Eastern Auctions’ upcoming Feb. 25–28 sale reaches deep into the heart of British North America and Canadian postal history, offering one of the most extensive and diverse public selections the firm has assembled in recent years. Anchored by two major named collections, the auction’s real strength lies in the breadth of specialist material spanning classic colonial issues through to the King George VI period.
According to chief describer Yohann Tanguay, the sale brings together material rarely seen in a single offering, including elusive rates, destinations and frankings that once resided in important private collections. From early Pence-era covers to later wartime and airmail material, the auction presents a sweeping view of Canada’s postal past that rewards both seasoned specialists and collectors seeking new directions.
Classic British North America rarities headline the sale, including a standout Vancouver Island five-cent rose imperforate in mint condition with original gum, described as a strong contender for the rarest mint stamp of the BNA period. Newfoundland postal history also figures prominently, highlighted by a celebrated inverted surcharge airmail rarity that ranks among the finest known examples of its kind.
Canadian decimal and Large Queen postal history adds further depth, with material that may appear understated at first glance but reveals exceptional importance upon closer study. From unique multiple frankings and elusive rate combinations to production material such as die essays, the sale offers rich research and exhibition opportunities across multiple collecting fields.
Several intact collections underscore the auction’s scholarly appeal, including a lifetime holding of Admiral lathework on cover and an award-winning exhibit documenting Canada’s wartime Foreign Exchange Control Board mail. Aviation postal history is also well represented, notably with a Zeppelin-flown cover franked with a 50-cent Bluenose, part of a long-hidden collection of Canadian-line airship mail.
As interest in postal history continues to grow, Tanguay notes that auctions like this one bring together material that may surface only once in a generation. With more than 1,000 lots offered across four sessions, the sale reflects both the enduring fascination and the vast, still-unfolding potential of Canadian postal history. Full coverage of the auction appears in the latest issue of Canadian Stamp News (V50N23), released February 2, 2026.