Most of Canada’s more valuable stamps were issued between 1851 and 1857. Luckily for us, this was the period in which the owner of the “Loch” collection chose to specialize. According to Charles Firby, he was a most particular collector who insisted on the best quality possible. It took him 30 years to complete this objective.

It is a pleasure to present some of his many treasures:

Three 12p Plate Proofs

Vertical Carmine Specimen	Diagonal Carmine Specimen	Vertical GreenSpecimen
Lot 25 Realized $1,184	Lot 26 Realized $2,516	Lot 27 Realized $2,812

3p on laid paper

1i, iii Orange red, major re-entry

Lot 51 Realized $4,440

1 The nicest of the known strips

Lot 53 Realized $5,920

1

Lot 59 Cover dated Dec. 23, 1851 from Montreal to Boston. Ex-Hilmer, Foxbridge & Lubke Realized $6,660

12p on laid paper

3

Lot 67 NG, ex- Wellburn Realized $74,000

3p on wove paper

4 Orange red on thin paper	4 Red on medium paper
Lot 87 Full OG, one of the finest Realized $4,810	Lot 192 Full OG Realized $4,070

4i Deep red	4c Red on soft ribbed paper
Lot 140 Superb, huge margined pair Realized $3,300	Lot 172 NG, good to huge margins Realized $2,200

4c & 8 3d red on soft ribbed paper & ½d rose

Lot 203 Cover dated June 26, 1858 from Toronto to England, Cunard packet rate Realized $11,100

4xi Scarlet vermillion

Lot 108 Realized $1,775

4var Orange red

Lot 210 Gem showpiece, sheet margin imprint pair on thick hard opaque paper Realized $3,330

10p on wove paper

7 Dull blue

Lot 117 Cover dated April 13, 1857 from Hamilton to London, England. A showpiece. Ex- Dr. Geldert, Hillmer & Van Dieten Realized $8,880

½d rose on medium paper

8

Lot 169 Clear to large margined vertical strip of 4 Realized $1,775

(In 2004, this strip sold in the “Midland” collection for $2,227)

8b var Lilac rose on soft vertically ribbed paper	8b Rose on vertically ribbed paper
Lot 188 With re-entry, psn. 58 Realized $6,290	Lot 189 Rare and XF for this difficult stamp Realized $5,920

 

9 Green

Lot 147 Cover dated Nov. 12, 1857 from Hamilton to England Superb example of the Allan Line rate Realized $11,100

Conclusion

What an amazing collection. No wonder the name “Loch” is so well known in stamp circles. As future collections are offered at auction, any stamps identified as coming from the Loch collection will be greatly sought after.

Our thanks to Mr. John Cooper of Montreal for making the catalogue from this sale available to us.

(Prices realized have been converted at the rate of $1.00 U.S.= $1.48 Cdn.)