An 1860 one-shilling stamp retaining its original gum, a unique double-bisect cover and an intact pane of pioneering airmail stamps are among the highlights of Eastern Auctions’ upcoming Newfoundland sale, featured in the latest issue of Canadian Stamp News.
The Nov. 21 auction in Bathurst, N.B., will feature 226 lots from the Camellia PLC Collections, spanning nearly a century of Newfoundland philately. The sale, titled Pence to Airmails Newfoundland – Part II, follows the first instalment held in June and includes stamps, postal history, proofs and original artwork, with several important pieces returning to the market after decades in private collections.
Among the standout offerings is an 1860 one-shilling orange stamp retaining much of its original gum, a characteristic seldom encountered on this issue. Catalogued at $80,000, the stamp is one of only three original-gum examples identified by Eastern Auctions. Chief describer Yohann Tanguay said it is the first time in more than four decades of auctions the firm recalls offering such an example.
Another remarkable piece is the celebrated Ferrary double-bisect cover, mailed from Harbour Grace to Sydney, Cape Breton, in September 1864. Estimated at $50,000 and up, the cover bears two bisected stamps alongside a complete four-pence rose. One bisect is the only recorded example of its kind, while the other is one of just two known. Its distinguished ownership history includes several of Newfoundland philately’s most celebrated collectors.
Newfoundland’s pioneering role in transatlantic aviation is also prominently represented. An intact pane of four of the 1930 Columbia flight surcharge, estimated at $50,000 and up, is one of only three surviving panes identified by Eastern Auctions. One resides in Library and Archives Canada, leaving just two in private hands. The sale also includes an exceptional 1919 Hawker flight airmail stamp catalogued at $30,000.
Collectors interested in stamp production and design will find another fascinating offering: five original artist’s sketches prepared for Newfoundland’s 1933 Labrador airmail issue. Estimated at $15,000 and up, the drawings reveal preliminary designs, alterations and corrections made before the stamps were issued. Other highlights include an exceptional mint block of four of the 1870 three-cent vermilion, estimated at $10,000 and up.
The full story appears in the Nov. 3, 2026, issue of Canadian Stamp News (Vol. 51, No. 17). Featuring insights from Eastern Auctions’ Yohann Tanguay, the article explores the significance, provenance and collecting appeal of these Newfoundland treasures, along with the remarkable stories behind several of the auction’s most important lots. It’s a fascinating preview of a sale expected to attract the attention of Newfoundland specialists and postal history collectors in Canada and abroad.