Sale 361


 
Lot 365

o

Canada, 1851, Queen Victoria, 12d black, laid paper (3), horizontal pair. Ample to large margins to barely touching at the upper right, deep color, fine impression and light concentric ring cancels. Faint crease, visible only in fluid, exceptionally fresh and choice. Very Fine appearance. Unitrade C$360,000 ($288,000).
Scott $270,000

A STUNNING USED PAIR OF THE ICONIC TWELVE PENCE, POSSIBLY THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED USED PAIRS.

Expertization: with 1984 P.F. certificate (1961 P.F. cert no longer present) and 2015 Green Foundation certificate.

The other two known pairs are both cut in, one, rather severly. The latter pair has a 1926 Royal cert, the other has not been certified, which means neither has been subjected to a modern examination. Hence, this may well be the finest pair.

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.


 
Unsold



Go to lot: