Last month, All Nations Stamp and Coin hosted its 1,100th weekly auction, which featured material from the Major General George Pearkes Collection, including a Victoria Cross-themed stamp page signed by the Canadian Victoria Cross recipient.
Auctioneer Brian Grant Duff said there was “standing room only” during the March 18 sale, which he added was “well supported with collector and dealer bids from across North America and around the world.”
According to Duff, pre-sale estimates of $92,685 were exceeded by a total gross of $106,000.
VICTORIA CROSS-THEMED PAGE
Pearkes was awarded the Victoria Cross as well as a Military Cross and a Distinguished Service Order for his bravery at Passchendaele in 1917. He eventually served as the 20th lieutenant governor of British Columbia from 1960-68.
Lot 1 of All Nations Auction No. 1100 was a used one-penny Victoria Cross stamp issued by Australia in 1900 (Scott #B3) and formerly owned by Pearkes. The stamp is on a page and cancelled with a circular date stamp. The page, which is signed by Pearkes, sold for $236.50 against an estimate of $100.
Signed by Major General George Pearkes, Lot 1 realized $236.50 after a pre-sale estimate of $100. (Photo by All Nations)
FAULTY PENNY BLACK
The philatelic highlights came early and often: Lot 8 was a faulty 1851 12-penny black, of which only 104 examples have survived. The used 12-penny black (SC #3) was described by Duff as in Very Good condition. This “faulty space-filler” previously sold for $5,500 in the late 1980s; however, it brought $13,000 on March 18.
According to Duff, there were nine bidders competing for the lot, which was pushed to $12,000 following a bid from the crowd during the live auction in Vancouver.
BRITISH COLUMBIA’S FIRST STAMP
Rounding out the highlights was Lot 70, an 1860 two-and-a-half pence (British Columbia #1) in Very Fine unused condition. Having previously sold for $2,250 in the late 1980s, this stamp realized $8,250 at last month’s sale.