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1860 5c Brown Charles
Connell Unissued Stamp, unused (no gum) with a very light concentric ring cancel. The stamp has partially clipped perforations at left (as do most genuine Connell stamps) and also shows evidence of having been separated by scissors at top and
right (on those sides the perforation holes are intact). Nonetheless a very presentable example of this scarce stamp, which is missing from most collections and rarely offered. It is estimated that fewer than 50 perforated stamps remain (the rest
were apparently burned) and very few of these are sound. Accompanied by a 2008 Sergio Sismondo certificate and a 2025 Greene Foundation certificate, both mentioning a tiny closed tear at upper right and a fake cancel. After we received the Greene
Foundation certificate for this stamp, we stumbled upon an interesting article while doing research on a different subject. The April 1892 Dominion Philatelist wrote: "The Connell / Mr. W. H. Brouse of Toronto has a cancelled specimen in his
collection which he obtained from an old lady who took it off the envelope herself and kept it, because she knew Connell personally, and it was a very good likeness of him. For a long time it had been claimed this stamp had never done duty for
postage, but the last year has brought to light indisputable evidence that a few of these stamps were used and passed through the mails.". We are of the opinion that there is a possibility that some of these stamps were obtained and used on mail,
perhaps asking a postal clerk to "look the other way" and cancel them, as there were then, as there are now, many people who collect only used stamps thus creating a need for such. This, if ever proven to be true, would challenge the use of the word
"fake" when it comes to these cancelled examples. (Scan 1)
(Scan 2)
(Scan 3)
(All Scans)
(All Images)
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Estimate $ 2,500
Currently...C$50.00
Will close during Public Auction |