1857 3p Red Plate proof pair on india paper (A61, A71) showing nearly complete plate imprint in left margin; hint of toning visible from reverse, lower proof shows prominent Re-entry in top centre Crown (overall doubling), VF and appealing; 1951 PF cert. (Image)

Cat. Value 700 $

1851 3p Orange Red on Handmade Laid Paper, Imperforate A choice and appealing used example showing portion of sheet margin at left and large margins on other sides, bright colour with prominent laid lines, and light, centrally struck concentric rings cancel. Sheet margin examples of the 1851 issue are seldom encountered, VF; 1992 Raybaudi cert. (Image)

Cat. Value 1600 $

1852 (June 1) Folded cover in an excellent state of preservation mailed from Montreal to Kingston, bearing a choice, full margined 3p red on laid paper with the deepest colour we have ever seen, tied by neat concentric rings cancel; stamp lifted for examination and replaced. Montreal JU 1 1852 double arc dispatch in red as customary for prepaid mail originating from Montreal, next-day Kingston receiver in red on back. A beautiful cover bearing a choice example of Canada's first postage stamp, VF; 1991 BPA cert. (Unitrade 1) (Image)

Estimate 1500 $

1851 (November 14) Folded lettersheet addressed to Quebec, bearing an impressive example of the 3 pence stamp in the orange red shade on laid paper with portion of sheet margin at foot, ample to large margins on other sides and tied by superb RED CONCENTRIC RINGS, equally choice Lanark, U.C. NO 14 1851 double arc dispatch datestamp in red at lower left; on reverse Brockville NOV 15 transit in black and Quebec NO 18 receiver in red. A wonderful cover in all respects and especially remarkable being postmarked during the first year of issue, certainly among the most attractive 3 pence Laid Paper covers one can hope for to find, a stunning coloured cancelled cover of the utmost desirability and rarity, XF (Unitrade 1a) (Image)

Estimate 2500 $

6p Prince Albert Trial colour plate proof block of eight printed in dark grey blue on card mounted india paper, vertical SPECIMEN overprint in carmine, ample to large margins including sheet margin at right, VF (Image)

Cat. Value 2800 $

1851 6p Slate Violet on Handmade Laid Paper, Imperforate A visually striking and rarely seen used vertical pair displaying excellent colour and very prominent laid lines; pressed horizontal crease on top stamp is hardly discernible, mostly large margins and light cancellations IN BLUE. A rare multiple of the 1851 issue on laid paper, especially so with coloured cancels, VF

Expertization: 1974 BPA certificate

Provenance: E. Carey Fox, H.R. Harmer, Inc. First Portion, May 1968; Lot 221
British North America Sale, Robson Lowe Ltd., November 1963; Lot 654 (Image)

Cat. Value 4000 $

1851 6p Slate Violet on Handmade Laid Paper, Imperforate A spectacular used single boasting oversized margins including portion of sheet margin at foot and an ideal, centered concentric rings IN RED to dazzling effect, additionally displaying excellent colour and a bright, clear impression on pristine fresh paper that shows very prominent laid lines; superior physical attributes unlike any other Six pence Consort stamps we have ever offered. A truly magnificent stamp in every sense, XF GEM (Unitrade 2)

Expertization: 1983 RPS of London certificate

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary, H.R. Harmer (New York), October 1956; Lot 10

AN ABSOLUTE GEM SIX PENCE CONSORT ON LAID PAPER WITH RED SOCKED-ON-NOSE CONCENTRIC RINGS CANCEL. AN IDEAL STAMP FOR SOMEONE SEEKING STAMPS OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY AND GREAT PROVENANCE. (Image)

Cat. Value 2000 $

1851 6p Slate Violet on Handmade Laid Paper, Imperforate A remarkable example surrounded by excellent margins, radiant colour on immaculate paper with laid lines being unusually prominent (scarce thus), beautifully postmarked with an ideal, light concentric rings cancellation. A great stamp, noticeably superior to what is normally encountered, XF (Image)

Cat. Value 2000 $

1851 6p Slate Violet on Handmade Laid Paper, Imperforate An impressive used single of this scarcer shade with superb colour on pristine fresh paper, displaying very prominent laid lines and large margins, light concentric rings cancel. A remarkable stamp in all respects, XF (Image)

Cat. Value 2400 $

12p Queen Victoria A fabulous plate proof block of four printed in the colour of issue on card mounted india paper, vertical SPECIMEN overprint in carmine, noticeably large margins all around. An impressive and very seldom encountered block - increasingly rare as many of the known multiples of the past have been split into singles to supply demand. Extremely Fine

A very distinct Major Re-entry is shown on the lower left proof - strong doubling is visible in and around all lettering, all corner numerals and the left vertical frameline. (Image)

Cat. Value 10000 $

1851 12p Black on Handmade Laid Paper, Imperforate A truly remarkable example of this keenly sought-after classic stamp in unusually choice quality, displaying a virtually unmatched combination of physical attributes including prominent laid lines, large margins, exceptional colour and a clear impression on pristine fresh paper, possessing full original gum showing only a light trace of hinging. These lofty qualities are very difficult to obtain on this particular stamp, which was pointed out when it was described in the Dale-Lichtenstein auction as: "Full O.G. rich deep shade and clear sharp impression, large margins, superb in every respect", Extremely Fine, Lightly Hinged

Expertization: 1989 Peter Holcombe certificate along with the following commentary: "An exceptional crisp clean impression with four perfect margins, an immaculate stamp in every respect. One of the finest copies in existence."
1998 Greene Foundation certificate

Provenance: Philipp La Renotière von Ferrary, Sale X, June 1924; Lot 38
Dale-Lichtenstein, Sale 2, November 1968; Lot 55 - being the first mint single to be offered in this world famous series of auctions. Sold for an impressive US$17,000 hammer against a then catalogue value of US$12,500.
"Foxbridge" (John Dupont), Private Treaty 1988
Weill Brothers, Christie's Robson Lowe (Zurich), November 1989; Lot 1519
Daniel Cantor Mint Canada Collection, November 1990; Lot 4
Unknown provenance, Maresch Sale 333, October 1998; Lot 182

A SUPERB MINT TWELVE PENNY BLACK IN IMMACULATE CONDITION, WITH IMPECCABLE AND ILLUSTRIOUS PROVENANCE. (Image)

Cat. Value 300000 $

1853 3p Brown Red on Medium Wove Paper, Imperforate A magnificent unused block of four with exceptionally rich colour, the distinctive shade ideally accentuating its detailed impression, showing portion of sheet margin at top, ample to large margins; miniscule thin spot at top entirely confined to the sheet margin. The block [Pane A; Position 5-6 / 15-16] additionally shows a very elusive STITCH WATERMARK running vertically on left pair. An important block destined for a serious collection, VF

Expertization: 2002 BPA certificate

Provenance: Charles Lathrop Pack, Part I, December 1944; Lot 34 - as the famous unused block of eight from which this block originates.
General Robert Gill, October 1965; Lot 22
E. Carey Fox, First Portion, May 1968; Lot 247
"Carrington", June 2002; Lot 3124

Literature: This block once formed part of the famous "Pack" vertical block of eight, which is illustrated in Boggs handbook on page 142.
Illustrated (as a block of four) in Robson Lowe Encyclopedia of British Empire Postage Stamps - North America Volume V on the colour plate facing page 160.

A HIGHLY SELECT UNUSED BLOCK OF THE UTMOST RARITY, DISPLAYING A PROMINENT VERTICAL STITCH WATERMARK VARIETY.
(Image)

Cat. Value 16200 $

1854 3p Red on Medium Wove Paper, Imperforate An eye arresting mint single surrounded by very large margins, showing portion of neighbouring stamp at right, with excellent colour and a lovely bright impression on pristine fresh paper, showing unusually full, clean original gum that is very seldom encountered; one of the nicest original gum examples we recall seeing. A great stamp in all respects, XF OG; 2018 Greene Foundation certificate (Image)

Cat. Value 4000 $

1853 3p Red on Medium Wove Paper, Imperforate A full margined example tied to piece by large portion of Cobourg MAR 24 double arc datestamp; an attractive and choice example, seldom seen with a postmark, VF; 1992 Raybaudi cert. ex. Dale-Lichtenstein (Sale 2, November 1968; Lot 150 - described as "brilliant scarlet color") (Image)

Cat. Value 300 $

1854 3p Orange Red on Thin Hard Wove Paper, Imperforate A selected used single with well clear to very large margins, lovely fresh colour and an unusually clear and superbly struck concentric rings cancel; an eye-appealing stamp, VF+; 1980 RPS of London cert. (Image)

Cat. Value 300 $

1854 3p Scarlet Vermilion on Thin Hard Wove Paper, Imperforate A beautiful used single with unusually deep colour and sharp impression for this paper type, surrounded by large margins, light unobtrusive cancel in BLUE; a lovely stamp, XF (Image)

Cat. Value 350 $

1854 3p Scarlet Vermilion on Thin Hard Wove Paper, Imperforate A superb and lightly cancelled example with sheet margin at top, noticeably large margins on other sides, lovely rich colour on pristine paper, XF; ex. Dale-Lichtenstein (Sale 7, January 1970; Lot 708), Grant G. Simmons (March 1971; Lot 40) (Image)

Cat. Value 350 $

1854 3p Scarlet Vermilion on Thin Hard Wove Paper, Imperforate An unusually choice example with mostly large margins, deep rich colour on flawless paper, used with ideal face-free concentric rings IN BLUE. A most appealing stamp, XF (Image)

Cat. Value 350 $

1856 3p Deep Red on Medium White Wove Paper, Imperforate Exceptional example with four large even margins, fabulous colour and bold impression, showing the elusive Major Re-entry (Plate B; Position 65) with doubling on nearly all the lettering, the VR and numerals, precisely centered light concentric rings cancellation. A superb stamp in all respects, XF GEM (Image)

Cat. Value 450 $

1857-1858 3p Red on Medium White Wove Paper, Imperforate A lovely example with rich colour, sharp impression, full to large margins and a face-free diamond shape grid cancellation of Toronto at lower right, VF (Image)

Cat. Value 300 $

1858 3p Red on Soft Horizontally Ribbed Paper, Imperforate A scarce used pair with lovely bright colour and in unusually choice condition for this notoriously fragile paper, showing portion of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson New York imprint re-entered doubling marks visible below, neatly postmarked with four-ring '21' (Montreal) cancels. A choice and desirable plate imprint pair, XF

The top stamp [Plate B Position 3] additionally shows a "vertical line" plate flaw running from Crown to Beaver, which Kershaw aptly named the "Sliced Crown and Beaver" flaw. (Image)

Cat. Value 1600 $

1858 3p Red on Soft Horizontally Ribbed Paper A lovely example with mostly large margins, characteristic colour and impression associated with this scarcer printing, completely sound and showing the Major Re-entry (Pane A; Position 33) with doubling in and around "PE" of "PENCE", on piece slightly overlapping a well clear to full margined Half penny rose on medium wove paper; tied together by diamond grids of Toronto. A beautiful combination including an elusive plate variety, VF (No premium added for the variety) (Image)

Cat. Value 1800 $

1857 (March 22) Manila envelope sent short-paid to the United States, franked with a lovely 3p deep red on medium wove paper with full to enormous margins tied by superb four-ring '37' numeral cancellation; Quebec double arc dispatch below, assessed "6" (Pence) due as the cover was deemed unpaid with no credit given for the partial payment. A striking and unusual franking / due marking combination of which very few exist, VF; 1992 Raybaudi cert. (Unitrade 4i) ex. Charles deVolpi (October 1965; Lot 74) (Image)

Estimate 750 $

1857 (October 20) Envelope mailed from Hamilton to Easton, Pennsylvania bearing vertical pair of the 3p deep red on medium white wove paper, just clear margin on one side to large margins on others, tied by light but legible four-ring '16' (RF 10 - extremely rare), clear Hamilton OC 20 1857 double arc dispatch at left, border exchange CANADA PAID 10 Cts two-line handstamp in red; no backstamp as customary. A beautiful and highly desirable cover cancelled with the highest rarity factor allocated to a four-ring numeral off or on cover; ideal for the specialist, VF (Unitrade 4i) (Image)

Estimate 1500 $

Two small, neat 1858 covers from the same correspondence, from Belleville to Brockville, both in clean condition: (1) (September 8) bearing a full margined 3p red on medium hard wove paper showing Major Re-entry (Plate B; Position 53) also known as the "VR" Re-entry with doubling in "VR", both left "3", in upper left framelines, "EE PEN" of "THREE PENCE", etc,. tied by Belleville double arc dispatch datestamp; (2) (November 1) with a choice, full margined 3p red on medium hard wove paper, neatly tied by four-ring numeral ("2" is faint) with Belleville dispatch, both with Brockville receiver on back. An appealing duo, VF (Unitrade 4, 4viii) (Image)

Estimate 750 $