Canadian Stamp Auctions

1 March, 2008 - Eastern Auctions Ltd.

This was one of those Eastern auctions in which our patience was sorely tested as we waited for the results to arrive. Even before we received the prices, it was clear that this was no ordinary auction. The catalogue was filled with rare items of a high quality from one end to the other. Our expectations were high!

While we were principally interested in the Canadian stamps, we couldn’t help but note the extraordinary price paid for a first day cover of Britain’s two pence Mulready envelope. Issued in 1840, it sold at this auction for $125,000. Further details are provided below.

We will limit our comments on the stamps that follow in order to allow you, our viewers, the pleasure of looking at some of the best stamps in the auction. In all, there were 22 new record prices and a number of them resulted in noticeable increases. As well, there were 8 stamps that sold for their second highest prices.

Early classics

Lot 1172 Unitrade 4ii Catalogue $4,000 Realized $2,800

Lot 1173 Unitrade 5i stitch wkmk. Catalogue $5,000 Realized $3,500

Lot 1182 Scott 10 Catalogue $15,000 Realized $22,000

Lot 1183 Scott 11 Catalogue $2,400 Realized $12,500

First Cents issue

Lot 1191 Unitrade 14viii Catalogue $1,000 Realized $900

Lot 1194 Scott 15 Catalogue $450 Realized $2,500

Lot 1199 Scott 17b Catalogue $900 Realized $5,250

Lot 1210 Scott 19 Catalogue $900 Realized $4,000

Lot 1213 Scott 20 Catalogue $600 Realized $1,250

Large Queens

Lot 1216 Scott 21 Catalogue $80 Realized $800

Lot 1227 Scott 24b Catalogue $650 Realized $1,400

Lot 1236 Scott 27 Catalogue $1,500 Realized $5,000

Lot 1245 Scott 29a Catalogue $$1,200 Realized $4,250

Jubilee

Lot 1281 Scott 59 Catalogue $500 Realized $2,100

Quebec Tercentenary

Lot 1333 Scott 101 Catalogue $375 Realized $1,800

Officially Sealed

Lot 1518 Unitrade OX2a Catalogue $5,000 Realized $4,250

Of the above sixteen stamps, eleven resulted in new record prices. Perhaps the most remarkable was the amount paid for Scott 11, shown as lot 1183 above. The previous record set for this stamp was $2,800 paid in 2000, some 8 years ago. The new record of $12,500 is a remarkable advance. We note that this is the first mint copy of investment quality of this stamp that we have recorded since 2000. It isn’t easy for collectors of early Canada to complete their collections when stamps like this appear so rarely.

Another result of note was the $1,800 paid for Scott 101, lot 1333 above. This was about 5 times catalogue. Unlike Scott 11, this stamp sells regularly at auction. It was only in 2006 that its price crossed the $1,000 mark for the first time, reaching the then record of $1,232. Now it has leapt to $1,800, an astounding new record.

Mulready Letter Sheet - First day cover

Lot 1008 GB U4 Estimate $20,000 Realized $125,000

This first day cover is one of only nine that exist. It is dated May 6, 1840 and has been clearly canceled with the red Maltese Cross on the front and a clear dispatch date stamp on the reverse. It was sent from London to Holyhead, Anglesea, Wales. We wonder how many non-Canadian stamps have sold for a price this high at a Canadian auction. We suspect Eastern is kind of proud of this achievement.

For more details of this sale, please click on the highlights button.

This sale had 22 New Record Prices: