Eastern Auctions’ second instalment of the landmark “Camellia Collection” sale is shaping up as one of the most important Canadian philatelic auctions offered in decades, featuring legendary treasures exhibition calibre postal history and major proof material unseen publicly for generations.
The June 19 sale is highlighted by the famed “Caspary” example of Canada’s iconic 1851 12-penny black, regarded by many specialists as the greatest rarity in British North America philately. Eastern Auctions has assigned the stamp a pre-sale estimate of $320,000. Eastern Auctions chief describer Yohann Tanguay called the stamp “an exemplary mint example with full original gum of Canada’s iconic stamp,” noting it has appeared publicly only once since the famous Alfred Caspary sale in 1956.
The sale also includes the original 1851 contract for printing Canada’s first postage stamps. Signed by the New York engraving firm Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson together with provincial postmaster general James Morris, the seven page handwritten agreement established production terms for Canada’s first three postage stamps and carries an estimate exceeding $50,000.
Another major rarity is the unique five-cent Large Queen progressive die proof, believed to be the only recorded progressive die proof known for the entire Large Queen series. Tanguay described the proof as “phenomenal and visually striking in all respects,” calling it a “must-have” item for serious Large Queen collectors.
Collectors of Decimal issues will likely focus on the famed five-cent Beaver “Major Re-entry” block, described by Tanguay as one of the finest plate varieties in the entire Decimal series. The celebrated block of seven has reportedly not appeared publicly in more than 80 years.
The auction also features several remarkable proof and cancellation items, including a complete pane of 100 of the six-pence plate proof in the sought after grey colour and a significant grouping of the famous Streetsville “1857” intaglio cancellation, regarded as Canada’s first fancy cancel.
Postal history collectors will find numerous rare destination covers and exhibition quality frankings throughout the sale, including a spectacular four colour Large Queen cover mailed to India, redirected to Barbados and eventually forwarded to the United Kingdom, along with one of only two recorded Large Queen covers mailed to the Red River settlement before Manitoba entered Confederation.
According to Tanguay, the Camellia holdings were quietly assembled over six decades and rival many of the greatest Canadian philatelic collections ever formed. Read full details and expanded coverage of the remarkable rarities and historic material featured in this unprecedented sale in the latest issue of Canadian Coin News (Vol. 51 No. 04), released May 19. Subscribe today for complete coverage of the Canadian numismatic and philatelic marketplace.