Lot 552

1918, War Savings, $5 green French issue, for use in Quebec, unused without gum, lovely centring and deep colour, free of faults, a rarity, very fine; with 2005 van Dam certificate.

As examples were used on certificates and subsequently cashed in the stamps were destroyed, and few survive in any language. The 1918 War Savings program was a First World War initiative launched by the National War Savings Committee to encourage citizens to save in support of the war effort, the $5 level being the highest denomination in the program. The French program in Quebec was considerably less subscribed than the English, primarily due to political resistance to the war and in particular to the Conscription Act of 1918.

The French version of this stamp is particularly rarely seen, van Dam noting only three recorded examples.This number now stands at four and includes the unique example used on document, which follows this lot in this sale, another used example in poor condition, the ex-Dr. Frank Morgan and Ed Richardson discovery example in unused condition (centered to left and with thinning, last publicly offered in 2012), and the superlative example from the Simone collection offered here, which stands easily as the finest example of this world-class revenue rarity and most valuable Canada Federal revenue stamp.