small queen

Lot 81, Canada six cent “cold” brown Small Queen, perf 12, VF hinged

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Lot 81, Canada six cent "cold" brown Small Queen, perf 12, VF hingedLot 81 Canada #39d 1888, 6c “cold” brown Small Queen, perf 12, a gorgeous mint example of this elusive printing, well centred with large margins and fresh colour, full original gum, hinged (certificate uncharitably mentions “tiny gum disturbance, which is just an extension of the hinge mark), very fine and a superior example for the specialist, with 2013 Greene Foundation certificate; ex Nixon, “Fordwater.” Unitrade CV$900.

Announcing Our Spring 2025 Auction

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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.

Lot 497
Lot 497 Great Britain #229a, 1935 2½d Prussian blue Silver Jubilee error of colour, lower sheet margin single, part original gum, with hinge remnant, nicely-centred and with fresh colour, a lovely example of this iconic rarity, with only four sheets having been printed, an ever-popular stamp of great desirability, and one of the most famous errors of British philately; with 1962 B.P.A. certificate. (S.G. 456a, £11,000), Scott CV U$13,500

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