In Prize

Winter 2026 Stamps and Postal History of the World

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Welcome to our Winter 2026 Stamps & Postal History of the World sale.

Lot 352 Newfoundland #C4 1927 (May 20), ‘De Pinedo’ 60c black on cover to London, the stamp affixed upside down and tied by St. John’s machine cancellation with Trepassey split-ring (21 May) below. Unitrade CV $25,000

We are pleased to present our Winter 2026 auction, bringing together a wide-ranging and carefully curated selection of stamps and postal history from Canada, British North America, and the world. Canada and British North America are represented by a fine array of high-quality singles, including a number accompanied by graded certificates, complemented by proofs, essays, and a varied group of unusual postal history, including scarce pre-stamp mail, noting incoming correspondence to Canada from elusive foreign destinations, as well as a scarce Newfoundland 1927 De Pinedo flight cover.

We are proud to offer Part III of the exceptional “Simone Collection” of Canadian Revenues, with this sale highlighting Bill Stamps, Lock Seals, Petroleum Labels, and Law Stamps, including a rare 1917 “In Prize” document. The section is further strengthened by War Savings and Prisoner of War Free Franks, including the rare 1918 25c orange Timbre d’Économie.

Worldwide singles offer numerous highlights, with strong representation of both stamps and postal history of Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, including a further selection of Victorian India postal history, a rare set of Saudi Arabia 1970–1972 1p–100p Officials in corner blocks of 24, and selections from the British and French Offices in the Levant, among many other notable offerings.

Our Lots and Collections section, offers a broad range of material, from smaller, specialised groupings to large intact collections. Canada and British North America are well represented by many collections offered by issue, including strong selections of Pence and Decimals, Small Queens, and New Brunswick. Worldwide collections include substantial holdings of Great Britain, Austria, Persia, and the Australian States, together with a handsome Victorian-era British Commonwealth collection with many desirable items, offered across several lots.

High-quality online images, along with videos of collection lots, may be found on Philasearch and Stamp Auction Network. Live bidding will take place at our offices in Ottawa, Canada, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with participation welcome in person, by telephone, or online. All transactions are conducted in Canadian dollars, typically providing a favourable exchange rate for many of our international clients.

Looking ahead to the spring, we will present our third Postal History of the World sale, followed by a further Stamps & Postal History of the World auction in June, for which we continue to welcome consignments. Finally, we wish to thank those who joined us at the World Stamp Exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where it was a pleasure to meet collectors from around the world. We look forward to connecting again at WESTPEX in San Francisco in April, ORAPEX in Ottawa in May, and later in the month at the Boston 2026 World Expo.

We wish you success with your bids,
The Team at Sparks Auctions

Lot 419, Canada 1916 fifty cent blue young Queen Victoria Law Stamp with IN PRIZE overprint, mint VF

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Lot 419, Canada 1916 fifty cent blue young Queen Victoria Law Stamp with IN PRIZE overprint, mint VFLot 419 Canada #FSC28 1916, Young Queen Victoria, 50c blue with red “IN PRIZE” overprint, very lightly hinged, fresh colour and well-centred for these, a rarity, one of the elusive examples overprinted for use on documents processing claims for enemy property seized during World War I, fresh and very fine. van Dam C$ 12,000

Lot 423, Canada 1915 King George V Supreme Court twenty-five cent blue with red IN PRIZE overprint, F-VF unused

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Lot 423, Canada 1915 King George V Supreme Court twenty-five cent blue with red IN PRIZE overprint, F-VF unusedLot 423 Canada #FSC31 1915, King George V, Supreme Court, 25c blue with red IN PRIZE overprint, red control number, unused without gum, though produced in greater number than the Victorian equivalents, a stamp that remains quite scarce, this being of superior centring to many, fine to very fine. van Dam C$1,250.

Announcing Our Autumn 2025 Auction

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Welcome to the Sparks Auctions Autumn 2025 sale!

We are pleased to present our Autumn 2025 auction, which brings together an impressive array of stamps and postal history from Canada, British North America, and the world. Canadian philately is represented by high-quality singles and an attractive offering of die proofs, complemented by a striking group of modern errors and varieties. Postal history collectors will note highly desirable Pence, Decimal, and Small Queen issue frankings, while British North America includes scarce British Columbia, alongside strong Newfoundland Airmails highlighted by a never hinged Columbia Flight single and signatures of aviation pioneers Raynham, Hawker, Grieve, Alcock, and Brown.

Lot 274 Newfoundland #C5 1930 50c on 36c olive green Columbia Flight, from Position 1 of the setting of four, full never hinged original gum, rich deep shade, a lovely and fine-very fine example of this airmail rarity; with 2001 Philatelic Foundation and 2004 B.P.A. certificates. A LOVELY EXAMPLE OF THIS IMPORTANT NEWFOUNDLAND AIRMAIL RARITY.
Unitrade CV $16,500

Canadian revenues are particularly strong, led by Part II of the extraordinary “Simone Collection,” with Supreme Court and War Savings rarities, as well as seldom-seen “IN PRIZE” usages on document. Our British Commonwealth and worldwide sections are equally compelling, with noteworthy Crimean War mail, Chinese stamps and covers, an in-depth study of Great Britain Line Engraved, a continued offering of India postal history, and a diverse selection of first issues from around the globe. Worldwide postal history continues to be a strength, with a diverse range comprising items from the seventeenth century onwards, including military mail, Zeppelins, advertising, rare frankings, and much more. In contrast to our past format, this auction presents stamps and postal history together rather than in separate sections, allowing collectors to more easily locate material of interest.

Our popular Lots and Collections section once again offers a wealth of opportunities for collectors and dealers alike, ranging from small selections of classic stamps to intact holdings and major properties. Among the highlights are a superb collection of Canada’s Admiral Issues, an elegant exhibit of the 1934 3c Cartier, strong Great Britain holdings with plating studies and postal history including a desirable assembly of Penny Reds with Maltese Cross cancellations, a specialised Gold Coast collection, powerful collections of Canada, and further studies of first issues of the world. As always, these lots are supported by thousands of high-quality online images, with many larger lots also accompanied by detailed video walkthroughs.

Please visit Stamp Auction Network (SAN) or Philasearch to view the sale and place your advance bids. This sale is conducted in Canadian dollars – usually quite favourable for our many customers worldwide.

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 videos 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.

Bidding can be done in a variety of convenient ways including in advance via the Internet, live on the floor, by telephone, or through an agent. We are offering in-person viewing before the auction, starting on October 16; please contact us early to make your appointment.

Looking ahead, our next sale will be our December Worldwide Postal History auction, which will feature a diverse selection ranging from Admiral postal history of Canada to early Zeppelin mail and signed pioneer aviator mail. We continue to welcome consignments for our Winter 2026 sale, and invite discussions both for consignment and outright purchase of collections.

Finally, we wish to thank those who joined us at BNAPEX 2025 in Vernon, British Columbia, where it was a pleasure to meet collectors from across Canada and beyond, and we look forward to connecting again at STAMPEX in London, United Kingdom, from October 22nd–25th at the Business Design Centre—please stop by our stand if you are attending!

Best of luck with the sale,

-The Sparks Auctions Team

Lot 181, Canada twenty-five cent blue King George V Law Stamp with red “In Prize” overprint, VF NH

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Lot 181, Canada twenty-five cent blue King George V Law Stamp with red In Prize overprint, VF NHLot 181 Canada #FSC31 1916 25c Blue King George V Law Stamp with Red “In Prize” Overprint, mint never hinged and very well centered, with control number in the range of “In Prize” overprints recorded by Zaluski, very fine, fresh and rare, especially in this condition. van Dam CV C$2,500.