2018 Rarities of the World continued...

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE CANADA 12-PENCE BLACK ON LAID PAPER. ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC AND DESIRABLE CLASSIC STAMPS.

The first Pence Issues of Canada were printed by the New York firm of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, the same firm that printed the New York Postmaster's Provisional and United States 5c and 10c 1847 Issue. The Pence issues, and particularly the 12-pence, show the same fine quality of engraving that distinguishes the U.S. 1847 Issue. The original die was engraved by Alfred Jones based upon the Chalon portrait - which was also used on stamps of the Australian States Queensland and Tasmania, Bahamas and New Zealand, among other British colonies. The stamps were printed early in 1851 (12p issued June 14), at the same time that RWH&E's contract for providing United States stamps was coming to an end.

A total of 50,000 stamps were printed from 250 sheets of 200 subjects (two panes of 100). Only 1,450 examples were sold with the balance being destroyed. Our census, available on our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/canada/scott/3, records a total of 33 used singles and two pairs, over half of which have faults to some degree and/or are cut in on at least one side.

Census No. 3-CAN-25. With 2017 Greene certificate. SG £100,000. Unitrade C$180,000.00 (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A REMARKABLE MINT NEVER-HINGED BOTTOM CORNER MARGIN POSITION BLOCK OF SIX OF THE FAMOUS CANADA ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY INVERT. THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLES AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS. A BLOCK OF FOUR FROM THE ADJOINING POSITION IS ALSO KNOWN, WHICH IF PUT TOGETHER WOULD MAKE THIS PART OF A BLOCK OF TEN.

The St. Lawrence Seaway provided for passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It was a collaboration between the United States and Canada. The Seaway was opened in 1959 with a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower. Both the United States and Canada issued stamps to commemorate the event. Both stamps have the same basic design, except the Canada stamp has bilingual text at top. The invert is only known on the Canadian stamp.

Charles J. G. Verge provides a census of multiples in his book on the Seaway Issues. The largest recorded multiples are:

1) Pane of 50, owned by the Library and Archives of Canada and so unavailable to collectors.

2) Block of ten, owned by the Library and Archives of Canada and so unavailable to collectors.

3) Block of ten, from the top two rows of the plate, from the Brigham Collection.

4) The block of six offered here, from the bottom two rows of the plate. The Verge book also illustrates a block of four (ex Balner), which originally formed a block of ten with the block offered here.

5) Block of six, no selvage.

Unitrade C$75,000.00 as singles. Scott Retail as singles (Image)

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VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE TOP RIGHT CORNER MARGIN BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE FAMOUS CANADA SEAWAY INVERT.

The St. Lawrence Seaway provided for passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. It was a collaboration between the United States and Canada. The Seaway was opened in 1959 with a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II and President Eisenhower. Both the United States and Canada issued stamps to commemorate the event. Both stamps have the same basic design, except the Canada stamp has bilingual text at top. The invert is only known on the Canadian stamp.

Charles J. G. Verge provides a census of multiples in his book on the Seaway Issues. Only three multiples larger than a block of four are available to collectors. The block offered here was part of a block of six illustrated in an issue of The Canadian Philatelist. The lower pair was removed prior to 1982. This is also one of only two recorded blocks of four from the top right corner of the sheet.

With 1985 P.F. certificate. Unitrade C$50,000.00. Scott Retail as singles (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 25 OF THIS FAMOUS INVERT WAS EVER DISCOVERED. THIS IS THE UNIQUE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE $1.00 RUNNYMEDE LIBRARY WITH INSCRIPTIONS INVERTED.

Runnymede Library was opened in 1929, and combines architectural elements inspired by indigenous traditions, local building materials and classical details. Runnymede Library was the first building selected for inclusion in the high-value postage-stamp series "Our Nation's Buildings". The stamp was printed in six lithographed colors. The inscriptions were engraved.

One sheet of 25 was discovered with inverted inscriptions. 20 stamps show the full inverted text. The leftmost column of five shows just the "$1", and several show part of the imprint text which was intended to be printed in the selvage (see following lot).

P.F. certificate 290806 as intact sheet does not accompany. With 2009 Gratton certificate. Unitrade C$17,500.00 (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. ONLY ONE SHEET OF 25 OF THIS FAMOUS INVERT WAS EVER DISCOVERED. ONLY 20 SHOW THE FULL INSCRIPTION -- THIS IS ONE OF THE FIVE FROM THE LEFTMOST COLUMN OF THE SHEET, AND SHOWS THE CANADIAN BANK NOTE COMPANY IMPRINT.

Runnymede Library was opened in 1929, and combines architectural elements inspired by indigenous traditions, local building materials and classical details. Runnymede Library was the first building selected for inclusion in the high-value postage-stamp series "Our Nation's Buildings". The stamp was printed in six lithographed colors. The inscriptions were engraved.

One sheet of 25 was discovered with inverted inscriptions. 20 stamps show the full inverted text (see previous lot). The leftmost column of five shows just the "$1", and several show part of the imprint text which was intended to be printed in the selvage.

P.F. certificate 290806 as intact sheet does not accompany. Unitrade C$17,500.00. Scott Retail as normal invert (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2 TRURO PROVINCIAL NORMAL SCHOOL INVERT.

This issue was printed in five lithographed colors, with engraved inscriptions. After printing on the lithographic press, they were cut into sheets of 100 consisting of four panes of 25, then put through a second press for the inscriptions. Four panes of 25 reached public hands, but these panes contain a total of 30 positions showing gutter guides or white space, so only 70 inverts were printed. Of these 70, many are still attached to the gutter guide positions. A block of 15 was lost, so this leaves approximately 37 singles available to collectors.

With 2009 Gratton certificate. Unitrade C$12,000.00 (Image)

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VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE $2 TRURO PROVINCIAL NORMAL SCHOOL INVERT.

This issue was printed in five lithographed colors, with engraved inscriptions. After printing on the lithographic press, they were cut into sheets of 100 consisting of four panes of 25, then put through a second press for the inscriptions. Four panes of 25 reached public hands, but these panes contain a total of 30 positions showing gutter guides or white space, so only 70 inverts were printed. Of these 70, many are still attached to the gutter guide positions. A block of 15 was lost, so this leaves approximately 37 singles available to collectors.

Unitade C$12,000.00 (Image)

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