Feature Lot. Lot 16 - 1851 12d Black Queen Victoria Imperforate on Laid Paper, a mint single with large sheet margin at right, possessing full original gum and never hinged, very fine. Definitely the star attraction of this collection, being one of only two examples of this stamp with original never hinged gum, the other being the "Black Empress" which sold for US$425,000 (plus buyer's premium) at Spink New York in 2011. The stamp offered here is the "sister" of the magnificent mint sheet margin exa....Unitrade $ 320,000 Sold for C$ 250,000 (Link to this Lot in the Catalog for Bidding)

Sparks Auctions is proud to have been chosen to sell this remarkable collection. It is being sold in two parts, this Part 1 on Saturday, January 21st, 2023 and Part 2 on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 and both sales are offered in a single print catalogue. This specialized collection ranges from the first issues of 1851 to just after World War II, including back of the book, regularly issued stamps, imperforate pairs, blocks and multiples, plate proof singles, pairs and blocks, as well as die proofs, progressive proofs, varieties and more.

Major highlights include an unused 3d red Beaver on laid paper, one of the only two known mint never hinged 12d black Queen Victoria imperforates, a used sheet margin 12d black Queen Victoria imperforate, and all three Admiral gutter blocks of the part imperforate coil blocks.

Just a few of the interesting varieties offered over the two sales are all of the inter-panneau imperforate tête-bêche booklet panes (Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V), “Shilling mark,” “Broken leg,” “Inverted Seaway” (mint and used) and more.

The quality present is consistently very high, as the owner bought only the best from the most reputable sources, with cost not being an impediment. Below you will see a list of the lots with recent graded certificates. Many of the stamps in this sale will not be seen again for a long time, and these stamps are sure to be remembered and referenced for years to come, as “ex Athena collection.”

The sale will be conducted both with a traditional live floor, and here on StampAuctionNetwork, and we can also accommodate telephone bids.

Enjoy the sale, and good luck!

Canada & Provinces

• Province of Canada -- Pence Issues Scott #1-13 Lots (1-20)
  
• Province of Canada -- Pence Issues Scott #1-13 Lots (21-40)
  
• Province of Canada -- Pence Issues Scott #1-13 Lot 41
  
• Province of Canada -- Cents Issue Scott #14-20 Lots (42-60)
  
• Province of Canada -- Cents Issue Scott #14-20 Lots (61-67)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Large Queens Scott #21-33 Lots (68-80)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Small Queens Scott #34-47 Lots (81-100)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Small Queens Scott #34-47 Lots (101-111)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Jubilee Issue Scott #50-65 Lots (112-120)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Jubilee Issue Scott #50-65 Lots (121-140)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Jubilee Issue Scott #50-65 Lots (141-145)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Leaf Issues Scott #66-73 Lots (146-154)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Numeral Issues Scott #74-84 Lots (155-160)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Numeral Issues Scott #74-84 Lots (161-180)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Numeral Issues Scott #74-84 Lots (181-187)
  
• Queen Victoria Era -- Imperial Penny Postage and Provisionals Scott #85-88 Lots (188-193)
  
• King Edward VII Era -- Scott #89-95 Lots (194-200)
  
• King Edward VII Era -- Scott #89-95 Lots (201-206)
  
• King Edward VII Era -- Québec Tercentenary Scott #96-103 Lots (207-218)
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral Issues Scott #104-140 Lots (219-220)
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral Issues Scott #104-140 Lots (221-240)
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral Issues Scott #104-140 Lots (241-260)
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral Issues Scott #104-140 Lots (261-280)
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral Issues Scott #104-140 Lot 281
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral War Tax Scott #MR1-MR7 Lots (282-300)
  
• King George V Era -- Admiral War Tax Scott #MR1-MR7 Lots (301-305)
  
• King George V Era -- Confederation Series Scott #135, 141-148 Lots (306-319)
  
• King George V Era -- Scroll Issue Scott #149-161 Lot 320
  
• King George V Era -- Scroll Issue Scott #149-161 Lots (321-340)
  
• King George V Era -- Scroll Issue Scott #149-161 Lots (341-348)
  
• King George V Era -- Arch-Leaf Issue Scott #162-183 Lots (349-357)
  
• King George V Era -- Medallion Issue etc. Scott #184-210 Lots (358-360)
  
• King George V Era -- Medallion Issue etc. Scott #184-210 Lots (361-369)
  
• King George V Era -- Silver Jubilee Issue Scott #211-216 Lots (370-375)
  
• King George V Era -- Pictorial Issue Scott #217-230 Lots (376-380)
  
• King George V Era -- Pictorial Issue Scott #217-230 Lot 381
  
• King George VI Era (1937-1952) -- Scott #231-320 Lots (382-392)
  
• Queen Elizabeth II Era (1953-) -- Scott #321 and on Lots (393-395)
  
• Back of the Book -- Airmails Scott #C1-CE4 Lots (396-400)
  
• Back of the Book -- Airmails Scott #C1-CE4 Lot 401
  
• Back of the Book -- Special Delivery Scott #E1-E11 Lots (402-409)
  
• Back of the Book -- Registration Scott #F1-F3 Lots (410-414)
  
• Back of the Book -- Postage Dues Scott #J1-40 Lots (415-420)
  
• Back of the Book -- Postage Dues Scott #J1-40 Lots (421-422)
  
• Back of the Book -- Officials Scott #O8-105-O8-E9, O9-223-O10-E11, O1-O49 Lots (423-425)
  
• Back of the Book -- Officially Sealed Scott #OX1-OX4 Lots (426-428)