Canada THE HIGHLANDS COLLECTION - BRITISH COLUMBIA
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 1
Symbol: C
Cat No: Collection
Vancouver Island 1866 (January 7) an exceptional cover to Ireland endorsed "written at Vancouver Jan 7 / 66" below a remarkable franking consisting of Great Britain 1864 1p red [Plate 83], perf 14 strip of six and a single tied by clear oval "P" London Foreign Branch postmarks, clear London PAID 30 MR 66 circular datestamp in red, H & K Pact MR 31 66 split ring packet datestamp on back; backflap missing. Gerald Wellburn, well known for his meticulous and well researched notes, mentions "Probably written by a sailor on H.M. gum-boat Sparrowhawk when stationed at Esquimalt, Vancouver Island 1865-1872. Order-in-Council London created the permanent Royal Naval Establishment of Esquimalt effective 29 June 1865." A great cover that will really stand out in an advanced collection or exhibit, VF (Great Britain Scott 33)
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons Auctions, October 1988; Lot 1002 (Image)
Estimate 3500 $
Opening C$ 2,300.00
Sold...C$ 6,250.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 6250
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 2
Symbol: *
Cat No: 1
1860 2½p Bright Orange Rose, No Watermark, Imperforate A premium mint example of this key imperforate classic stamp, displaying the characteristic orange tinge associated with this first printing, surrounded by full to large margins, exceptional colour, bright impression and in immaculate condition, possessing unusually full, dull white original gum of the early De La Rue printings, lightly hinged. An extraordinary stamp as most examples are without gum, XF OG
Expertization: 2018 Greene Foundation certificate
A FABULOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE IMPERFORATE STAMP WITH FULL ORIGINAL GUM. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THIS STAMP WAS ISSUED TO BE USED CONCURRENTLY IN BOTH COLONIES OF VANCOUVER ISLAND AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. (Image)
Cat. Value 60000 $
Opening C$ 19,000.00
Sold...C$ 32,500.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 32500
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 3
Symbol: *
Cat No: 1S
1860 2½p Dull Rose, No Watermark, Imperforate A remarkably choice mint single with diagonal SPECIMEN handstamp in black, four large margins and full, dull streaky original gum associated with early De La Rue printings, light gum crease near hinging. We believe this may be the only example still retaining its original gum (among only four known to exist). Rare and desirable, VF OG
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1071
Dr. Conrad Latto, Christie's (New York), March 1993; Lot 982 (Image)
Estimate 7500 $
Opening C$ 4,250.00
Sold...C$ 8,000.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 8000
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 4
Symbol: O
Cat No: 2
1860 2½p Dull Rose, No Watermark, Perf 14 An extraordinary used block of eight - by far the largest existing multiple, inconsequential faults mainly confined to left side, nicely used at Yale, BC with clear grid '4' cancellations IN RED. An important showpiece - the unique used block of this interesting and intriguing "Joint issue" between the colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia, Fine
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1078 - sold for an
impressive $3,575 inclusive of buyer's premium.
Dr. Lewis L. Reford, Part One, Harmer, Rooke & Co., February 1950; Lot 15 (Image)
Estimate 3500 $
Opening C$ 1,500.00
Sold...C$ 3,500.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 3500
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 5
Symbol: O
Cat No: 2
1860 2½p Dull Rose, No Watermark, Perf 14 Used horizontal strip of three with light grid '10' cancellations of William's Creek; left stamp with clipped perfs, right pair completely sound with intact perforations all around and in choice condition. A very scarce used multiple, especially desirable with a numeral cancel from the Interior, VF (Cat. for right pair) (Image)
Cat. Value 700 $
Opening C$ 260.00
Sold...C$ 300.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 6
Symbol: C
Cat No: 2a
1865 (Late October) Blue envelope from Lytton to Nashville, Tennessee, provisionally franked with 2½p dull rose vertical strip of three (for the 9p letter rate from the Interior to Victoria, V.I.), light crease at right due to placement, tied by grid '7' (Lytton) cancels, straightline PAID handstamp suggesting that US postage was unavailable at origin and was affixed instead at San Francisco. On reverse clear General Post Office / British Columbia 2 SEP 1865 double ring transit, bears a US 10c green postmarked at San Francisco with cogwheels and SEP 11 1865 CDS. Envelope slightly reduced at right and couple small tears at left; a rarely seen properly paid cover from the Interior of British Columbia to the United States, F-VF; 1980 PF cert. (Unitrade 2) (Image)
Estimate 2500 $
Opening C$ 1,500.00
Sold...C$ 2,800.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 2800
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 7
Symbol: C
Cat No: 2
Undated (circa. 1865) Dietz & Nelson British Columbia & Victoria Paid frank envelope with 2½p dull rose, perf 14 right wing margin single, minor perf flaws, tied by neat double ring Dietz & Nelson's Express in greenish blue (R. Lowe HS-29), addressed to Victoria, V.I. Opening tears at top, Fine appearance, a scarce used express envelope (not used as a "paste-up" to addressed letter content). (Unitrade 2) (Image)
Estimate 500 $
Opening C$ 300.00
Sold...C$ 650.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 8
Symbol:
Cat No: 3TC2-4TC
Vancouver Island 1865 5c & 10c Queen Victoria Original De La Rue Die Proofs, typographed in black on thick white glazed (enamel) surfaced card, slight edge soiling of no importance, both measuring 93 x 60mm with datestamps "Mar, 20 1865" and "Mar, 17. 1865" respectively at top left, also three-line "AFTER HARDENING / AND / BEFORE STRIKING" handstamp, initialed at lower right. An exceedingly rare set of proofs; very few have been available in the marketplace in the last few decades. An excellent opportunity for the advanced collector to acquire die proofs the only two designs issued by the Colony of Vancouver Island, VF
Provenance: Dale-Lichtenstein, H.R. Harmer LLC (New York), May 2004; 5 cent (Lot 14) and 10 cent (Lot 18) (Image)
Estimate 5000 $
Opening C$ 2,400.00
Sold...C$ 3,000.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 3000
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 9
Symbol: O
Cat No: 3
Vancouver Island 1865 5c Rose, Watermarked Crown CC, Imperforate A spectacular used example of this great rarity - widely regarded as one of the most difficult stamps of British North America to obtain in choice quality (mint or used). Exceptionally fresh with uniformly rich colour and clear impression on immaculate paper, further accentuated by four large even margins and neat postmark of Victoria with a clear grid '35' numeral cancellation in blue. THE FINEST KNOWN USED EXAMPLE of the Vancouver Island 5 cent rose imperforate stamp - displaying incomparable attributes which we were unable to locate on other examples after lengthy research. A superb and impeccable stamp in all respects, XF GEM
Expertization: 1997 Brandon certificate
Provenance: Alfred Caspary, October 1956; Lot 243
"Provenance" Collection of British North America, January 1983; Lot 2004
"November" Collection, February 1994; Lot 205
A FABULOUS STAMP DEMONSTRATING THE EPITOME OF QUALITY AND RARITY. THE ULTIMATE POSTALLY USED STAMP OF BRITISH COLUMBIA & VANCOUVER ISLAND, IT ONCE GRACED THE LEGENDARY CASPARY COLLECTION. (Image)
Cat. Value 15000 $
Opening C$ 8,500.00
Sold...C$ 22,000.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 22000
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 10
Symbol: C
Cat No: 3
Undated (circa. 1866-1867) Envelope with albino crest attributed to Rt. Rev. Bishop Hills (also known as Charles Columbia) on backflap, roughly opened at top and small portion of flap missing, bearing the sought-after imperforate 5c rose, irregular margins from hand separation, barely touches top left frame, otherwise margins just clear to unusually large all around, posted on mail steamer at Victoria for New Westminster; nicely tied on arrival by clear PAID handstamp in BLUE. A spectacular and rare usage of the 5 cent rose imperforate on cover, VF (Unitrade 3)
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1149 - with his original album page.
ONLY A HANDFUL OF 5 CENT ROSE IMPERFORATES ARE KNOWN USED ON COVER. IT IS ALSO SURPRISINGLY RARE AS A SINGLE-FRANKING. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE FOR ANY ADVANCED BNA COLLECTION. (Image)
Estimate 10000 $
Opening C$ 5,500.00
Sold...C$ 8,500.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 8500
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 11
Symbol: *
Cat No: 4
Vancouver Island 1865 10c Blue, Watermark Crown CC, Imperforate A post office fresh mint example, close at left to very large margins on other sides, on pristine paper and with full dull white original gum lightly hinged, unusually clean and seldom seen as such. A beautiful and exceptionally fresh mint stamp; pencil signed A. Diena on reverse, F-VF OG; 1973 Alberto Diena certificate (Image)
Cat. Value 5625 $
Opening C$ 1,500.00
Sold...C$ 2,000.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 2000
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 12
Symbol: C
Cat No: 5
Undated (circa. 1865-1866) Envelope addressed locally to the Government House at Victoria, sealed tear, bearing a sound 5c rose, perf 14, nicely tied by complete large oval Post Office "Arms" Victoria V.I. handstamp in blue (R. Lowe HS-4); a very pretty cover, VF (Unitrade 5) (Image)
Estimate 750 $
Opening C$ 550.00
Sold...C$ 1,500.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1500
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 13
Symbol: C
Cat No: 5
Undated (circa. 1866-1867) envelope franked with single 5c rose, perf 14 alongside US 10c deep green, both cancelled by segmented cork cancel, clear Olympia NOV 20 W.TY CDS receiver. British Columbia 5c postage for mail leaving the colony and US 10c green for postage to Washington Territory; couple tears to envelope, one sealed and faint edge toning. A very scarce dual franking, Fine (Unitrade 5) (Image)
Estimate 1500 $
Opening C$ 725.00
Sold...C$ 1,000.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1000
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 14
Symbol: C
Cat No: 5
1867 (May 11) Envelope from New Westminster to Nanaimo, bearing a sound 5c rose, perf 14 neatly tied by double oval New Westminster Post Office British Columbia cancellation in blue (R. Lowe HS-8) along with double ring General Post Office 11 MAY 1867 British Columbia dispatch datestamp in blue (R. Lowe HS-10) on reverse; small cover tear at top. A lovely cover paying the newly adopted 5 cent domestic letter rate as of April 1867, VF (Unitrade 5) (Image)
Estimate 750 $
Opening C$ 400.00
Sold...C$ 800.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 800
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 15
Symbol: C
Undated envelope in immaculate condition with Rt. Rev Bishop Hills embossed crest on backflap, clear large oval Post Office Paid Victoria Vancouver Island frank in blue (R. Lowe HS-5) denoting 5 cent Colonial postage had been paid, addressed to H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General at New Westminster. A very pretty cover in pristine condition, VF; ex. Dr. R.V.C. Carr (January 2000; Lot 183)
Cover shows initials of E. Graham Alston, Secretary to the Right Reverend Bishop Hills. (Image)
Estimate 750 $
Opening C$ 375.00
Sold...C$ 575.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 16
Symbol: C
Cat No: 7a
Undated (circa. 1866) clean orange cover from William's Creek to New Westminster, bearing a lovely pair of 3p light blue, perf 14 neatly struck with grid '10' numeral cancel in black, same-ink PAID at left. A beautiful and unusually clean cover from the Interior paying the 6 pence letter rate to New Westminster, VF (Unitrade 7a)
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1237 - with his original album page. (Image)
Estimate 1500 $
Opening C$ 1,050.00
Sold...C$ 2,300.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 2300
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 17
Symbol: C
Cat No: 7a
1866 (March 1) Buff cover from Victoria, Vancouver Island (then still a separate colony), endorsed "per Active 1st March / 66" at foot, showing superb large oval Post Office Paid Victoria Vancouver Island frank in blue (R. Lowe HS-5) denoting 5 cent V.I. postage paid in cash, franked with British Columbia 3p light blue, perf 14 for B.C. postage and tied on arrival with straightline PAID handstamp; couple light horizontal folds to envelope, one of which touches the stamp. An interesting inter-colonial rate cover, Fine (Unitrade 7a)
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1236 - with his original album page (Image)
Estimate 750 $
Opening C$ 550.00
Sold...C$ 1,700.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1700
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 18
Symbol: *
Cat No: 8
1868 2c Brown, Perf 14 A beautifully fresh mint block of four above average centering, seldom encountered this nice, retaining large part original gum, a very scarce block, Fine+ (Cat. as singles only) (Image)
Cat. Value 800 $
Opening C$ 230.00
Sold...C$ 450.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 450
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 19
Symbol: C
Cat No: 8
1871 (May 5) Orange envelope mailed from Victoria, BC to Boston, Massachusetts, franked with 2c on 3c brown, perf 14 horizontal strip of three tied by clear grid '35' cancels, right stamp has minor flaws, Victoria MAY 5 (1871) dispatch CDS in blue at left, cover with couple small tears and slightly reduced at left; on reverse San Francisco Paid All MAY 13 transit CDS. A very scarce and appealing 6 cent letter rate to the United States, VF (Unitrade 8)
Prior to July 1870, US postage was required on mail originating from British Columbia and Vancouver Island. A Postal Treaty with the United States eliminated this need and only BC postage was to be affixed. The 6 cent Colonial letter rate (effective July 1870) was short-lived as Canadian stamps were introduced August 20, 1871. (Image)
Estimate 1000 $
Opening C$ 1,250.00
Sold...C$ 1,700.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1700
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 20
Symbol: C
The Cariboo Sentinal folded newspaper with masthead "Barkerville, Williams Creek, B.C. Thursday, July 18, 1867", conveyed by Dietz & Nelson Express and postmarked twice with double ring Dietz & Nelson's B.C. & V. / Express cancellations in blue (R. Lowe HS-24) before the 2 cent stamp was made available for franking newspapers (issued January 22, 1868). A most unusual and no doubt rare provisional "express franked" newspaper, VF
Provenance: Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1276 (Image)
Estimate 750 $
Opening C$ 300.00
Sold...C$ 850.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 850
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 21
Symbol: *
Cat No: 9
1869 5c Bright Red, Perf 14 A scarce mint block of four, well centered for the issue; a few light tone spots hardly visible from the front, full, dull streaky original gum with the lower pair being NEVER HINGED and very seldom encountered as such, Fine+ OG (Cat. for mint hinged singles only) ex. Dale-Lichtenstein (May 2004; Lot 93) (Image)
Cat. Value 2000 $
Opening C$ 900.00
Sold...C$ 1,200.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1200
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 22
Symbol: C
Cat No: 9
1870 (September 12) Envelope addressed locally - drop letter mail to Henry Morgan at Victoria, bearing a single 5c bright red, perf 14 tied by complete and quite clear Victoria SEP 12 1870 CDS postmark; backflap missing and some foxing along edge of envelope, a very scarce single-franking of the 5 cent Colonial stamp, VF (Unitrade 9) (Image)
Estimate 500 $
Opening C$ 350.00
Sold...C$ 425.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 425
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 23
Symbol: *
Cat No: 10S, 12S, 13S
10c, 50c, $1 Coat of Arms, Perf 14 Three fresh mint singles with horizontal SPECIMEN overprint (15.5mm long), each in sound condition with large part original gum. These stamps are rarely seen and the few we were able to find during our research often displayed clipped perforations, making this group all the more impressive, Fine OG (Image)
Estimate 3000 $
Opening C$ 2,200.00
Sold...C$ 4,000.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 4000
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 24
Symbol: *
Cat No: 11
1869 25c Orange, Perf 14 Right wing margin mint block of four with fresh, bright colour; a few split perfs at foot strengthened by a hinge, still retaining full, dull streaky original gum associated with De La Rue printings, top pair very lightly hinged. A rare and appealing block, Fine+ OG. (Cat. as singles) (Image)
Cat. Value 2400 $
Opening C$ 950.00
Sold...C$ 1,200.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1200
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 25
Symbol: C
Cat No: 11
1870 (June 23) Clean blue cover from Victoria, BC to Travistock, England, bearing a lovely example of the 25c orange, perf 14 with rich colour, well tied by superb grid '35' in blue, same-ink Victoria JUN 23 1870 dispatch CDS at left; two backflaps missing. A rare 25 cent Colonial rate to England in much nicer condition than the few such rated covers we have observed, F-VF (Unitrade 11)
Provenance: Dale-Lichtenstein, H.R. Harmer LLC, May 2004; Lot 229
Effective January 1868 covers to England no longer required US postage; excluding Wells, Fargo who used the US mail system. The 25c orange, perf 14 was issued in early August 1869 and remained in use until August 20, 1871. (Image)
Estimate 1500 $
Opening C$ 950.00
Sold...C$ 1,600.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 1600
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 26
Symbol: *
Cat No: 12i
1871 50c Violet, Perf 14 Elusive example with INVERTED WATERMARK variety. Very seldom encountered, Fine (Image)
Cat. Value 1500 $
Opening C$ 350.00
Sold...C$ 575.00
Closed..Feb-12-2019, 15:00:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 856
Lot No: 27
Symbol: *
Cat No: 16
1869 25c Orange, Perf 12½ An exceedingly rare mint block of four, remarkably well centered for the notoriously difficult 1869 Issue; some toning mostly visible from the back confined along perfs, clipped at lower left, otherwise perforations are intact with characteristic uncleared perf discs; possessing full, dull streaky original gum, lightly hinged. An ideal showpiece block, VF LH
Provenance: Dr. Lewis Reford, Part One, Harmer, Rooke & Co., February 1950; Lot 51
Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1295
Census: Only two other blocks are known; (1) one block permanently resides in the Royal Collection and (2) one block with gum stains and a thin from the Dale-Lichtenstein collection sold in May 2004 (Lot 120) together with the other values up to $1 perf 12½ for an impressive US$55,000. (Image)
