Harmer-Schau Auctions

Sale 102



 
Lot 406



St. Kitts-Nevis; St. Christopher, 1888, Victoria, 1d on 2½d Without Bar, SG #27, l.h., bright fresh color, one of the finest known. Ex "World Traveler", realized $19,000. RPS (1963) cert.
Scott #23 $31,500.
SG £21,000.
Estimate $15,000-20,000

One of the rarest stamps of British West Indies, produced when one sheet of 20 2½p stamps were surcharged with the 1st setting of the 1p, most used, one of ABOUT 5 MINT KNOWN (one of which is regummed).


Realized $19,550



 
Lot 1249



Bechuanaland, Protectorate, Postal-Fiscal, 1918, £5 on 1/- Victoria Green, SG #F2, Never Hinged (only copy n.h. of the three known), "small colour run at foot", listed but unpriced in Stanley Gibbons (was priced some decades ago). Per H.R.Holmes "….Owing to a shortage of £5 stamps, required for fiscal purposes, recourse was had to surcharging, resulting in the production of this stamp. As the basic stamp was inscribed "Postage & Revenue" it could legally be used for either service.", Very Fine critical stamp for the Victoria collector or exhibitor. Articles about the issued stamp incl. with the lot. New Discovery Copy. Located in a small non-descript British Africa collection by the owner. Apparently the envelope that the £5 was located in was marked for $20 in the 1960s. BPA (2013) cert. (only copy of the three that is expertised).
Scott #AR2 $18,000 + (hinged), This is the third mint copy known along with one that was postally used. None are recorded on document. A mint (ex P.L. Pemberton, T. Allen) and a postally used copy were offered in the "H.R. Holmes" Harmers of London auction in 1981. The hinged mint copy brought a hammer price of £3800 and sold to the Government of Botswana along with the postally used copy. The other recorded mint copy is part of the "Mosely Collection" which is in the British Library. This is the only copy that is in the public domain. .
Estimate $15,000-25,000

An argument can be made that the £5 should be listed under the "Regular Issue" section. Most British Africa adhesives of the period were inscribed "POSTAGE AND REVENUE". The high values most commonly were used for revenue purposes. It is generally accepted that £5 was the highest denomination actually used for postal purposes. The Bechuanaland stamp could be listed as a regular issue rather than as a postal fiscal. It is overprinted and the £5 stamp it replaced were both inscribed "Postage & Revenue" and listed as regular issue adhesives (example Scott# 16, 22, AR2). The used copy sold in the "H.R.Holmes" auction WAS POSTALLY USED. Comparison of 1918 Bechuanaland £5 with 1901 Rhodesia £100 (Scott#75B, mentioned in Gibbons) of SIMILAR RARITY - Rhodesia Gibbons states a number of mint known. Feldman records 2 specifically unused examples. Copy sold in 2011 Feldman Sale, described as part original gum, some minor toning, realized $165,000! Bechuanaland £5 only 3 known mint examples.


Realized $92,000



 
Lot 119

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Canada; New Brunswick, 1851, 1/- Bright Red Violet, #3, unused, excellent and large margins all round, true rich color and a clean back, Extremely Fine and choice sought-after classic stamp, described in the Kanai Harmers of NY sale as "superb, an incredible copy and rightfully so, a stunning example". Ex E. Carey Fox, Kanai, Baillie. PF (1968) cert. signed by John Boker.
SG #5. Unitrade C$30,000 (VF).
Scott $32,500.
Estimate $12,000-15,000.

Realized $12,650



 
Lot 1827



U.S. General Issues, 1893, 2¢ Columbian on January 1st First Day Cover, #231, tied to Post Office Dept. Official Business envelope by New York Jan 1, 1 AM, 1893 duplex cancel, addressed to Dr. Paul Allen in New York, notes from expertiser incl., Fine to Very Fine, PSAG (2014) cert.
Scott $20,000. A new find, second recorded copy, other example was from "Lawrence Fisher" collection which realized $10,000 in 1996 .
Estimate $10,000-15,000.

Realized $23,000



 
Lot 129



Canada; Newfoundland, Airmail, 1919, 3¢ Hawker Flight, #C1, o.g., sound, usual centering, Fine and attractive 200 issued, 95 used and 18 destroyed by the postmaster, so about 87 mint examples should exist. Countersigned "J.A.R." ms. initials at the offices of the "Daily News" on reverse of adhesive. BPA (2002 for pair), Sismondo (2013) certs.
SG #142. Unitrade C$20,000 (Fine).
Scott $27,500.
Estimate $8,000-10,000.

Realized $23,000



 
Lot 1205



Great Britain, 1935, 2½d GV Silver Jubilee, Prussian Blue Color Error, SG #456a, n.h., very well centered, one slightly short perf at top right, Very Fine very desirable stamp, signed in pencil on reverse, PTS (2014) cert. (not mentioning short perf).
Scott #229a $11,000.
SG £12,500. 3 sheets were sent to PO in Edmonton, 4th one later located, 200 probably exist .
Estimate $8,000-10,000

Original invoice from Wallace of London in 1936 for £40 ($100).


Realized $14,375



 
Lot 8



Great Britain, 1882, Victoria, £5 Orange, SG #137, l.h. (small h.r.), nice color, Fine to Very Fine.
Scott #93 $14,000.
SG £14,000.
Estimate $6,000-8,000.

Realized $6,613



 
Lot 1475

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Togo, 1915 "Anglo-French Occupation", 3rd Setting, 10pf, No Watermark, SG #H31a, Lome, 24.3.15 cds, only known used, extremely scarce item, Fine to Very Fine, Ceremuga (2013) cert.
Scott #63 var.
SG £7,000. Less than 10 recorded .
Estimate $5,000-6,000.

Realized $4,600



 
Lot 1949



U.S. General Issues, 1901, 1¢ Pan-American, Center Inverted, #294a, dist. o.g., "vert. crease" (cert. a bit harsh), popular item, Fine, Weiss (2008), PF (1982) certs.
Scott $12,500.
Estimate $3,500-4,000.

Realized $7,188










Penny Black

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