“We just sold one of three known pairs of Canada’s 12d block for $625,000, plus buyer’s premium, a Canadian auction record,” Eastern Auctions announced on its Facebook page.
Eastern Auctions’ March 8 sale of Ron Brigham’s Pence and Cents collections featured a mint pair of 12-penny black stamps with original gum. ‘It is one of the most expensive, recognizable and iconic items in Canadian philately,’ according to Yohann Tanguay, Eastern’s chief describer.
The third portion of Brigham’s legendary collection, the Grand Prix collection of the Province of Canada, Pence and Cents, was offered in March. It featured many of the greatest rarities with proofs and stamps, including famous multiples and important postal history.
Described in the auction catalogue as a spectacular, unique composite die essay, Lot 501 sold for $105,000 plus the 18.5 per cent buyer’s premium ($124,425.)
The sale was followed on March 9 with the Glen Lundeen Collection of the Admiral Issue of Canada. The pre-eminent collection’s third and final portion featured numerous rarities not seen since the extensive George Marler and C.M. Jephcott sales in 1982 and 1990, respectively. The collection represented the finest and most expansive offering of die proofs and plate multiples ever auctioned. It also contained some of the most elusive lathework and significant multiples.
A more detailed story on the results of the March 8-9, 2024, Brigham and Lundeen sales will be featured in the next issue of Canadian Stamp News.