Lot 336 Japan #121, 172a, C3-C7. 1935 (June 29), registered airmail postal card from Tokyo to Switzerland, typed “Par avion; Tokio (crossed out) – Tschita – Moskau – Berlin – Zurich. Chargee,” franked with 5s violet definitive, 8s Mt. Fuji, and complete set of 8½s to 30s Passenger Plane over Lake Ashi airmail issues, tied by two “TOKIO NIPPON” double-circle cancellations, with blue bilingual “PAR AVION” airmail label and violet “TOKIO A” handstamp on blue-on-white airmail etiquette, with Basel Flugpost (18 Jul) double-circle receiver on front, and violet Hsingking (I.N.P.O.) (3 Jul), Harbin (4 Jul), and Manchoukuo (6 Jul) single-circle transits, Olten (18 Jul) double-circle receiver backstamp, very fine. (Sc. #121, 172a, C3/7). Sold for C$275.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
japan
Announcing Our Spring 2025 Postal History Auction
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 1213, Superb Mostly Mint Japan Collection in new hingeless albums 1868-2001, sold for C$6,318
Lot 1213 Superb mostly mint Japan collection in new hingeless albums, 1868 to 2001, consisting of thousands of stamps, used for the earliest issues (fine or better), then mostly NH and VF, the earlier issues include better items such as the First and Third Koban issues, the Showa series, National Parks stamps and Prefectures, including souvenir sheets, later albums including a comprehensive holding of booklet issues from 1979 through 1986, a well as newer issues from about the mid-1980s were bought from the Japan Post Service for over $2,400, with the Lighthouse hingeless albums and supplements alone retailing for over $2,600, a desirable collection, clean, well-organized, and mostly very fine, well warranting a close inspection; online photos provide a mere glimpse into this tremendous opportunity. Estimate C$5,000, sold for C$5,400.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium
Lot 1448, China 1942 Cover to Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong
Sale 42 continues today with Worldwide Postal History.
Lot 1448 China 1942 Cover to Japanese Prisoner of War in Hong Kong, despatched from Shanghai, 29 Sept? 1942. Franked with two vertical pairs of China 1940 8c olive green Sun Yat-sen, Dah Teng printing, type III, secret mark, p14, Dah in button, no wmk (Scott 383, SG 492), mailed to Leon Weill, Camp “S” (Shamshuipo Camp). Japanese Ken’etsuzumi (censored) handstamp in carmine with small Hasegawa seal. Indistinguishable pencil marks at left. Circled “48” in pencil possibly prisoner or barrack number. Hong Kong occupation arrival c.d.s. on reverse “17-10-22” (17th year of Hirohito, October 22, 1942), believed applied at Kowloon postal station. Some minor creases plus a light stain on front, otherwise very fine and scarce, a new find therefore first time on the market. Estimate C$300.
Leon Weill, a French national, was born in Hong Kong. Prior to the war he worked as a stock broker. He served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Force and was thus sent as a POW to Shamshuipo Camp (French nationals were not otherwise interred). He died in the camp, 27 April 1944.
Lot 1313, Spectacular Collection of Karl Lewis Hand Painted Covers of the World, sold for C$16,380
Lot 1313 Spectacular Collection of Karl Lewis Hand Painted Covers of the World, with 102 covers plus 3 post cards. The post cards are some of Karl Lewis’ first creations, as he was a photographer early in his career and sold post cards to earn a living. An extensive and beautiful collection, containing many “crème de la crème” of Lewis’ works of art, all displayed and neatly written up on album pages. The collection contains first day covers of newly issued Japanese stamps, covers mailed from the summit of Mount Fuji and covers with Japanese or American ship postmarks. In the first half, the collector uses mostly Japanese covers to illustrate his chronological story of Karl Lewis. In the second half, he presents all his better foreign covers, first day covers, Mount Fuji and Ship covers and ends it with some of his postcards. We also included a non-illustrated cover with a Karl Lewis return address mailed to Marks Stamps in Toronto, Canada (probably mailed while he worked as a manager of an automobile sales company, as there is an automobile-themed label on back). Listing the better illustrated covers would be difficult, as they are all masterpieces, but collectors who know his work should rest assured that the collection is packed with goodies of all sorts, with many rarities. In many instances the owner wrote on the opposite side of the page how much he paid, and from what auction house he bought items, with several priced in the $400 to $850 range, with the lowest priced at $175. Each cover is scanned on our website, and the lucky buyer of this remarkable collection will also get a publication listing all of the Lewis post cards offered in his 1905 catalogue, as well as a few article clippings and an issue of Japanese Philately which includes a very detailed article on Karl Lewis covers, one of a long series published in this magazine from 2011 to 2017, plus the useful 2019 auction catalogue (and PR) for sale of Dr. Steven J. Berlin’s impressive collection. We are offering this collection without a reserve starting price, as we are certain that it will attract competitive bidding. All of the items in this lot are of the highest quality, with fresh, bright colours and very fine or better. Estimate $15,000, sold for C$14,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.