Canada

In 1959 Canada Post issued a stamp commemorating the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. An error occurred where the entire center is inverted, and the "Seaway Invert" is certainly the most famous rarity in contemporary Canadian philately. The block of ten examples shown here is the largest multiple in private hands.

Russia

In 1845 the Head of Mercury was used as the subject for designs for new postal Stationery but were not accepted. Here is the 10k and the essay in blue cut to shape and affixed to an envelope tied by an albino impression trial cancellation of the hollow star surrounded by concentric rings of dots. These essays come from the famous Breitfuss, Faberge and Goss collections.

Vancouver Island - Gold Rush to Western Canada

This prepaid Dietz & Nelson envelope from the Western Canada "Gold Rush" period is franked with the Barnard's Cariboo Express vignette for the Cariboo route, and readdressed from Quesnell Mouth to William Creek. The Coat of Arms handstamp paid the Vancouver Island postage while 2 x 5c Victorian stamps paid the Br. Columbia fee. A 25c tax was raised for the re-forwarding. This is one of few remarking items of this romantic period in good quality.

Neapolitan Provinces

A fascinating and unique mixed franking to Venice including a 40c of Italy in combination with the 5c of Neapolitan Provinces. Both stamps being red are an added attraction of this spectacular rarity.

Bermuda

The first stamps of Bermuda were crude cut-outs which had been created by using the black or red HAMILTON/BERMUDA dated handstamps, removing the day and date slugs and inscribing the postal rate ONE PENNY in their place with the Postmaster's signature W.B.PEROT. Being both very rare and popular amongst early collectors they became affectionately known as the PEROT POSTMASTER PROVISIONAL. This example is one of the finest of the only eleven known in deep red on bluish paper, ideally octagonal cut and used on a folded letter to a local banker Mr. B. Wilson Higgs at St. Georges. A great classic rarity from the Ferrary, Burrus and Tomasini collections.