VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND USED EXAMPLE OF THE CANADA 12-PENCE BLACK ON LAID PAPER. ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC AND DESIRABLE CLASSIC STAMPS.

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, and particularly the 12-pence, show the same fine quality of engraving that distinguishes the U.S. 1847 Issue. The original die was engraved by Alfred Jones based upon the Chalon portrait - which was also used on stamps of the Australian States Queensland and Tasmania, Bahamas and New Zealand, among other British colonies. The stamps were printed early in 1851 (12p issued June 14), at the same time that RWH&E's contract for providing United States stamps was coming to an end.

A total of 50,000 stamps were printed from 250 sheets of 200 subjects (two panes of 100). Only 1,450 examples were sold with the balance being destroyed. Our census, available on our website at https://siegelauctions.com/census/canada/scott/3, records a total of 33 used singles and two pairs, over half of which have faults to some degree and/or are cut in on at least one side.

Census No. 3-CAN-25. With 2017 Greene certificate. SG £100,000. Unitrade C$180,000.00

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables