Week of Jan 22, 2012
Newfoundland 1860 1 shilling Orange - watermarked Scotts #15ii
One of the great rarities in the stamp world.
This is the second printing of the Newfoundland Pence issue and only a 1000 were printed. Due to the layout of the printing plate and the Stacey Wise watermarked paper, only 23-25 could have existed. It is currently estimated that 15 are known with the watermark.
The first 3 printings of the Newfoundland pence issue are confusing to collectors as they were all printed by Perkins & Bacon in England using the same printing plates. The only difference became the colours when the orders were filled in England years apart. The 2d, 4d, 6d, 6 1/2d, 8d and 1 shilling were all supposed to be the same colours
The first 1857 printings are now called ‘Scarlet Vermillion’ and have there own Scotts numbers #2,4,5,6,7,8,9.
The second 1860 printings are now called ‘Orange’ – Scotts 11,12,13,15 ( no 6 1/2d or 8d were ordered )
The third and fourth prints are now called ‘Rose’ – Scotts 17, 18, 20, 21, 22 and 23
Week of Jan 3, 2012
Sant’Angelo Castle, Rome
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Book wrapper (on the right) from Palazzolo (VC) to Scarborough (ON) mailed on 31 October 1981, franked with L.5 Sant’Angelo Castle (left stamp) making up the international rate of L.75 to mail a book weighing up to 50 gm. (White fluorescence)
The castle was the setting for the third act of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca from whose ramparts the namesake of the opera leaps to her death.
It appeared in the romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler’s Roman Holiday starring Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn and Eddie Albert in a scene taking place on barges on the river below.
The design of the McKinley National Memorial in Canton, Ohio, which is the final resting place of US President William McKinley and his family, was based upon the Tomb of Hadrian according to its architect, Harold Van Buren Magonigle. (fa)
Week of Dec 22, 2011
 | Unusual Stamps The world's first stamp made of soccer ball material was issued by Austria Post in March, 2008. The stamp celebrated the UEFA Euro soccer tournament, which took place in June 2008. The tournament was the largest sporting event ever held in Austria. |
Week of Dec 8, 2011
Label overprinted with the name of pilot Jacopo Calò (CALO)
Label overprinted with the name of pilot Luigi Questa (QUES)
General Balbo's Flying Armada
Aviation and philately are closely tied, so it is no wonder that airmail stamps are so popular. A very unusual set of airmails was issued in 1933 by Italy to commemorate a special Trans-Atlantic flight. An aerial armada of 24 Flying Boats commanded by General Italo Balbo, the flamboyant Italian Air Minister, flew from Rome to Chicago where the World's Fair was being held.
To honour this flight, Italy issued a set of two triptychs (an air registration label, a regular stamp, and an airmail stamp attached together) which are listed in the Scott catalogue as #C48-9.
The set was made even more interesting when the abbreviated names of twenty of the flight's pilots were printed on the label portions. Outrageously expensive, the airmails were not well received by philatelists at the time because a complete set consisted of 20 sets of the two triptychs. The set is now much sought after, perhaps for the same reason. It is a real challenge to collect all twenty pilots. (fa)
Week of Nov 29, 2011
On August 7th, 1977, the Canadian and American Post Offices conducted a joint issue of single stamps commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Peace Bridge over the Niagara River. Canada’s stamp featured a design of a span of the Peace Bridge. America’s stamp featured a drawing of the Dove of Peace.
Colorano, a major Cachet Maker at the time, commissioned Mal Cann, to complete a suitable painting for a cachet for these stamps. The painting is a collage composed of watercolours and other materials and is 6” x 7 3/8”. Colorano miniaturized the painting and applied their secret process to give the silk-like appearance on the cachet on the cover (hence Colorano covers are often referred to as Colorano Silks). Unfortunately, the silk-like appearance is only available on a Colorano cover and cannot be transferred by copiers or scanners. To fully appreciate the silk-like appearance, an actual Colorano cover must be available
The cover illustrated here is one of several covers issued by Colorano for this joint issue. It is signed by a Canadian who officiated at the opening ceremonies. It bears both the Canadian and American stamps with the Canadian (Ottawa) and American (Buffalo) cancellations. Note that the Canadian stamp is positioned on top for the Canadian market while the positioning for the American market is probably reversed. There are other variations, e.g. a Fort Erie cancellation only was also used on a “silk” bearing both stamps.
For additional information on Colorano Silks, google “Canadian Silks by Colorano” and click on “Canadian Silks by Colorano”. A completely illustrated catalogue of Colorano’s Canadian covers can be viewed on line. To do so, simply google “Knottywood Treasures”, then click on “The Cachet Makers”, “The FDC Catalogs” and “Colorano – Canada”. Have fun – that’s what it’s all about.
Week of Sept 20, 2011
Circa 1966 West Toronto Stamp Club Auction Lot Treasure - compliments of Sidney Soanes
The above is an auction lot from our club from about 1966, still mounted on the sheet exactly as purchased some 45 years ago. Note the W.T.S.C. in the bottom left corner.
3 different items from France with a Catalogue value of $7.25 plus one item not counted and a purchase price of a whopping .40 – ( 5.5% of 1966 catalogue, our members had a keen eye for a bargain even then )
Scotts #125 strip of 3 mint no gum1900 Liberty & Peace issue, 1fr claret & olive green – Current CV $26.50 each
Scotts #186 top left corner pair with colour printing tab still attached, listed as OG, but this item was never hinged until it was mounted on this sheet, hinged in top margin and now very slightly touches stamps.
1923 Louis Pasture issue 15c green – Current CV $2.75 each, not including NH premium
Scotts #J31 Imperf Mint OG ( again appears it was NH until mounting here ). This item is not valued on this auction sheet as it is an imperf and the actual stamp is perforated. This still looks like an interesting item, perhaps wrong paper for a Plate Proof, but may be a later Reprint – still nice and the price was right !!
1894 Postage Due – Current CV ( as perforated stamp ) $28
With current catalogue values at $85, not counting NH and Imperf item, these items have gone up over 11x since purchase, wouldn’t it have been nice to buy a set of the Canada 1898 $1-$5 Dollar value Jubilee’s.Week of Sept 8, 2011
Mauritius 1846, Scott 1-2
This is the famous "Bordeaux" cover (letter) with both the one penny and two pence stamps. It has been called "la pièce de résistance de toute la philatélie" or "the greatest item in all philately." At a recent auction it was hammered at $5,000,000.
The letter has been in the collections of famous philatelic luminaries, including, Alfred F. Lichtenstein, and Alfred H. Caspary. King George V paid £1,450 for an unused Two Pence "Post Office" at an auction in 1904, which was a world record price at the time. Reportedly one of his secretaries commented that "some damned fool" had paid a huge amount of money for one postage stamp and His Royal Highness replied "I am that damned fool".
Here is a summary from the book “Blue Mauritius: The Hunt for the World’s Most Valuable Stamps.” Follow the adventures of the world's most sought-after postage stamps-from a tropical Indian Ocean island to the hushed atmosphere of the modern auction room—in this dramatic and passionate tale of the first stamp hunters. In September 1847 coloured squares of paper were stuck on to envelopes and used to send out admission cards to a fancy-dress ball on the tropical island of Mauritius. No one at the party would have guessed that these stamps would one day be worth more than a million dollars. When a two-pence 'Blue Mauritius' surfaced on the fledgling French stamp-collecting market in 1865 it gained instant celebrity. Soldiers, schoolboys, and the entire German nation became obsessed with finding one of these extremely rare examples. When in 1903 a perfect specimen, discovered in a childhood album, was bought at auction by the Prince of Wales, the Blue Mauritius gained superstar status. Even now, "Post Office Mauritius" stamps are synonymous with fame, wealth and mystery. The most coveted scraps of paper in existence, this is their story, from their birth during days of sail, taking them from Port Louis to Bordeaux, India and Great Britain, Switzerland and Japan, into the hearts and imagination of collectors everywhere.
Week of Aug 30, 2011
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Canada 1851 3d red – Scotts #1
Canada’s first stamp issue in 1851 included 3 stamps, a 3 pence covering the regular rate, 6 pence covering USA rate and double rate and a 12 pence for USA double rate. The 3d designed by Sir Sandford Fleming was the first stamp in the world to carry the image of an animal – our own Beaver, up until this point, postage stamps had carried the image of a ruler of the country.
These stamps were issued on laid paper ( you can see the horizontal lines clearly on this stamp on the backscan ) which proved to be unacceptable for use due to the poor adhesive qualities of the paper and the stamps were switched to regular wove paper. Due to demand and the original quantities produced, the 3d was reissued in 1852, the 6d in 1856 and the 12d (due to low demand) was never reissued and eventually all copies were withdrawn and destroyed by the government in 1857.
This same design was used in 1852 on regular wove paper ( Scott’s #4 ), it was one of the first perforated stamps issued in 1859 ( Scott’s #11 ) and the design was changed to 5 cents when Canada went to the decimal system later in 1859 ( Scott’s #15 ). It wasn’t replaced until 1870 when Canada came out with the ‘small queen’ design. Not a bad 19 year run.
Week of Aug 13, 2011
Newfoundland 1930 – Airmail - Columbia Flight – Scotts #C5
Since the early flights to cross the Atlantic started in Newfoundland the government sent small amounts of mail on each flight and overprinted regular issue stamps to commemorate the flights.
1919 April 12 – Hawker Flight ( crashed ) Scotts #C1 Qty – 200
1919 June 9 – Alcock and Brown ( successful ) Scotts #C2 Qty – 10000
1921 Nov 7 – Halifax only Scotts #C3 Qty - 14000
1927 May 21 – De Pinedo Flight Scotts #C4 Qty - 300
1930 Sept 25 – Columbia Flight Scotts #C5 Qty – 300
The Columbia Airmail
- 3 sheets of 100 were overprinted in surcharge blocks of 4
- 252 went on sale in St. John’s on Sept 25, 1930
- 48 went on sale in Harbour Grace on Oct 9, 1930
- 65 were used on cover on the flight from St.Johns, 35 were used on cover from Harbour Grace on the flight
- Additionally approx. 205 covers went on the flight using regular stamps totaling $.50
- 2-5 mint blocks of 4 were given out as favours
This stamp ‘on piece’ clearly shows the proper St.Johns cancel with the correct Sept 25,1930 date. The overprint with the $.50 surcharge was put on the $.36 Caribou issue.
Side note to the flight – since this flight was 11 years after the first attempts it was made to seem routine by the pilots who boarded the plane dressed in business suits. Not so much, when they were forced to make an emergency landing at Tresco Island, 25 miles from Lands End, England due to running out of gas because of a faulty rear petrol tank.
Week of July 21, 2011
The most precious object created by man
1855 Sweden “Three-skilling yellow”
This Swedish stamp is the result of a printing error; in fact the three skilling was printed in green (right stamp), while the yellow stamp was scheduled to be 8-skilling value.
The yellow variety was discovered by a Swedish boy in 1855 and no other stamps were ever found. Hence, it is unique.
Over the years, the 3-skilling yellow has been sold many times until the May 2010 auction which was hammered at 2,875,000 Swiss franks (2 million Euro) or (2.8 million dollars.)
This makes it the most precious object created by man, in terms of weight and dimensions. (fa)
Week of July 10, 2011
December 10, 1870. A single letter posted at St. Catharines with the postage ( 5 cents) to be paid by the addressee (prepayment not mandatory until 1875). The letter was addressed to the Commissioner of Crown Lands in Ottawa. A faint backstamp indicates that the letter was received in Ottawa December 10 where it was re-directed to Toronto and the rate revised to FREE as the addressee is a government department. The letter was carried on the OTTAWA & PRESCOTT RAILWAY to Prescott where it was included with other mail to Toronto. A second backstamp indicates receipt of the letter in Toronto on December 13, 1870.
The Ottawa & Prescott Railway opened in 1854 as the Bytown & Prescott Railroad. When Bytown was renamed Ottawa in 1855 the railway was renamed. The entire length of the line was 53 miles.