-carmine and $5 Junkers Air Post, tied by black bilingual Shanghai c.d.s., date illegible but almost certainly a few days prior to December 23, when the Japanese occupied Hong Kong, red “G.R. OPENED BY CENSOR HONG KONG” tape at right, Shanghai violet handstamped registration etiquette and violet straight-line REGISTERED handstamp, blue AIR TRANSIT 6 double-circle and red framed AIR MAILS handstamp, reverse with Honolulu (13 Jan), New York (18 Jan and 20 Jan) backstamps, small flaws typical of such mail, fine-very fine. Estimate C$150, sold for C$425.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Lot 745, China 1940s-1950s group of four Airmail covers to British Columbia, sold for C$702

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Lot 745, China 1940s-1950s group of four Airmail covers to British Columbia, sold for C$702 Lot 745, China 1940s-1950s group of four Airmail covers to British Columbia, sold for C$702Lot 745 China 1940s to 1950s, group of four Airmail covers to Canada, all addressed to British Columbia, with three to Victoria and one to Vancouver, displaying a useful variety of rates and frankings, creases, three roughly opened at one side otherwise clean and seldom seen, fine. Estimate C$100, sold for C$600.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.