Sparks 56th Auctions Spring 2026 - Stamps & Postal History of the World

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France

Great Britain

France

Lot 41

250.00 CAD

Live

Pre-Confederation Quebec 1773 (October 13), Quebec, bill of exchange for three thousand livres drawn by François Levesque, endorsed and

Pre-Confederation Quebec 1773 (October 13), Quebec, bill of exchange for three thousand livres drawn by François Levesque, endorsed and protested for non-payment, incorporating a formal notarial protest dated at Nantes, 24 November 1773, recording the refusal to accept the bill, with two notarial signatures, "BRETAGNE / UN SOL" fee handstamp on reverse, very fine and most attractive. François Lévesque (1732–1787) was a prominent French-born merchant and political figure in Quebec, associated with the firm of Havy et Lefebvre, who bridged the transition from the French regime to British rule. He remained in Canada after the British victory, becoming a member of the Legislative and Executive Councils.

Lot 45

120.00 CAD

Live

Pre-Confederation Quebec 1794 (August 21), folded cover to Major General Holland, Surveyor General, Quebec, endorsed "H.M.S.", with

Pre-Confederation Quebec 1794 (August 21), folded cover to Major General Holland, Surveyor General, Quebec, endorsed "H.M.S.", with manuscript free frank of "E.B. Littlehales" in manuscript, with receipt docketing on reverse "from Major Littlehales / 21 August 1794 / Came to Hand / Sept 5th," the franking privilege in Canada being permitted to Postmasters, Surveyors General, and for letters and packets to and from the King, intact wax seal on reverse, light filing folds, fine. Major Samuel Holland (1728–1801) was Surveyor General of Quebec and one of the most significant figures in the mapping of British North America, responsible for surveys of extraordinary scope including the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Prince Edward Island, and much of the eastern seaboard. His correspondent, Major Edward Baker Littlehales, served as Military Secretary to Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe of Upper Canada.

Great Britain

Great Britain 1841 1d and 2d

Great Britain

Lot 64

300.00 CAD

Live

Pre-Confederation Quebec 1856 (April 4), Montreal to Cobourg, folded entire franked with 1854–57 Great Britain 1d red-brown, perforated

Pre-Confederation Quebec 1856 (April 4), Montreal to Cobourg, folded entire franked with 1854–57 Great Britain 1d red-brown, perforated 16, Plate 12, Die II, lettered M-C, tied by target cancel, with Montreal double split-ring despatch c.d.s. and Cobourg arrival backstamp (8 Apr), the adhesive additionally "tied" by a vertical filing fold, fine and most unusual; with 2021 B.P.A. certificate.

Great Britain 1841 1d and 2d

Great Britain

Norway

Great Britain 1841 1d and 2d

Lot 392

750.00 CAD

Live

1850 (22 May), Great Britain 1d red on transatlantic folded letter from St. John to London, reverse with St. John double split-ring

1850 (22 May), Great Britain 1d red on transatlantic folded letter from St. John to London, reverse with St. John double split-ring despatch, addressed to the Jamaica Coffee House, with London / Lombard Street Maltese Cross transit (4 Jun) and red c.d.s. alongside, redirected to Weston Super Mare, Somersetshire, thus affixed with Great Britain 1d red, letterd JJ, tied to cover by "15" barred numeral, neat next-day receiver datestamp, vertical fold and some creasing, but a rare entire, an exceptionally early example of mail from New Brunswick bearing a stamp.

Great Britain

Norway

Great Britain

Lot 394

1,100.00 CAD

Live

Atlantic Packets, Cunard Line, 1862 (February), "A97" mail boat cancel, cover franked with 6d lilac, tied by good strike of the "A97"

Atlantic Packets, Cunard Line, 1862 (February), "A97" mail boat cancel, cover franked with 6d lilac, tied by good strike of the "A97" barred numeral cancel, used by ocean mail clerks on board the Cunard Line's "Europa", which departed Halifax on February 2, the cover traveling to Tunbridge Wells, England, via Queenstown (17 Feb) and Liverpool (18 Feb), with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, seal cut from reverse, a rare usage.

Norway

Lot 429

150.00 CAD

Live

1936 (June 23), St. John's to Norway, Forwarded to England, assessed postage due, franked with 5c Caribou, tied by St. John's slogan

1936 (June 23), St. John's to Norway, Forwarded to England, assessed postage due, franked with 5c Caribou, tied by St. John's slogan cancel, violet circular "T" on front, reverse with 12o Norwegian postage dues horizontal pair, tied by Oslo c.d.s, multiple Norwegian auxiliary backstamps including Ukjendt/Inconnu, struck RETUR on front, crossed-out in blue, re-addressed to two different locations in London, England, the last appearing to be the Manse, 1 Howards Road, manuscript "Hold until arrival" at lower left, one postage due stamp with fault, the odd imperfection consistent with such extensive rerouting, else fine, a rare and visually-appealing cover.

Austria Pre-philately

Austria Airmail stamps

Bulgaria

Austria Pre-philately

Austria Airmail stamps

Austria Pre-philately

Lot 605

60.00 CAD

Live

1718 (October 3), folded lettersheet from Ernstbrunn to Lassee, in the Archduchy of Austria, addressed with elaborate calligraphic

1718 (October 3), folded lettersheet from Ernstbrunn to Lassee, in the Archduchy of Austria, addressed with elaborate calligraphic flourishes to Carl Friedrich von Castell, Imperial Count (Reichsgraf) and Major General serving the Polish-Saxon Court, and his wife Dorothea Renata, Countess of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, manuscript filing note on reverse recording entry into protocol on 5 October, intact red wax seal with clear armorial impression on reverse, typical filing folds, fine-very fine. Written in urgent German Kurrent script, the letter documents a "scandalous" incident involving a local official named Windisch, whose dispute over wine escalated into a public exchange of insults, Windisch accusing the author of lying "to his face" (in faciem), prompting this formal appeal for intervention or legal redress.

Austria Airmail stamps

Lot 606

Scott C54-60

50.00 CAD

Live

1950–1953, 60g to 20s Birds Airmails, set of 7, never hinged, fresh and well-centred throughout, very fine.

Bulgaria

Denmark Postal stationery

Bulgaria

Lot 609

70.00 CAD

Live

1892 (February), registered cover from Plovdiv to Constantinople, franked with single 2k and 3k and strip of three 15 on 30k Small Lion,

1892 (February), registered cover from Plovdiv to Constantinople, franked with single 2k and 3k and strip of three 15 on 30k Small Lion, tied by blue Plovdiv c.d.s., registered to the British Post Office in Constantinople, with Austrian Offices in Constantinople c.d.s. backstamp (2 Mar), adhesives with the odd toned perf, attractive.

Denmark Postal stationery

France Franco Prussian War

France

Denmark Postal stationery

Lot 635

400.00 CAD

Live

1911 (September 2), Middelfart to Fredericia, pioneer "Beltflyvingen" flight postcard, 5 øre green postal stationery card tied by

1911 (September 2), Middelfart to Fredericia, pioneer "Beltflyvingen" flight postcard, 5 øre green postal stationery card tied by FREDERICIA (29.11.5-6 E) c.d.s., reverse with illustrative image of Svendsen's biplane, hand-signed by pilot "Rob. Svendsen" across the top with manuscript endorsement "Beltflyvingen 1911" at bottom, bold and clear signature, light edge wear, quite superior quality for such pioneer flight mail, very fine. (AAMC #1). Pilot Robert Svendsen carried a small bag of mail across the Little Belt strait from Middelfart to Fredericia in this demonstration flight, recognized as the first postal flight on the European continent. Autographed examples from this flight are rare.

France Franco Prussian War

France

France Franco Prussian War

Lot 637

200.00 CAD

Live

1870 (December 30), Paris to Cambes (Gironde), Siege of Paris Ballon Monté, franked with 20c blue Cérès definitive tied by PARIS / ST.

1870 (December 30), Paris to Cambes (Gironde), Siege of Paris Ballon Monté, franked with 20c blue Cérès definitive tied by PARIS / ST. HONORÉ c.d.s., manuscript directive "par ballon monté" on face, Bordeaux (2 Jan) arrival on reverse, some tears at folds and margins with a tiny piece missing, not significantly affecting legibility or the postmarks, fine-very fine. Carried aboard the balloon Armée de la Loire, which departed the Gare du Nord on December 31, 1870, the letter comprises an extensive four-page manuscript from a soldier to his wife, striking a defiant tone throughout, noting that Paris "will resist to the last piece of bread, the last bullet," dismissing Prussian strategy and praying that "the cause of our poor country, surely the cause of civilization itself, may triumph in the struggle that is ruining two peoples." The flight landed eight hours later in a field between Montbizot and St. Jamme-sur-Sarthe after the aeronaut nearly jettisoned the mail sacks to avoid capture.

France

Lot 638

50.00 CAD

Live

1874 (October 21), Moreuil (Somme) to Paris, folded letter comprising a manuscript invoice for a hosiery shipment, franked with five 5c

1874 (October 21), Moreuil (Somme) to Paris, folded letter comprising a manuscript invoice for a hosiery shipment, franked with five 5c yellow green on pale blue perforated Cérès, tied by #2534 Gros Chiffres cancellation, with matching Moreuil (21 Oct) c.d.s. datestamp, reverse with Amiens a Paris (22 Oct) railway transit and two Paris (22 Oct) arrival backstamps, a charming franking, very fine.

France

France Autographs

France

France Autographs

Lot 639

Scott 87

200.00 CAD

Live

1877, 1c black on Prussian blue, Type Sage, Type II, tied to small piece by clear 1880 (21 Aug) c.d.s., fresh deep colour, single pulled

1877, 1c black on Prussian blue, Type Sage, Type II, tied to small piece by clear 1880 (21 Aug) c.d.s., fresh deep colour, single pulled perf at top noted for strict accuracy, else scarce and fine; with 2011 Martins Philatélie certificate. (Yvert 84).

France Autographs

Lot 640

150.00 CAD

Live

1910 (September), Maurice Tétard, pioneer aviator signed postcard, depicting the pilot and his Bristol biplane, signed in violet

1910 (September), Maurice Tétard, pioneer aviator signed postcard, depicting the pilot and his Bristol biplane, signed in violet "Aérodrome de Brooklands Angleterre, September 1910" with his name below, a choice signed early aviation card. Maurice Tétard was a French aviation pioneer and professional exhibition pilot active circa 1909–1911, flying Blériot-type monoplanes in long-distance demonstrations and international aviation displays that helped popularize early powered flight. In 1910 he was active on the British exhibition circuit, including flying meetings at Brooklands, then the principal centre of aviation in Britain, where Continental pilots showcased altitude, endurance, and passenger-carrying flights.

France

Lot 641

Scott 197

50.00 CAD

Live

1923, 1fr claret & olive Bordeaux Philatelic Congress, used on small piece, nicely-centred, very fine. (Yvert 182)

France

France Autographs

Lot 642

Scott 226

350.00 CAD

Live

1925, 5fr carmine Paris Exhibition souvenir sheet of four, never hinged original gum, the odd trivial tone spot in top margin, primarily

1925, 5fr carmine Paris Exhibition souvenir sheet of four, never hinged original gum, the odd trivial tone spot in top margin, primarily visible from reverse, else quite fresh and very fine. (Yvert 1).

France

France Autographs

Lot 643

Scott 241

100.00 CAD

Live

1927 (June 6), 5f+5f Strasbourg Philatelic Exhibition souvenir sheet, favour cancelled with Strasbourg Exposition Philatélique

1927 (June 6), 5f+5f Strasbourg Philatelic Exhibition souvenir sheet, favour cancelled with Strasbourg Exposition Philatélique Internationale (June 6) c.d.s., never hinged original gum, crisp central exhibition cancellation, the second souvenir sheet issued by France, fresh and very fine.

France Autographs

Lot 644

200.00 CAD

Live

1927 (October 10), Paris to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Costes and Le Brix first non-stop South Atlantic flight cover franked with 1f50

1927 (October 10), Paris to Buenos Aires, Argentina, Costes and Le Brix first non-stop South Atlantic flight cover franked with 1f50 Pasteur and 3f Merson, each tied by BOURGET-AVIATION / SEINE (Oct 10) c.d.s., two red "Par Avion" etiquettes on face, signed by pilot Dieudonné Costes, Buenos Aires (Oct 20) machine arrival cancel at top commemorating the "COSTES Y LE BRIX 12,400 kilometre flight of 72 hours PARIS–BUENOS AIRES", very fine and scarce; signed Muller. (AAMS #1063) Costes and Le Brix completed the first non-stop aerial crossing of the South Atlantic in a Breguet 19 biplane, covering 12,400 kilometres in 72 hours; only 17 covers are recorded as having been carried on this flight.