1851 3d orange red Beaver Imperforate on Laid Paper. Canada's first stamp, a three penny value paying the domestic rate and showing a beaver was engraved by Alfred Jones using a very similar design proposed by (later Sir) Sanford Fleming. One census of unused mint laid paper three penny beavers put the number at 18. Although this might be a little bit low, unfortunately many of these are cut into or have faults and some are in institutional collections. It is likely that fewer than a handful of very fine four margin number ones are in private collections.

This stamp has two Certificates of Authenticity: A 1985 Greene Foundation Certificate states"...Mint, O.G., genuine..." and a 2015 Greene Foundation Certificate states ..."#1a, unused, on laid paper, orange red shade, genuine in all respects". It is unclear to us what happened to the gum after 1985 but assume that the authenticity of the "original gum" was questioned and a previous owner soaked off the gum. For the record there is a tiny faint crease entirely in the lower right margin which was not mentioned in either certificate; this could be literally cut away and there would still be four full large margins.

This stamp with fresh colour and full margins is a very rare example of a very fine Canada's first stamp.

UNITRADE #1a $60,000
SCOTT #1a USD $40,000
S.G. #1a £38,000
(Image)

Unitrade $ 60,000

1851 6d brown purple Consort Imperforate on Laid Paper. Canada's second stamp, the six penny paying the rate to USA or double domestic, features Queen Victoria's Consort Prince Albert was engraved by Alfred Jones using several sources. This stamp is significantly scarcer in used condition than the beaver and also even rarer in unused condition than the three penny.

This stamp has two Certificates of Authenticity, both from the Greene Foundation. The first from 1994 and second from 2015 states "...2b unused on laid paper, brown purple shade, genuine in all respects." Neither Certificate mentions the droplet of printers' ink in the upper right corner.

This stamp with deep fresh colour and full margins is a very rare example of a very fine Canada's second stamp.

UNITRADE #2b $60,000
SCOTT #2b USD $40,000
S.G. #3 £50,000
(Image)

Unitrade $ 60,000

1851 12d black Queen Victoria Imperforate on Laid Paper. The twelve penny was recognized from the earliest days of philately as rare and desirable. The Chalon portrait was copied by Bahamas, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia as well as other British Colonies.

This stamp was sold by Charles Phillips and was owned by Charles Lathrop Pack as the top stamp in a vertical pair. It is position 60 within a plate of 100. The pair was sold at auction in 1944 and again in 1959 but by 1976 it had been separated and received a Certificate from Herbert Bloch. With deep colour and a clear distinct impression, four large margins, full original gum lightly hinged, easily visible laid lines, fresh in all respects and a full sheet margin at right put this stamp in the first rank. Among the very fine mint twelve penny stamps, there are usually three which are regarded as being the most desirable. The full sheet margin of this gem compares favourably with another exceptional twelve penny, the Dale-Lichtenstein single from position 80 with an irregular sheet margin. As a result a number of advanced collectors confirm the opinion that the example from the Outaouais Collection is the most desirable and best of the best.

This stamp has three Certificates of Authenticity. These are from 1976 the Friedl Expert Committee, 1983 Greene Foundation, and 2013 Greene Foundation "Scott No. 3, mint, O.G., position 60, genuine in all respects."

UNITRADE #3 $300,000
SCOTT #3 USD $175,000
S.G. #4 £ 200,000
Provenance: 1944 Harmer, Rooke (New York) the "Charles Lathrop Pack Collection", lot 26. Pair (from which this is the top stamp). 1959 Robert Siegel Auctions Lot 27, Pair (from which this is the top stamp). 1977 Maresch & Son Private Treaty sale. 1983 Harmers of New York Inc. "The Provenance Collection of BNA", Lot 2062. 1997 Maresch & Son Sale 322, lot 102. The "Charles Lathrop Pack Pair" is illustrated (Plate IV) and discussed in the 1911 edition of Canada Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery by Clifton A. Howes B. Sc, FRPSL. Illustration courtesy of Harmer, Rooke & Co. "Charles Lathrop Pack Collection" catalogue, December 6-8, 1944, Lot 26. (Image)

Unitrade $ 300,000

1851 3d red Beaver Imperforate, on Laid Paper, used with bold centrally struck target cancel, very clear laid lines, with very large and even margins all around, very fine. Accompanied by a 2001 Greene Foundation certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,600

1851 3d red Beaver Imperforate, on Laid Paper, on Cover, mailed Québec City on AUG.20.1852 and addressed to Coaticook (in the Eastern Townships, a rare destination in this period and could be unique), with dateless receiver on back, in red. Franked with a 4-margin (including 3 large) laid paper imperforate, tied to cover by a bold target, which has been removed to confirm laid lines and hinged back. Cover is a tiny bit stained and there is an opening tear on the back flap, still an appealing cover franked with Canada's first stamp. Accompanied by a 2016 Greene Foundation certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 2,000

1851 3d orange red Beaver Imperforate, on Laid Paper, a lovely used horizontal strip of four, with ideal and clear target cancels on each stamp. Margins are mostly very large all around (close in two places) and the laid lines are quite clear, very fine. Accompanied by a 2015 Greene Foundation certificate stating "tiny tear between 1st and 2nd stamp, vertical folds between two stamps". An outstanding and desirable multiple, worthy of the finest collections. Ex. Ed Richardson. (Image)

Unitrade $ 6,400

1851 6d slate violet Consort Imperforate, on Laid Paper, used with light target cancel and possessing four full to huge margins. A fresh stamp, extremely fine. Accompanied by a 2011 Greene Foundation certificate. Ex. Cantor collection. (Image)

Unitrade $ 2,000

1851 6d greyish purple Consort Imperforate, on Laid Paper, With No Visible Laid Lines, used with a target cancel, margins are all clear, from close at bottom to large at left and top, fine-very fine. This unlisted paper variety is well known by specialists, with some arguing that it should deserve its own catalogue number. Accompanied by a 1979 Philatelic Foundation certificate erroneously identifying the stamp as a #5a. Ex. Henry S. Schneider (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,800

1851 12d black Queen Victoria Plate Proof, with Vertical SPECIMEN Overprint in Carmine, a lovely block of eight on card-mounted India paper, fresh and very fine. A stunning block, and certainly one of the great showpieces of Canadian philately. This item would certainly form the cornerstone of a proof collection. (Image)

Unitrade $ 20,000

1851 12d black Queen Victoria Plate Proof, with Diagonal SPECIMEN Overprint in Carmine, a horizontal pair on India paper, quite fresh and very fine. A rare and seldom offered proof, especially so in a multiple. (Image)

Unitrade $ 10,000

1852 3d red Beaver Imperforate, unused (no gum) with three large margins, close at left, with a strong impression and bright colour, very fine. Small owner's handstamp on back and accompanied by a 2009 Greene Foundation certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,625

1852 3d brown red Beaver Imperforate, used with large part Montreal L.C. cancel dated OC 13, 1853. Four large to clear margins and fresh, with a small corner crease at top left, still very fine. (Image)

Unitrade $ 350

1850s 3d red Beaver Imperforate Collection of four mostly 4 margin stamps, each cancelled with part of a c.d.s. datestamp, from Cobourg (x2), London and Spring Hill NS (quite rare and believed to be unique on this stamp - see write-up). Accompanied by a description by Bileski explaining the history behind these particular stamps, the fact that they were on display at the National Philatelic Museum and explaining how difficult, even rare it is to obtain nice c.d.s. cancels on Pence issues. Apparently, when the collection was purchased long ago, the buyer paid double the catalogue value for these, which Bileski thought was a bargain. Postal regulations of the period instructed postmasters to use an obliterator to cancel stamps, and use a datestamp elsewhere on the cover to date it. Ex. Dr. Richard Solomon. (Image)

Est $ 600

1852 3d bright red Beaver Imperforate, a lovely used strip of four with target cancels on all stamps and large, even margins all around, very fine. Previously identified by owner as being from plate positions A12 to A15. A desirable multiple of this stamp. (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,200

1852 3c red Beaver Imperforate, used with bold target cancel on small piece, four large to clear margins, showing a short entry at right, from position A88. A striking variety, quite clear and unusual. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 150

1852 3d red Beaver Imperforate, on Ribbed Soft Wove Paper, used with light target cancel, with three large margins, close at bottom. There is a part plate inscription in the right margin, fine. Accompanied by a 2003 Richard Gratton AIEP certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 400

1858 Pair of 3d Beaver Imperforates on Cover, mailed at St Hyacinthe C.E. on March 30, 1858 and addressed to Germantown Tennessee, with a March 30 Montreal transit on back. Franked with a horizontal pair of 3c imperforate Beavers on ribbed, soft wove paper (4 margins, close at right and vertical tear on right stamp) tied by two target obliterators. Two markings in red are a "PAID" (crossed-out) and "10" handstamp. Tear on back flap, still very fine appearing cover and accompanied by a 2016 Greene Foundation certificate. (Image)

Est $ 300

1852 3d orange red Beaver Imperforate, on Thin Crisp Paper, used with scarce c.d.s. cancel from Brockville. The stamp has three clear margins, touching the outer frameline at bottom. Fine, and quite difficult to find these stamps with c.d.s. cancels. (Image)

Est $ 150

3d red Beaver Oneglia Forgery, cancelled by his usual oval grid, with four large margins, very fine.. (Image)

Est $ 100

1852 3d deep red Beaver Imperforate, on Thick Hard Paper, used with light target cancel, four well clear to large margins. A lovely and fresh stamp, with crisp impression, very fine. Accompanied by a 2017 Greene Foundation certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 600

1855 6d slate grey Consort Imperforate, used with lightly struck Toronto square grid cancel, four large to huge margins, showing part of the next stamp at top, extremely fine. Accompanied by a 1994 Philatelic Foundation certificate and a 1995 P.S.E. certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,600

1855 6d greenish grey Consort Imperforate, unused (no gum) with large margins, fresh colour and very fine. Accompanied by a 1982 R.P.S. (London) certificate stating "stained" which is actually an almost imperceptible hinge mark on back. A rare unused stamp, especially in this condition, with likely fewer than a dozen unused examples known. Ex. "Montclair" collection. (Image)

Unitrade $ 35,000

1855 6d greenish grey Consort Imperforate, used with light cancel and four clear to large margins. Deep colour and very fine. Accompanied by a 2013 Greene Foundation certificate. (Image)

Unitrade $ 1,600

1855 10d blue Cartier Imperforate, used with light cancel and four very large margins. A truly remarkable stamp, extremely fine. Accompanied by a 2016 PSE certificate grading it as "XF 90". For the connoisseur of fine stamps. (Image)

Unitrade $ 2,400

ca. 1868 10d Cartier Proof from the ABN Co Trade Sample Sheet, in grayish-lilac (Minuse & Pratt #15C3), on horizontal mesh wove paper. Large margins and very fine. (Image)

Est $ 350