Canadian Stamp Auctions
Stamp Market Commentary

Special Commentary - 25 August, 2010

A 12 Penny Black
to be Offered for Sale at Auction
on Sept.14, 2010 By Cherrystone Auctions

Lot 846
Scott 3
Catalogue $125,000

It’s not often a mint Scott 3 is offered for sale. When it happens, collectors sit up and take notice. This is one of the finer ones, described by Cherrystone as follows:

“1851 12p black, unused with part original gum, margins all around, intense color, fresh and v.f. example of this most valuable Canadian stamp, signed Peter Holcombe, with tiny handstamp guarantee on back, with 1997 BPA certificate”

This copy was last sold in Cherrystone’s January 2008 sale for $191,900 Cdn. Since then, our records show that another copy sold in 2008 for $207,000 Cdn. and one in 2009 for $275,000 Cdn. At the time of Cherrystone’s earlier sale of the Scott 3, we wrote as follows:

“This very fine copy came with part original gun, three large margins and certificates of authentication, including one that is printed on the back of the stamp. The price realized of $191,900 is the second best we have recorded in the past twenty years. During that time, 11 mint copies were sold at auction at prices ranging from $25,000 to $214,500. Of these, 6 were sold at auctions in Canada and 5 in the U.S. and UK.”

We look forward with great interest to the Cherrystone auction on September 14th. For collectors who have the resources, this is an opportunity to acquire a rare gem.

As of the date of writing this special commentary, the “Current Opening Price” was $145,000 U.S.

©2010, Canadian Stamp Auctions Ltd., Montréal, Québec, Canada