Small Queen Vignette Die Proof, on thin paper measuring 36 x 37 mm. Mr. Hillson writes "Originally made in late 1867 or early 1868 as the vignette for the ½c Large Queen, it was used for the entire Small Queen series up to 1882, when the ½c Small Queen was introduced using a reduced size head, necessary because of its diminutive size. This vignette die proof differs only in its reduced circumference to the Large Queen, cutting the point of the neck, and is doubtless made from a die struck from the larger circumference master die. A rare items and a must have for the serious Small Queen collector. Illustrated in H&N, page 4. (Image)

Est $ 2,500

1882 ½c Small Queen Plate Proof in Black, on card-mounted India paper, very fine. (Image)

Unitrade $ 600

1890s ½c black Small Queen Precancel on a Complete Stamp Newspaper, The All Around Stamp Advertiser being volume 1 no. 7 (December 1896) completely printed in red ink, with many stamp dealer and auction ads, price lists, etc. The ½c Small Queen stamp is partially precanceled by a St Hyacynthe roller and pays the proper newspaper rate. A very fine example (folded in four) of this, as many are known with tears or creases. Illustrated in H&N, page 83. (Image)

Est $ 250

1882 ½c black Small Queen, two mint never hinged full Type V imprint blocks of eight, from top and bottom of right hand pane, top also showing reversed "1" above imprint. Very fresh and overall fine, with separation on one stamp of the top block. (Image)

Est $ 200

1882 ½c black Small Queen on Toned Paper, a mint never hinged gutter block of eight, from top of pane, fresh and very fine, with strong offset on reverse. Ex. John Ayre. Illustrated in H&N, page 86. (Image)

Unitrade $ 2,000

1882 ½c black Small Queen, a mint never hinged block of eight from the right side of the right hand pane, showing full imprint in selvedge. This is an early 1st state of the plate, which shows no major re-entry in position 5/9. Very few are known (Hillson notes that this is the only known such block), fresh and very fine. Ex. Hutton (Robert Lee, 2003). (Image)

Est $ 750

1882 ½c black Small Queen Part Imperforate, a mint never hinged block of six, imperforate vertically at left, with tiny gum imperfection on top stamps (negligible), still rare and fine-very fine. (Image)

Est $ 350

1882 ½c black Small Queen, a mint block of fifty, from lower half of left hand pane, showing full Type V imprint at bottom, part of another at left, and gutter at right. Some hinge reinforcement affecting at least seven stamps, plus some natural gum bends, still a fine to very fine block. (Image)

Est $ 350

1882 ½c black Small Queen, a mint block of twenty, from top of the right hand pane, showing full Type V imprint at top and reversed "1" above it. A late state of the plate, with all stamps re-entered with clear doubling, including the major re-entry in position 10 (row 1/10). There is hinge reinforcement affecting seven stamps, else overall fine-very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1882 ½c black Small Queen on Illustrated Advertising Cover, tied by a cork cancel, unaddressed and paying the "every householder rate". The cover illustrates an Empire typewriter, and advertising is for the Williams Mf'g Co. in Montreal. This is a complete cover, with unsealed back flap and is quite rare, as being "junk mail" these were normally discarded. Very fine and fresh. (Image)

Est $ 400

1882 ½c black Small Queen on Wrapper, stamp is tied by Toronto roller cancel and wrapper is addressed to the Massey-Harris Co. in Toronto. A nice example of the ½c stamp paying the up to one ounce newspaper wrapper. Very fine. (Image)

Unitrade $ 300

1891 ½c black Small Queen Single Franking on Addressed Unsealed Cover, stamp is tied by a fancy cork cancel, unsealed and addressed (to Liverpool, NS) which was contrary to the regulations for the use of the ½c rate. The back of the cover has an Annapolis c.d.s. (either dispatch or transit, dated OCT.1.1891) and a Liverpool receiver dated next day. Scarce and very fine. (Image)

Unitrade $ 300

1882 ½c black Small Queen, a used strip of six, from bottom of the left pane showing a full Type V imprint in margin, three crisp strikes of the St John NB duplex dated MAR.4.1895, very fine. Hillson describes it as "a late use of the early state of plate 2, with horizontal guide line, lower left re-entry and re-entered above "OS" of POSTAGE". A lovely item in all respects. (Image)

Est $ 100

1882 ½c black Small Queen Vertical Pair, Partially Imperforate Between Horizontally, showing missing perforations and unpunched perforations between the stamps, used with clean 1892 Ottawa squared circle precursor postmarks, quite fresh and very fine. (Image)

Est $ 150

1882 ½c black Small Queen, two mint blocks showing full Type V imprint at top plus a reversed "2", first is a block of twelve on white paper (two stamps hinged at bottom) and second is a block of eight on toned paper (never hinged). Fine-to very fine overall. (Image)

Est $ 200

1897 Small Queen and Jubilee Combination Cover, mailed from St Louis Sask. on SEP.15.1897 to Audenarde, Belgium (SEP.30 receiver on back). The pinkish cover is franked with two ½c SQ, two 1c Jubilee and a 2c Jubilee paying a total of 5c. The back shows two strikes from Duck Lake, Sask (SEP.15) as well as a SEP.29 illegible postmark and a Belgian number 3 in circle. Two of the Jubilee stamps have slight glue overspill, still a very fine cover. (Image)

Est $ 100

1895 ½c black Small Queen Imperforate, an unused (no gum, as issued) horizontal pair, very fine. Only 400 stamps were printed. (Image)

Unitrade $ 800

1895 ½c black Small Queen Imperforate, a mint never hinged horizontal pair with sheet margin at left, quite fresh with gum a bit short of the edge, still very fine. Only 400 stamps were printed. (Image)

Unitrade $ 2,000

1882 ½c black Small Queen Strip of Four, Comprised of Two Imperforate between Vertically Pairs, unused no gum, with centre of strip showing double perforation, fine. A rare item, as only a handful of multiples exist. Ex. Whitworth and accompanied by a 1953 B.P.A. certificate. Illustrated in H&N, page 87. (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,500

1882 ½c black Small Queen on Thick White Paper, a mint never hinged plate block of eight, from the right hand pane, with full Type V printer's imprint in top margin, also showing reversed "1" above imprint. A very fresh block, overall fine-very fine. (Image)

Est $ 350

1882 ½c black Small Queen on Thick White Paper, a mint never hinged block of six from rows 9 and 10, with central gutter at left, from the right hand pane. A very fresh block, overall fine-very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1882 ½c black Small Queen, a mint never hinged block of eight from the right side of the right hand pane, showing full imprint in selvedge. This is the 2nd state of the plate, which shows a major re-entry in position 49 (5/10). Fresh and very fine, the re-entered stamp is extremely fine (and catalogues $625 by itself). (Image)

Est $ 500

1890s ½c black Small Queen Precancel on Illustrated Patriotic Postcard, a most colourful postcard showing a scene on the Victoria Bridge on Guelph, Ontario, advertising the W. Bell & Co. Organ Manufacturers and an illustration of their manufacture on reverse side. The ½c stamp with Type "S" precancel pays the box holder rate, and there is no space for addressing the card. Light edge creases, still rare, with brilliant colours and quite striking. Illustrated in H&N, page 83. (Image)

Est $ 500

1899 Hechler Patriotic Cover to Newfoundland, "The Flag that Braved" blue and red cover was mailed by Henry Hechler in Halifax on JUN.26.1899 (two duplex strikes) to St Johns Newfoundland (JUN.29 receiver on back). This colourful cover is franked with four different ½c black stamps: a Large Queen, a Small Queen, a Leaf and a Numeral, paying the 2c Empire rate. Couple tiny faults, else very fine and interesting. (Image)

Est $ 200

1882 ½c black Small Queen Remainder of the Stamps, all chosen by the owner to illustrate different aspects. We note mint and used singles and multiples showing paper types, many re-entries (minor to major), plate wear, and includes a ½c Large Queen for comparison. A useful lot and overall fine to very fine all scanned online. (Image)

Est $ 250