Canadian Stamp Auctions

29 October, 2005 - Eastern Auctions Ltd.

This sale of Eastern's was the last of three public auctions the firm held in 2005, each one rich in Canadian philately from the classics to a wide range of modern varieties. But something unusual was included in this sale. Jim Hennok's Numeral Cancellations of British North America. Here are a few choice items from that collection.

Choice items from
Jim Hennok's Numeral Cancellations of BNA

Lot 94 Scott 15 block of 4 Estimate $250 Realized $1150

Lot 95 Scott 15 pair Estimate $100 Realized $675

Lot 104 Scott 8 Estimate $750 Realized $2800

Lot 107 Scott 18 Estimate $200 Realized $1052

Lot 148 Scott 14 Estimate $125 Realized $750

Lot 151 Scott 21c Estimate $100 Realized $500

Lot 157 Scott 25 cover Estimate $400 Realized $1900

You will note that the quality of the stamps in Jim's collection matches the rarity of the numeral cancellations. The prices realized far exceed the estimates. Once can only sit back and wonder at his achievements. Well done, Jim, you set the standard very high!

3¢ Large Queen on laid paper

Lot 1423 Scott 33 Catalogue $1050 Realized $2000

In recent auction, a beautiful copy of the 1¢ Large Queen on laid paper was offered and it sold for a record price. Not to be outdone, Eastern has, in this auction, sold the 3¢ Large Queen shown above for a record price. The previous record was $1500, set in 2001. This stamp in used condition is not that rare, we often see copies at auction. But to see one of them centered, that is very rare.

5¢ Large Queen - perfectly dated

Lot 1416 Scott 26 Estimate $350 Realized $260

It is not often we get a chance to see the 5¢ Large Queen so beautifully displayed, complete with a clear easy to read postmark. Was it unusual for a Large Queen to be used as late as 1875? Wasn't this set replaced by the Small Queens in the 1870. The answer is yes, the 5¢ Large Queen was only issued on October 1, 1875, using an old die. It was then replaced in February, 1876 by the Small Queen. Thus the 5¢ Large Queen was officially in use for only a few months, although doubtless remainders were used subsequently.

6¢ Numeral

Lot 1497 Scott 80 Catalogue $275 Realized $1050

In a recent auction, a copy of the above stamp, of equal quality, sold for $325. Now in this auction, a copy sold for 3 times that amount. How can one explain this? Is the above $1050 price the limit? Hardly! In 1999 a copy sold for $2300 in another Eastern sale. It seems that only the sky's the limit.

1¢ Admiral - major re-entry

Lot 1519 Unitrade 104vii Catalogue $1500 Realized $1600

There is no question that re-entries are enjoying greater popularity these days. One clear indication is the fact that more and more of these re-entry varieties are being added to the catalogues each year.

During the past ten years, 4 copies of this 1¢ have been sold, all used. The prices have ranged from $600 to $1900. This particular variety is usually easy to spot in the auctioneer's catalogue. No auctioneer would normally show a stamp so off-center and so heavily cancelled unless it had something special about it. This one did and it fetched a very strong price.

Stamps printed on gum

Lot 1633 Scott 707a Catalogue $1600 Realized $2900

Earlier this year, we recorded the sale of our first copy of this variety printed on gum. It was a "fine" copy with slightly disturbed gum and sold for $975. This is an amazing price for a less than perfect modern Canadian stamp with a $400 catalogue value. Eastern put a $6000 estimate on the above block and in the end, it went for $2900, which is one-half the estimate, but well above the catalogue value. We wouldn't be surprised to see it sell for a much higher price in future. The buyer in this sale did very well and will probably see good appreciation in the value of this block in future.

For further details on the sale, please click on the highlights button.