Canadian Stamp Auctions

15 September, 2009 - Heinrich Köhler Auktionshaus

This offering of Canadian stamps by the German auction house, Heinrich Köhler, came as a complete surprise to us. The rarity of the Canadian stamps they offered was something we were delighted to see. Just 13 Canadian lots were included with others in the sale, but each one was special and came with a careful description and certificate of authentication.

Heinrich Köhler is an auction house located in Wiesbaden, Germany. We were advised by them that the collection had been owned by a German collector, unknown to the public, who died in 1974.

We show below 6 impressive examples from the sale, showing their provenance where available:

OG, some gum creasing with tiny tear at bottom right stamp and separation cut between stamps at right. Ex-Fox where, in 1968, it sold as lot 284 for $9,500 U.S. and Ex-Gill where it sold in 1965 for $14,000 U.S.

Large margins all around and some tiny holes due to small thinning. Ex Simmons (1971) and also Ex-Dale Lichtenstein where, in 1969, it sold as lot 413 for $2,500 U.S.

One of the finest of this rarity, of which only about 12 covers are known. The address has been cut out and new paper added to fill it in.

From the base of the sheet with full imprint, some creasing partly repaired, unused and not with original gum. Ex-Dale Lichtenstein where, in 1969, it sold as lot 505 for $725 U.S.

This strip had been lifted and an interior repair was made to the central stamp.

Imperforate, left sheet margin block with printer’s imprint, part original gum, left pair with large repair on back and tiny thin in margin at right. Ex-Dale Lichtenstein where, as lot 604, it sold in 1969 for $4,800 U.S.

Conclusion

What an interesting sale. We wish to thank Alexandra Marx, Michael Hilbertz and Ingrid van Lith of Heinrich Köhler for their prompt responses to our inquiries about the prices realized and the origins of the collection.

Some of these rare early Canadian stamps had faults which depressed their prices in this sale, but this was more than offset by their rarity. If, in the past, these stamps graced the collections of people like Dale-Lichtenstein, Carey Fox and Robert Gill, they are clearly very collectible and will proudly share space in the finest collections in years to come.

(The prices in this sale were converted at the rate of 1€.= $1.57 Cdn.)