Nearly all lots offered in All Nations Stamp and Coin’s first weekly auction of 2018 found new homes as the sale’s 200 lots realized 120 per cent of their pre-sale estimates.
Among the highlights of the Jan. 6 sale was Lot 60, an original 2017 Hanukkah official first-day cover (OFDC) that more than doubled its estimate of $150 when it hammered down for $315.
On Dec. 10, 2017, another original Hanukkah OFDC realized $220 after a pre-sale estimate of $100 as Lot 61 of All Nations’ Auction #1137.
HANUKKAH ‘DESIGN ISSUE’
The day after being unveiled in Toronto, and only one day before it was slated to go on sale across the country, Canada Post’s Hanukkah issue was removed from display and returned to head office because of what the Crown corporation called “a design issue” with the stamp booklet and first-day cover.
Lot 60 (reverse shown) realized nearly $100 more than the original OFDC sold during the Dec. 10, 2017 All Nations sale.
“These products are not to be sold to customers and they are also no longer available through mail order or online,” reads the memo, which also explains “the reprinted version” of the stamp booklets and OFDC would “be back on sale in the next coming weeks.” The products were to be returned no later than Nov. 22.Initially slated for release on Nov. 14 as a booklet of 10 stamps, the Hanukkah stamp was unveiled on Nov. 12 at the Starry Nights event held at the Toronto Reference Library’s Bram and Bluma Appel Salon. However, according to a Canada Post memo sent to all dealer post offices on Nov. 13, entitled “IMPORTANT: Stop selling Hanukkah stamp products immediately,” the booklet (product code “414066111”) and official first-day cover (product code “414066131”) were ordered to be “immediately removed from display and returned.”
Post offices were also requested to remove the November 2017 issue of Details magazine, which featured the original Hanukkah products on page 10.
OTHER JAN. 6 HIGHLIGHTS
Lot 42 realized $170 at the Jan. 6 sale by Vancouver’s All Nations.
Other highlights of All Nation’s most recent auction include Lot 42, a Very Fine used positional block of four stamps with the one-cent Weeping Princess Variety. Catalogued in The Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps at $160, this lot realized $170.
“Canadian errors, freaks, and oddities were avidly competed for,” said auctioneer and owner Brian Grant Duff. “The sale started slow, as bid sheets seemed fewer and more selective than usual, but telephone, and last-minute bidders, plus a standing-room only live floor turnout made for a strong stamp and coin start to 2018.”
A full list of prices realized are listed at allnationsstampandcoin.com/A1140.html.
For more information, contact Duff, who is celebrating 35 years in the stamp business this year, at 1-604-684-4613.