Canadian Stamp Auctions

21 January, 2009 - H.R. Harmer Inc.

The "Mount Royal" Collection
of Canada
(Part III)

Part III of the ”Mount Royal” collection was, like the first two Parts, quite extraordinary. Part I took place last spring at the height of the market. It produced 67 new record prices. Part II, held last October, produced only 23 and Part III, just held, produced 7.

These figures are very representative of the prices realized in these sales and of the stamp auction market in general. Since September, stamp auction prices have been on the decline. This is true for rare old classics, but also for modern varieties. What shocked us particularly were the large number of valuable stamps than didn’t even sell.

Apart from the prices, the quality and abundance of old and modern rare stamps in these sales can only be described as extraordinary. We can see why Harmers split the sale up into three parts. The market can only take so much. It’s just too bad the international economic meltdown had to occur during the last two parts of the sale. It is seldom one sees so many plate blocks and sheets of such rare material, particularly the modern varieties. It’s almost hard to believe such material exists.

Well, enough comments! Let’s have a look at some of the highlights. The prices realized have been converted at the rate of $1 US = $1.27 Cdn.

Lot 2007 Scott 2 Catalogue $1,850 Realized $1,714

Lot 2025 Scott 5d Catalogue $3,000 Realized $3,810

Lot 2017 Unitrade 3Pi Catalogue $5,000 Realized $5,080

Lot 2039 Unitrade 14v Estimate $3,000-4,000 Realized $2,032

Lot 2040 Scott 18b Catalogue $10,000 Realized $5,080

Lot 2044 Scott 19a Catalogue $2,200 Realized $1,206

Lot 2050 Unitrade 26 iv Catalogue $250 Realized $1,270

Lot 2053 Scott 30e Catalogue $1,650 Realized $2,159

Lot 2057 Unitrade 35a NH Estimate $1,000-1,500 Realized $1,333

Lot 2059 Unitrade 37iv Catalogue $4,000 Realized $2,286

Lot 2065 Scott 45 Catalogue $625 Realized $1,016

Lot 2075 Scott 61 Catalogue $2,400 Realized $4,127

Lot 2106 Scott 79 Catalogue $440 Realized $603

Lot 2131 Scott 92a Catalogue $800 Realized $540

Lot 2134 Scott 93a Catalogue $1,200 Realized $730

Lot 2153 Scott 118a Catalogue $3,600 Realized $3,683

Lot 2165 Scott 122a Catalogue $3,600 Realized $4,445

Lot 2186 Unitrade 149ciii Catalogue $1,500 Realized $572

Lot 2205 Scott 176 NH Catalogue $400 Realized $254

Lot 2231 Unitrade 213i Catalogue $3,500 Realized $3,175

Lot 2473 Unitrade 1516i Catalogue $3,000 Realized $1,397

Lot 2476 Scott 1521a Estimate $5,000-7,500 Realized $5,397

We must admit we did not have high expectations for this sale. But, we have to be impressed by some of the realizations shown above. It is clear there are still bidders out there determined to chase material that is either rare or of exceptional quality. It is also clear that the softening of the market continues. Many of the bids in this sale were well below the recent year’s record prices. As a result, many of the patterns or trends that developed over the last few years no longer exist and it will be very hard to guess how the stamp auction market will develop over the next year. We will watch carefully and with great interest and keep our viewers advised.

This sale had 7 new record prices: