1859 6p Brownish Grey, Perf 11¾ A premium mint example of this great rarity, displaying superior centering and deep vibrant colour unlike many of the examples we have seen, displaying unusually intact perforations all around, mild hinging with large part original gum. Outstanding in all respects and rarely encountered in such ideal quality, VF OG

Expertization: 1964 BPA certificate signed by Robson Lowe et al.
1964 Alberto Diena certificate; stamp has also his penciled signature and that of expert Dr. Giulio Bolaffi

Provenance: Dr. Lewis L. Reford, Part Two, October 1950; Lot 379
British North America Sale, Robson Lowe Ltd., January 1964; Lot 1067 - aptly described as "... a superb full deep shade, mint with almost complete original gum".

Literature: Illustrated in Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps Vol. V - North America on page 170.

Seasoned collectors will certainly appreciate the difficulty of finding Canada's first perforated issue in nice condition. Most existing examples are poorly centered or have some degree of trimmed perforations; these peculiarities only accentuate the challenge of obtaining a nicely centered example with intact perforations.

A BEAUTIFUL AND CHOICE MINT O.G. EXAMPLE OF THE PERFORATED SIX PENCE PRINCE ALBERT, RANKING AMONG THE VERY FINEST IN EXISTENCE. (Image)

Cat. Value 75000 $

1860 1sh Orange on Medium Hard Wove Paper, Imperforate An outstanding mint example, brilliant fresh colour on bright paper and displaying a remarkably strong impression, surrounded by full even margins; unusual "SPECI(MEN)" overprint in black serifed capitals (the entire overprint would measure about 37.5 x 4mm); still retaining a large portion of its original gum, distinctive small purple "trefoil" handstamp of Ferrary on reverse. An exceptional stamp that previously graced some very important collections of the past, XF OG

Provenance: Philipp La Renotière von Ferrary, Sale II, October 1921; Lot 569
Maurice Burrus, Robson Lowe Ltd., April 1963; Lot 422
Sidney Harris, Stanley Gibbons Auctions, October 1968; Lot 129
Robert H. Pratt, Harmers of London, October 1986; Lot 238
Dr. Chan Chin Cheung, Christie's (New York), September 1995; Lot 135

Literature: Illustrated and discussed in R. Pratt "The Pence Issues of Newfoundland 1857-1866" on pages 132-133 (Figure 59).

We would like to point out this is the ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE bearing a Specimen overprint; furthermore the right-hand stamp, which has never been found, would only show the remaining "MEN" of the overprint.

A SUPERB AND MATCHLESS MINT STAMP WITH LARGE PART ORIGINAL GUM, POSSESSING SUPERIOR ATTRIBUTES VERY RARELY FOUND ON THE 1860 ISSUE. IN FACT, WE WOULD GO AS FAR AS STATING THAT THIS STAMP IS SUPERIOR TO ALL OF THE VERY FEW KNOWN MINT OG EXAMPLES OF THE ONE SHILLING ORANGE HERALDIC WITHOUT THE OVERPRINT. A FABULOUS SHOWPIECE WITH ILLUSTRIOUS PROVENANCE.
(Image)

Estimate 20000 $

1860 (April 18) Envelope bearing a sound diagonally bisected 6p dark green used to pay the 3 pence domestic letter rate from Berwick to Wolfville, large margined and tied by light oval mute grids, a further strike obliterates a "3" handstamp in black, envelope somewhat reduced at left. Backstamp postmarks all on AP 18, at Berwick, Kentville and Wolfville. A curious, highly unusual and very scarce bisect cover, ideal for exhibition, VF (Unitrade 5a)

Provenance: The "Geranium" (Pilkington) Collection, December 1986; Lot 760
Duncan McLellan, April 1964; Lot 777

Literature: Illustrated and commented on in Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia of British Empire Postage Stamps, Volume V, page 363.

We quote an excerpt from the "Geranium" (Pilkington) collection auction catalogue: "an interesting feature of this cover is that the '3' appears to have been deliberately overstruck by the oval obliterator, which could be explained by the changeover to decimal currency taking place at that time". (Image)

Estimate 4000 $