Sale 1384 — 2026 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 23 June, 2026
Category — Australian States thru Straits Settlements
Australian States, South Australia, 1855, 1p Dark Green (1; SG 1). Unused (no gum), ample margins to clear at left, bold color and sharp impression
VERY FINE. A HANDSOME AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 1855 ONE-PENNY DARK GREEN FROM THE FIRST ISSUE OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
The 1855 1p Dark Green from the First Issue of South Australia is a notoriously rare stamp in unused condition. The vast majority that are offered are plagued with flaws and/or with cleaned cancels. According to our Power Search, this is the first unused copy we have offered in over 25 years.
With 2025 R.P.S.V. certificate. Scott $12,500. SG £12,000.
Certificate
2025 R.P.S. of Victoria No. 6573 View Cert
Brunei, 1944, $3.00 on 1c Black, Japanese Occupation Overprint. (N20; SG J20). Mint N.H., rich shade, well-centered
EXTREMELY FINE. AMONG THE FINEST (IF NOT THE FINEST) KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THE RARE 1944 3-DOLLAR ON ONE-CENT JAPANESE OCCUPATION SURCHARGE.
Most stamps of this issue are found with tropicalized gum and/or staining. This fresh never-hinged example is truly extraordinary.
Ex "Evergreen". With 2017 B.P.A. certificate. Scott $8,750 (as hinged). SG £9,000.
Certificate
2017 B.P.A. No. 89367 View Cert
Canada, Red River Settlement to Toronto, Jan. 10, 1856. Bold and clearly written “Red River Jan. 10 1856 B.N.A.” manuscript postmark in circle on cover to Toronto, matching large “PAID/10” handstamp, sent via Pembina with “United States 6d” oval handstamp, Toronto Feb. 13 arrival backstamp, back with Bishop of Rupert’s Lane wax seal
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE EIGHT CONFIRMED EXAMPLES OF THIS RED RIVER MANUSCRIPT POSTMARK.
This marking was applied by Postmaster William Ross (1825-1856), who likely created this marking by tracing a coin or round object, then writing in the postmark. Known covers are dated from Nov. 6, 1855 thru Mar. 10, 1856 (with the exception of the unique small marking). This is likely due to the untimely death of Ross in May 1856.
Our census is available on our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/canada/redriver. Outside of the unique 1858 small marking, we record only eight confirmed examples, plus another two which are recorded by Eastern Auctions but have not been seen.
Census no. RRS-COV-06. Ex de Volpi, Hollingsworth, Fraser and "Dubois".
New Brunswick, 1851, 1sh Bright Red Violet (3; SG 5). Original gum, relatively lightly hinged, large balanced margins, dazzling color in the truest shade possible, razor-sharp impression on wonderfully fresh paper
EXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 1851 ONE-SHILLING BRIGHT RED VIOLET. ONE OF THE FINEST EXISTING copies OF THIS CLASSIC NEW BRUNSWICK RARITY. THE EPITOME OF GEM QUALITY.
After a careful review of major named sales containing British North America, many of the stamps offered are without gum. The others with original gum do not have the margins or overall quality of the stamp offered here.
Ex Cole, Chapin, Gross and "Scarsdale". With 1988 and 2009 P.F. certificates. Scott $35,000. SG £30,000. Unitrade C$60,000.
Certificate
2021 Greene Foundation No. G29213 View Cert
2009 PF No. 482156 View Cert
1988 PF No. 192117 View Cert
Canada, 1851, 3p Red, Laid Paper (1; SG 1). Huge bottom right corner sheet margin measuring nearly 15mm at right and 5mm at bottom, other two sides large to full, bold impression on well defined laid paper, neat target cancel
EXTREMELY FINE GEM. A TRULY SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE ICONIC 1851 3-PENCE ON LAID PAPER WHICH IS, WITHOUT QUESTION, THE FINEST USED EXAMPLE KNOWN.
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 show the same fine quality of engraving that distinguishes the U.S. 1847 Issue. The stamps were printed early in 1851 (3p issued April 23), at the same time that RWH&E's contract for providing United States stamps was coming to an end. The 3p design was executed by Sandford Fleming and engraved by Alfred Jones.
Ex Jephcott and Cantor. With 1987 Greene Foundation and 2011 P.F. certificates. Scott $1,120. SG £1,100. Unitrade C$1,600.
Canada, 1852, 3p Red, Wove Paper (4; SG 5). Original gum, large to full margins, beautiful rich color and a well-incised impression
VERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY FRESH AND HANDSOME ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1852 3-PENCE RED.
A very scarce and desirable example both this choice and still retaining its original gum.
With 1999 P.F. certificate. Scott $3,150. SG £2,750. Unitrade C$4,500.
Certificate
1999 PF No. 0340036 View Cert
Canada, 1959, 5c Seaway Invert (387a; SG 513a). Mint N.H., outstanding centering, wonderfully bright and fresh
EXTREMELY FINE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE AND POPULAR CANADA SEAWAY INVERT.
Approximately 200 unused St. Lawrence Seaway inverts are in private hands. A large percentage of these have some sort of gum malady -- some were subsequently hinged, and many have fingerprints or other disturbance due to poor handling from the non-collecting public, who purchased them at post office counters. To find a copy such as the this, with flawless centering and never hinged, is very rare.
With 1986 A.P.S. certificate. Scott $9,000. SG £10,000. Unitrade C$12,500.
Certificate
1986 A.P.S. No. 59531 View Cert
Ceylon, 1925, 1,000r Violet on Red, Broken Crown & Scroll, Specimen Overprint (218S var; SG 323bs). Original gum, lightly hinged, exceptionally well-centered, strong color and impression that shows the variety particularly well
EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF THE 1925 1,000-RUPEE KING GEORGE V WITH BROKEN CROWN & SCROLL AND SPECIMEN OVERPRINT. ONE OF TWO RECORDED.
This may be the only practical way of collecting the Broken Crown & Scroll variety on this stamp, without the Specimen overprint it catalogues £48,000 in Stanley Gibbons.
Ex "Lionheart". With 2007 B.P.A. certificate.
Certificate
2007 B.P.A. No. 69156 View Cert
Ceylon, 1925, 1,000r Violet on Red, Break in Lines Below Left Scroll, Specimen Overprint (218S var; SG 323es). Original gum which accompanying certificate notes as "sweated", strong color
very FINE and extremely rare EXAMPLE OF THE 1925 1,000-RUPEE KING GEORGE V WITH break in lines below left scroll AND SPECIMEN OVERPRINT. likely only a handful exist.
This may be the only practical way of collecting this variety on this stamp. The variety is listed but unpriced in Stanley Gibbons. The Broken Crown and Scroll without Specimen overprint catalogues £48,000.
With 2016 B.P.A. certificate.
Certificate
2016 B.P.A. No. 87469 View Cert
New Britain, 1914, 5sh on 5m Slate & Carmine (42; SG 62). Original gum, relatively lightly hinged, well-centered, beautiful vibrant colors
VERY FINE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE KEY RARITIES OF NEW BRITAIN. ONLY 30 PRINTED.
Our research reveals that most existing copies lack gum and/or have faults to some degree. This stamp is among the finest available.
Ex Rinkoff. Signed Holcombe. With 2017 B.P.A. certificate. Scott $16,500. SG £15,000.
Certificate
2017 B.P.A. View Cert
South Africa, 1927, 10sh Blue & Brown, Inverted Center (32h; SG 39a). Vertical bilingual pair with selvage at top, Mint N.H., nicely centered, gorgeous rich colors, two natural gum creases
VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN BILINGUAL PAIRS OF THE 1927 10-SHILLING BLUE AND BROWN WITH INVERTED CENTER. A KEY RARITY OF SOUTH AFRICA AND ONE OF THE RAREST INVERTED CENTER ERRORS OF THE WORLD.
The 1927 10-shilling is the only stamp in colonial South Africa that comes with an inverted center. Just two bilingual pairs exist, along with a few single stamps. They all emanated from the same multiple that was broken up. The other recorded pair is a top right corner selvage vertical pair that was part of the Robert Cunliffe Inverted Centers of the World collection. It was sold in the 2009 Spink Shreves sale, where it noted "It is conjectured that the size of the sheet margins remaining on this pair are larger than those found on the issued stamps, leading one to conclude that this might have been from a trial printing." It realized $50,000, plus the buyer's premium.
With 1980 R.P.S. certificate. Scott $60,000. Stanley Gibbons prices only single stamps (at £22,000 each).
Certificate
1980 R.P.S. No. 115388 View Cert
Straits Settlements, 1923, $100 Red & Black on Blue, Broken Crown and Scroll (203 var; SG 240cb). Original gum, very minor h.r., strong shade on fresh paper
VERY FINE. AN IMMENSELY RARE BROKEN CROWN AND SCROLL VARIETY ON THE 1923 100-DOLLAR KING GEORGE V HIGH VALUE.
According to Power Search, this is the first keyplate variety on the $100.00 King George V stamp we have offered in our auctions in over 30 years.
With 1982 E. Diena (with $25.00 value) and 2020 R.P.S. certificates. SG £19,000.