Sparks Auctions’ June 7-8 sale offers a 12d Queen Victoria “Scar” Die Proof (Lot 2) in Orange, printed on India paper with ample margins measuring 29 x 29 millimetres. Notably, it displays a distinct “scar” within the letters CE of PENCE. Described as “extremely scarce” by the Ottawa auction firm, this proof is called a rarity, with only a few examples known in any color variant.
Accompanied by a 2023 Greene Foundation certificate, describing it as having a “natural diagonal paper crease, tiny pinhole at crown and thin in top margin”. It is listed in the Unitrade catalogue at $12,500
Additionally, Lots 3, 4, and 5 offer exceptional Victoria plate proofs.
Sparks’ June sale features a diverse range of material, spanning quality offerings from Canada, its provinces, the British Commonwealth, and beyond. Highlights include the third segment of the esteemed W.J. McGill collection of Scandinavia, a notable selection of Canadian Federal and Provincial Revenues, and “several remarkable” lots related to Wildlife Habitat Conservation. Of particular interest is the second installment of the Andrew Ellwood precancel collection.
Moreover, the sale presents over 120 lots of postal history, including the fourth installment of the Gordon Richardson early Manitoba postal history collection. Collectors can expect a fine assortment of postal history items from Canada and various countries worldwide, including Scandinavia. Plus, Sparks says there’s an exceptional selection of philatelic literature.
Featured on the cover of Sparks’ 102-page catalogue are Lots 179, 180, and 181:
Lot 179: 1916 10-cent Blue Queen Victoria Law Stamp with Red “In Prize” Overprint. It is mint hinged, well-centered, and falls within the control number range of “In Prize” overprints recorded by Zaluski. This very fine stamp has a van Dam catalogue value of $950.
Lot 180: 1916 $1 Blue Queen Victoria Law Stamp with Red “In Prize” overprint. Also mint hinged and well-centered, it is within the control number range of “In Prize” overprints recorded by Zaluski. This very fine stamp is valued at $950 in the van Dam catalogue.
Lot 181: 1916 25-cent Blue King George V Law Stamp with Red “In Prize” overprint. This stamp is mint never hinged, well-centered, and described as “very fine, fresh and rare, especially in this condition.” It has a van Dam catalogue value of $2,500.
Other highlights include:
Lot 42: an 1891 five-cent Grey Small Queen imperforate counter block of six. Described as “a striking showpiece,” the top margin shows a complete “Five Cents” counter. This lot has a pre-sale estimate of $5,000.
Lot 69: A mint never hinged block of 12 1903 five-cent King Edward VII, on blue paper. “A scarce multiple, especially so nice,” the lot description states. The block has a catalogue value of $8,700.
For more details, visit sparks-auctions.com.