Queen Victoria Jubilee

Surprising Cover Lots

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We have usually highlighted individual stamps that drew impressive realizations, but a number of the cover lots also surprised. A quick glance down the page of earlier Canada covers will show many that sold for the estimate or better. Postcard lots did well, as did bulk world covers.

Lot 1581 is an excellent example. Two boxes of approximately 750 Halifax, Nova Scotia squared circles on covers and cards. One box contains a calendar collection separated by month and year and the other box is mixed dates. We noted several Small Queen, Jubilee and Numeral frankings along with cards as well. Noted at least 26 precursors. Condition varies. We estimated $250, eventually sold for $862.

Sold for $7590 — Lot 1450, Canada Pre-cancel Collection

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Collection of precancels from Jubilees to 1940s housed in binder beginning with the bar-types and followed by town-name types. Noted several items cataloguing between $25 and $150 including some that are not listed in the catalogue. Total catalogue value for this collection is in excess of $17,200+ with several blocks and other items not counted. A better than average collection, overall F-VF and includes several items missing in most collections. Inspect.

The lotter’s expression "Inspect" is commonly used in bulky or multiple items. While it does indicate that we have not enumerated every stamp in the lot, it is also a suggestion that careful inspection will probably yield pleasant surprises. That was surely the case for this lot. Large collections like this will usually realize at best 10% or so of the catalogue value. This one sold for $7590, certainly to a buyer who gave it a closer "inspection" than we were able to give!