Lot 451 o
Canada, 1851, Queen Victoria, 12d black, on laid paper, imperforate, mainly large margins to just touched at bottom left corner, deep shade, black target cancel and bit of red cancellation, nice impression of fresh paper showing strong laid paper lines, F.-V.F.; with 2024 P.S.E. certificate and missing 1960 B.P.A. certificate.Scott No. 3 $140,000.
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE WORLD CLASS RARITY AND ONE OF THE FEW SOUND EXAMPLES.
The first Pence issues of Canada were printed by the firm Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson of New York, the same company responsible for printing the New York Postmaster's Provisional and the United States 5¢ and 10¢ stamps from the 1847 issue. The Pence issues, notably the 12-pence, display the same high-quality engraving found on the U.S. 1847 issue. The original die was engraved by Alfred Jones and features the Chalon portrait. These stamps were printed in early 1851 (with the 12p issued on June 14), at the same time Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson's contract to produce U.S. stamps was ending.
Current Opening Bid: $10,000
Lot
1159 (
)
China, 1897, Small 4¢ on 3¢ Red Revenue, position 12, expertly regummed, rich bright color and exceptionally fresh, F.-V.F., a stunning example of this Red Revenue rarity.Scott No. 81 $75,000.
A MARVELOUS MINT ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1897 4¢ ON 3¢ SMALL SURCHARGE RED REVENUE ISSUE - A GREAT CHINESE EMPIRE RARITY.
The 4¢ Small Surcharge Red Revenue was the very first of the 3¢ Red Revenues produced by Inspectorate General of Customs Statistical Department in Shanghai. Only two sheets of 100 where produced with 25 of these additionally surcharged in violet which accounts for the double surcharge variety (Scott 81a) leaving only 175 normally produced. It is believed after the small production of these small 4¢ surcharges were produced, the production was stopped and the larger sans-serif "4" replaced this smaller version.
Current Opening Bid: $7,500
Lot
457
Canada, 1855, Prince Albert, 6d slate gray, on wove paper, imperforate, disturbed o.g., ample to huge margins showing portion of adjacent stamp at bottom, rich vibrant color on bright fresh paper, Very Fine and choice; with 2024 P.S.E. certificate.Scott No. 5 $30,000.
AN ATTRACTIVE AND VERY RARE MINT ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 6D PRINCE ALBERT ISSUE.
Current Opening Bid: $4,000
Lot
1730 
Poland, 1919, 10k deep violet, tied on money value cover with the 2k + 3k + 4k values by neat "Krakow 14 II 19" postmarks, Extremely Fine; signed Bloch.Scott No. 55 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
AN OUTSTANDING COVER WITH THE COMPLETE SET OF 1919 POLAND OVERPRINTS HIGH VALUES. ONE OF THE GREAT ITEMS OF POLAND.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.6MB).
Current Opening Bid: $4,500
Lot
314
Great Britain, Inland Revenue Official, 1904, King Edward VII, 6d pale dull purple, overprinted "Specimen", o.g., small h.r., well centered with bright color, light vert. crease & tiny perf tip toned spot (which is barely visible on face), Extremely Fine appearance; with 2004 R.P.S. certificate. SG No. O23. S.G. Spec. No. MO4s £45,000 ($56,700).Scott No. O22 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF THE RAREST STAMPS OF GREAT BRITAIN WITH ONLY VERY FEW KNOWN TO EXIST.
The 6d Pale Dull Purple, often regarded as Britain's rarest stamp, was withdrawn on the very same day it was issued. It features an overprint reading "I.R. Official," indicating that it was intended exclusively for use by the Inland Revenue Service and other government departments. However, after several prominent philatelists were convicted for possessing stamps bearing this overprint, which was illegal at the time, the stamp was withdrawn in 1904.
Remarkably, the withdrawal coincided with the stamp's initial release. Only 19 sheets are believed to have been printed, and it was assumed that all were destroyed. Yet, a few specimens have survived.
Current Opening Bid: $3,750
Lot
505
Canada, 1859, Prince Albert, 10¢ black brown, part o.g., deep shade with vibrant fresh color, F.-V.F., ex-Reford (Harmer, Rooke & Co. Oct. 3-6, 1950); with 1962 Friedl certificate.Scott No. 16 $25,000.
AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE BLACK BROWN SHADE AND ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN.
Current Opening Bid: $4,750
Lot
1693
Mexico, Airmail, 1935, 20c lake, Amelia Earhart Goodwill Flight, used with a 40c Official Air (CO14), the two tied by a Mexico City c.d.s., May 2, 1945, on a registered cover addressed to G.P. Putnam (Earhart's husband) in New York City and endorsed by Earhart, "Carried by air, Mexico D.F. New York, May 8, 1935, Amelia Earhart -"; backstamped Mexico City registration ovals (May 2, with two red registered letter seals, Newark, N.J. (May 8), and New York (May 9); U.S. 3¢ & 15¢ stamps having been added for registered postage to destination and canceled Newark, N.J., Extremely Fine and rare; signed Holcombe and Roumet, with 1996 Holcombe certificate.Scott No. C74 Estimate $6,000 - 8,000.
ONE OF THE MOST HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER AMELIA EARHART SIGNED FLIGHT COVERS.
In 1935, famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart paid a goodwill visit to Mexico City, carrying mail bound for New York City on her return flight to Newark, New Jersey. In honor of her visit, Mexico issued an airmail stamp for mail carried on the return flight (Scott #C74), by overprinting its 1934-35 20c Lake "Eagle Man" airmail (Scott #C68a). 780 stamps were overprinted, of which 480 were additionally overprinted "Muestra" and sent to the Universal Postal Union for distribution to postal administrations worldwide. Only about 35 to 40 pieces where ever carried by Earhart to New York City.
Current Opening Bid: $4,000
Lot
3
Great Britain, 1840, Mulready Letter Sheet, 1d black, Pre-First Day Cover, Stereo A 64, lovely fresh Mulready Lettersheet from London to Oxford, postmarked bold red "Lombard Street Paid 5 MY 1840" Maltese Cross postmark, manuscript "1" rate marking has been removed, couple tiny mended tears at bottom, Very Fine and attractive; with 2010 Brandon certificate. S.G. Spec. £25,000 ($31,500).Scott No. U3 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED AND SOUGHT AFTER ITEMS IN ALL OF PHILATELY.
Mulready Stationery was put on sale on May 1, 1840 and valid for use on May 6, 1840. As part of Great Britain's postal reform movement, the Mulready envelopes, letter sheets, and the first postage stamps were issued. Before this reform, the addressee was responsible for paying the postage. However, people soon realized they could avoid paying by simply refusing to accept their mail, which led to significant revenue losses for the postal system.nnTo address this issue, the British government, under Queen Victoria, invited proposals for a solution. Sir Rowland Hill presented a simple yet effective plan. He argued that to recover lost revenue, the sender should be required to prepay postage. While this idea was controversial-since it was considered insulting to suggest that an addressee couldn't afford to pay-Hill also proposed that reduced postage rates could encourage more people to use the mail system, which would in turn generate more revenue. The government quickly adopted Hill's idea, establishing a universal penny post where a half-ounce letter could be sent anywhere in Britain for just one penny.nnHill believed that the Mulready envelopes and letter sheets would be a hit with the public, with the adhesive stamps being more of an afterthought. However, the public ridiculed the Mulready designs, with satirical caricatures circulating widely, many created by stationers who resented the government's interference in their business. The negative reaction led to the quick withdrawal and destruction of the Mulready products. In contrast, the postage stamps were embraced for their convenience and quickly gained widespread acceptance.
Complete images including certificate(s):
View gallery or Download PDF (5.1MB).
Current Opening Bid: $2,500
Lot
21 
Great Britain, 1840, Queen Victoria First Issue, 2d blue, a gorgeous used block of 4 from plate 2; positions QK-QR/RK-RL; Pos. QL with a major re-entry (one of only two on the plate); tied on small piece by five light Maltese crosses in black; margins all around except barely touching at top of RK, with a tiny scissors cut between QK & RK and not touching the designs, Very Fine; with 1996 B.P.A. certificate. SG No. 5. S.G. Spec. No. D58 £22,000 ($27,720).Scott No. 2 $26,000.
A WONDERFUL RARITY 1840 QUEEN VICTORIA 2D BLUE.
Current Opening Bid: $2,500
Lot
1248
Mexico, Ixtlahuaca, 1856, ½r blue, 2 singles, on piece canceled together by "Franco En" straight line and left stamp tied by manuscript "X" cancels (Schatzkes 590 & 590A), wide margins, Extremely Fine, the first 1856 ½r issues we have ever offered from Ixtlahuaca (N.F. $6,000), ex-Larranaga.Scott No. 1 Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A REMARKABLE MULTIPLE USAGE OF THE 1856 ½R FROM IXTLAHUACA - A GREAT 1856 HIDALGO RARITY.
Current Opening Bid: $2,500