Canadian Stamp Auctions

Spink Auctions, U.K.
8 December, 2009

The Pierron Collection of British Commonwealth Stamps with Missing Colours

This amazing sale took place in London early last month. We had lots of warning that it was coming and had been watching the buildup of interest within the stamp community as the date of the sale approached.

According to Spink, there has never been a catalogue solely devoted to stamps with missing colours. The Pierron Collection contained this in spades with examples from over 55 countries and territories.

Included in the material from around the world were 51 Canadian stamps. Some of the prices were strong, with six new record prices and two varieties we have not previously seen at auction.

Here are the six new record prices:

Lot 1144 Unitrade 704i Catalogue $1,500 Realized $1,211

Lot 1173 Scott 1375a Catalogue $1,200 Realized $820

Lot 1174 Scott 1375c Catalogue $1,350 Realized $865

Lot 1181 Scott 1630b Catalogue $4,000 Realized $6,055

Lot 1192 Unitrade 1945a Catalogue $1,600 Realized $900

We find it interesting that a sale like this, taking place outside Canada, would attract sufficient demand to produce these record prices. Here’s how they did, comparing the results to the previous records:

The first stamp on the list hasn’t been seen at auction for 21 years as, according to our records, it was last offered by Eaton & Son way back in 1988 when it sold for $2,090.

New varieties

These are two varieties that have previously been reported, but this is the first time we have seen them at auction.

“Magenta & tagging omitted”

Lot 1185 Scott 1836var Catalogue – Not available Realized $605

“Silver omitted”

Lot 1187 Scott 1848b Catalogue $2,400 Realized $2,076

More Examples of Stamps with Missing Colours

Lot 1166 Unitrade 1180ci Catalogue $2,000 Realized $519

Lot 1171 Scott 1278a Catalogue $2,000 Realized $1,479

Lot 1178 Scott 1521a Catalogue $1,600 Realized $519

Lot 1179 Scott 1522a Catalogue $2,000 Realized $865

Lot 1191 Unitrade 1933i Catalogue $1,750 Realized $657

Lot 1195 Unitrade 2083ii Catalogue $2,000 Realized $865

How rare are these stamps?

We found it very helpful that Spink provided the details and origin of many of the stamps in its sale. This type of information can be very hard to come by. Our sources for this kind of information are usually either the Unitrade Catalogue or The Saskatoon Stamp Centre brochures. Here, for example, are details of some of the rarest stamps in the sale:

Wouldn’t it be a big plus if this sort of information were generally available? But there would be a few problems with this. How could the information be verified? Don’t forget, these are not official products of Canada Post. Some are printing errors and others may be “back door” items from the printers. As well, there may be existing stamps on the list where new quantities are found in future.

Nonetheless, to have Spink’s assessment of the known quantities and origins is very helpful. It helps both buyer and seller determine reasonable prices to use at auction.

We are very indebted to Tom Pierron, the collector in the UK who put this extraordinary collection of rare stamps together. Looking at the stamps from the other countries in the sale, it’s good to know, and maybe even a bit comforting to realize that the printers in Canada aren’t the only ones who make these printing errors.