Sale 311

Canada and Provinces


Pence Issues 1851 Issue
 
 
Lot Photo Description
Lot 2010
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1851, 3d orange vermilion, laid paper (1a), rich color, large margins all round. Lightly cancelled. Very Fine and choice. Unitrade C$1,600 ($1,200).
Scott $900

Expertization: 1995 V.G. Greene Certificate.
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Lot 2011
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1851, 3d orange vermilion, laid paper (1a), horizontal pair, bright color, large margins. Neat target cancellations. Very Fine and fresh. Unitrade C$3,200 as singles ($2,400).
Scott $1,800 as singles

Expertization: 2003 V.G. Greene Certificate.
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Lot 2012
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1851, 6d slate violet, laid paper (2), huge margins to clear at bottom, neat target cancel. Fresh and nearly Very Fine.
Scott $1,500

Expertization: 1992 Greene Certificate.
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Lot 2013
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1851, 6d grayish purple, laid paper (2b), deep bright color with strong purple tinge highlighted by the fresh paper, enormous balanced margins. Lightly cancelled by central target which leaves most of face clear. A choice Extremely Fine gem. Unitrade C$2,500 ($1,880).
Scott $1,500

Expertization: 1990 B.P.A. Certificate.
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Lot 2014
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1851, 6d brown purple, laid paper (2b), nice color, large to huge margins with portions of adjacent stamps at top and bottom, and most likely a partial sheet margin at left. Neat target cancellation. Very Fine to Extremely Fine and quite exceptional. Unitrade C$2,500 ($1,880).
Scott $1,500

Expertization: 1987 and 2006 V.G. Greene Certificates.
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Lot 2015
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1851, 12d black, laid paper (3), large margins all around with a lovely, delicate impression, unused, exceptionally fresh, Extremely Fine and choice. Unitrade C$120,000 ($90,000).
Scott $55,000

ONE OF THE FINEST UNUSED EXAMPLES OF THIS CLASSIC PHILATELIC RARITY EXTANT.

Expertization: 2006 P.F. Certificate.

Provenance: Carrington, Dagenais

The Twelve Pence Black had an interesting history. Like all other pence issues of Canada it was engraved and printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson of New York. A total of 51,000 stamps and a proof imprint sheet were shipped to Canadian postal authorities on May 14, 1851. However, the stamp proved to be unpopular with the public and only saw limited distribution, with a total of only 1,510 stamps being sent to just 18 Post Offices. Of those, 60 were returned by the Ingersoll Post Office, leaving a mere 1,450 stamps sold. The remaining 49,490 stamps were destroyed on 1 May 1857.

There is some speculation as to why this stamp was inscribed "Twelve Pence" rather than the customary "One Shilling", especially since the Colonies of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia both used one shilling stamps. A possible explanation is that at the time the Canadian pound was depreciated relative to its British equivalent and the other provinces also had their own exchange rates. The result was confusion among the public and postal officials as to exactly what a "shilling" was worth. Expressing the value as "Twelve Pence" may have been an effort to alleviate this confusion.

The limited distribution and lack of acceptance by the consumer, who seems to have preferred to use a pair of the 6d Consort, has resulted in the 12d black being the most sought-after rarity in Canadian philately as well as one of the most coveted of all classic stamps.

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