Canadian Stamp Auctions

Stamp market commentary

Commentary No. 72 - 17 June, 2005

The New 2006 Scott Catalogue - Our Review & Comments

The 2006 Scott catalogue, Volume 2, became available here in Montreal in mid-May. The cost was $88 Cdn. at a local dealer. The Canadian section, which included the provinces, had 1526 changes. While the values for a number of earlier issues were up according to Scott, there were few changes in the more modern period.
We would agree with Scott's assessment. For example in the "Cents" issue of 1859 through to the Large Queens, there were numerous increases in the used category. In the Small Queens through to the Scroll set (Scott 34 - 159 there were also many increases, but mostly in the mint category. After that, the increases were spotty. This was different from many of the most recent Scott catalogues where there were increases in the modern varieties and imperforates.

Here is a quick overview of the pricing changes:

Early Canada (Scott 1-13)

A few increases, esp. Scott 5, 7, 8 and 12 used.

Cents issue (Scott 14-20)

General increases, esp. Scott 16, 17 and 20a used.

Large Queens (Scott 21-33)

General increases amongst the used copies. There were substantial increases in the watermarked stamps and the used laid paper varieties.

Small Queens (Scott 34-47)

General increases in the mint copies.

Jubilees (Scott 50-65)

Increases in the 1¢, 10¢ and $1-$5 mint dollar stamps.

Maple Leafs (Scott 66-73)

Increases in the 2¢, 3¢ and 10¢.

Numerals (Scott 74-84)

General increases in mint copies, some substantial.

Edward VII (Scott 89-95)

General increases in mint copies, some substantial.

Quebec Tercentenary (Scott 96-103)

General increases

Admirals (Scott 104-134)

General increases, some substantial amongst the coils and the imperforates.

Scroll (Scott 149-161)

General increases, including the imperforates.

Modern (Scott 162-2089)

1930's – Scott 173, 174, 175, 203, 210, 231c-236a 241-244
1940's – no changes
1950's – very few changes
1960's – Scott 465p, 466, 467 & 468
1970's - no changes
1980's – no changes
1990's – Scott 1373, 1374 & 1375
2000's – Scott 1873-5, 1879 & 1879a
Back of the book – Scott C2,C3,C4,C8,E3,E4,E5,E9,E01,09,010,011,022 & 025

In addition there were minor increases in certain areas such as Scott 1568– 1768, Scott 1814–1837 and 1927–1998.

Stamp prices continue their upward trend

The extent of the increases in the values of Canadian stamps seems to be greater this year than in other recent years. The fairly broad increase in the prices for stamps issued between 1859 and 1929 is something we've not seen for some time. A good number of the increases were for stamps that were not NH. We haven't seen this for awhile either.

For more details of the price increases and new listings, please click on the following links:

Noticeable price increases in the 2006 catalogue

New listings

Stamps attracting attention

The "$5 missing moose" is a variety that has recently appeared for sale and it is rare and expensive. It is listed as Scott 1699a but without a price. A copy of this variety recently sold at a Vance auction sale for $6,250. Another copy was offered by Saskatoon Stamp Centre in a private treaty sale for $5,950

The second issue is an unusual set of regular postage stamps issued in June 2004 which featured a package of 4 stamps and 4 phone cards, Scott 2045-2048. The stamps were issued without any denomination. Single copies of each of the stamps have been initially listed by Scott's at $3.75 per stamp vs. the usual $0.75 for other regular stamps. Canada Post was offering each set of the stamps from its philatelic bureau for $5.99 a set. We have noticed recent advertising by several dealers offering 4 sets (apparently containing 2 stamps and 2 telephone cards in each set) of the stamps for $99. If you find the figures confusing, so do we! We expect to see lots of commentary on this subject in the philatelic press.

Happy are those who picked up some of the Vancouver over print booklets publicizing the 2010 winter Olympics that are to be held in that city (Scott 1991a/1991b). A booklet of 10 jumped from $7 to $30 and a booklet of 30, from $21 to $90.

Finally, we note that all the Admiral imperforates moved upwards except the $1 stamp. The increases, while noticeable, were far less than we expected. Recent prices realized for these rare stamps suggest that next year’s Scott will see further increases.

We will keep an eye on all in the above special cases and report on trends as they develop during the year.

Here are a few interesting statistics:

Biggest dollar value increases in the 2006 Scott Catalogue

$2000

–
Scott 28d

$1750

–
Scott 110a-122a NH

$1150

–
Scott 110a-122a LH

$1000

–
Scott 16 used

$1000

–
Scott 31 used

$900

–
Scott 22a

Biggest percentage increases between 2005 - 2006

328%

–
Scott 1991a

328%

–
Scott 1991b

285%

–
Scott 1764a

200%

–
Scott 1971

200%

–
Scott 106c

150%

–
Scott 1991c

145%

–
Scott 28a

110%

–
Scott 22a

Noticeable increases amongst lower value stamps 2000-2006

Scott

2000
Value

2006
Value
Description

51

32

44
1¢ Jubilee

69

50

70
3¢ Maple Leaf

87

18

29
3¢ Overprint

1175a

45

60
61¢ Timber wolf - perf. 13

1283/6a

20

34
Canadian forest mini sheets

1292d

20

32
Legendary creatures –perf. 12

1356b

35

70
42¢ booklet – Pane of 50

1706a

11

40
46¢ booklet - Pane of 18

1764a

6

27
45¢ Christmas booklet

1765a

3

12
52¢ Christmas booklet