Canadian Stamp Auctions

29 October, 2005 - Charles G. Firby Auctions

This sale had some of the most unusual varieties we have seen in some time. Before looking at them however, we would like to show you, our viewers, a truly outstanding copy of Scott 1, Canada’s first stamp:

Scott 1 – outstanding!

Lot 33 Scott 1 Catalogue $800 Realized $3531

This was a margin copy from the first printing but, as sometimes happens, the stamp did not show its laid lines. It came as no surprise that the $3531 price realized for this stamp set a new record, up from the previous record of $1550 set in 2004. We do not recall seeing a Scott 1 of this quality. Firby notes in his catalogue : “Jim Sissons once showed me this fabulous stamp and declared it to be the finest extant. I cannot disagree.”

Scott 26 – also outstanding!

Lot 50 Scott 26iv Catalogue $2000 Realized $441

For those of us who admire the Large Queen set, it’s hard to find a nicer looking copy of the 5¢. Firby described it as XF-SUPERB a gorgeous well centered example. Stunning! It came with a Greene certificate and is of the 11¾ x 12 perforation variety. Well, with all these superlatives, with all of which we agree, why is the price so low?

The answer is that the stamp has no gum. What a pity. Because it is one of the finest copies of this stamp we have seen. Sometimes we wonder!

These are really unusual

Lot 108 Blank Admiral paper Estimate $50 Realized $129

Lot 252 Scott 585a Estimate $588 Realized $200

Lot 265 Scott 619 var Estimate $141 Realized $76

Lot 273 Scott 715b Catalogue $375 Realized $188

The first time we wrote about stamps with no colour (see lots 108 & 273 above), we used the title “the emperor has no clothes.” We couldn’t use it again but must admit it keeps coming back to mind.

Lot 108 - fully gummed paper from the Admiral set, (no design printed), a rarity brought to market by Bileski years ago. (See article on page 31 of BNA Topics, 4th Quarter of 2005 for further information on this unusual variety.)

Lot 252 - matched set of corner blocks of the 15¢ Earth sciences stamp, one of which had the “yellow back” variety of orange coloured gum. It is believed that only two such sheets exist.

Lot 265 – the 8¢ Scottish Settlers stamp with the “yellow back orange gum” variety.

Lot 273 – the 14¢ Parliament “albino” variety, red colour omitted and only a trace of embossing. Scarce as only 100 are recorded.

Judging from the prices, there isn’t as yet a strong market for these unusual types of stamps. Having said this, it must be acknowledged that they are selling at a huge premium to the prices paid for the regularly issued stamps.

Stamps that are unique

Here are three stamps described by Firby as unique. We quote the auctioneer’s descriptions:

Lot 326 Scott 1090 var Estimate $1177 Realized $470

"34¢ sheet margin single, imperforate at T, light crease, otherwise VF used. Note that this is the only example known. An impressive variety. 1995 Greene cert. #6948 accompanies."

Lot 389 Scott 1452a Estimate $5885 Realized $4110

“42¢ Christmas stamp with the umlaut placed over the O instead of the E. When this error was first discovered by Canada Post, they destroyed the entire 30 million stamps that had been printed with this error. Fortunately for stamp collectors, they missed one which is XF, OG, NH. This example comes with 1995 VG Greene & FQP certificates. See note in UCS which touts its uniqueness. The FTP cert. states “This is a genuine postage stamp in all respects…. “. The Greene Foundation hedges their bet & states…. “ is printers waste before correction and not an issued stamp.” Not issued, true. It is, however, from the original run that was destroyed & these are called postage stamps. Here is an opportunity to acquire a unique major error. Note: there are 300+ Seaway inverts that sell for $8000+. A real error showpiece. First time on offer, our estimate for this rarity is undoubtedly conservative.”

Lot 884 Scott 1601B Estimate $5885 Realized $3825

"The cplt Greetings Booklet of 45¢ labels with Canada at R but absent the die cutting on all stamps. A great rarity of which this is only the second example recorded of this 1996 issue. Surely not many more can exist after nearly 10 years in circulation. A great modern rarity that is listed but not priced. This is the first, of the 2 known examples, to be offered in a public forum. A great rarity that makes the Seaway invert look common.”

17¢ Lachapelle – possibly unique

Lot 296 Scott 877 var Estimate $176 Realized $129

This is a possibly unique copy of the 17¢ Lachapelle stamp with blind perforations between the stamp and its margins. It comes with a 2001 Greene certificate. We have no previous record of this variety. Sometimes we are surprised when a stamp sells for well above its estimate, but in this case, it’s just the opposite. We’d think that with the certificate of authenticity and its possible uniqueness it would sell for a great deal more. But, in this stamp market you never know!

80¢ Peary Caribou:

Lot 334 Scott 1180 var Estimate $883 Realized $942

Mr. Firby states that this imperforate pair, unlisted by Unitrade, is the first that he has handled.

McDonald’s logo

Roll your mouse over the image for a better view of the McDonald's logo Lot 357 Scott 1292a var Estimate $530 Realized $224

This is a new item for us, this unusual matched set of plate blocks of the 30¢ Folklore issue. What’s obviously unusual about this lot is the McDonald’s logo in the margin. Firby calls these plate blocks rare and unlisted. We find these stamps with their logos in the corner celebrating Stamp Month very attractive and cannot recall having seen them before.

Gems from other countries

A few outstanding stamps from other countries that were sold in this auction are shown below. All amounts shown below under this heading are in $US unless otherwise indicated.

USA Lot 719 Scott 518 Catalogue $420 Realized $800 U.S.	USA Lot 722 Scott 545 - reperf at bottom Catalogue $1250 Realized $2400 U.S.
HK Lot 832 S.G. 103W - inverted watermark S.G. £650 ($1114 U.S.) Realized $2250 U.S.	HK Lot 833 S.G. 1c - sideways watermark S.G. £2500 ($4285 U.S.) Realized $6500 U.S.

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