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

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Canada King Edward VII Collections

Collections and Lots, United Nations Banknotes

Nigeria Covers bulk lot

Canada King Edward VII Collections

Collections and Lots, United Nations Banknotes

Canada King Edward VII Collections

Lot 220

Unitrade 96-100

50.00 CAD

Live

1908, ½c to 7c Québec Tercentenary in blocks of four, mint, the ½c black brown being never hinged, the remainder with the top pair

1908, ½c to 7c Québec Tercentenary in blocks of four, mint, the ½c black brown being never hinged, the remainder with the top pair lightly hinged and the bottom pair never hinged, catalogued as fine though some superior examples noted, quite fresh.

Collections and Lots, United Nations Banknotes

Lot 730

160.00 CAD

Live

United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Unit (UNRRA), 1946, displaced persons camp scrip note group, comprising two

United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration Unit (UNRRA), 1946, displaced persons camp scrip note group, comprising two complete sets from the Scheinfeld camp, Bavaria (Team 569), with examples of each of the three issued denominations, 10c, 50c, and $1, printed on cream to light green paper, obverse with Lithuanian inscriptions and red serial numbers, reverse with English text and blue camp handstamp, together with an additional complete set of three notes, 10c, 50c, and $1, from UNRRA Team 120 at the displaced persons camp established in Regensburg, which housed refugees including persons from the Baltic states and Poland, the paper throughout fresh and like-new, a very rare and seldom-seen post-war refugee camp issue, apparently genuine but offered as is, fine-very fine.

Nigeria Covers bulk lot

United States Covers bulk lot

Nigeria Covers bulk lot

Lot 733

300.00 CAD

Live

"ZIKISTS" AND THE GOD OF IRON: The 1950 David Brooks Nigeria Lecture Tour Archive, (June–September), an extensive and historically

"ZIKISTS" AND THE GOD OF IRON: The 1950 David Brooks Nigeria Lecture Tour Archive, (June–September), an extensive and historically fascinating correspondence archive comprising 17 6d King George VI air letters, with contents documenting a British Council lecture tour of Nigeria, the stationery struck with a range of cancellations, including Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Onitsha, Awka, Aba, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Kano, and Zaria, and containing both handwritten and typed contents addressed to members of the Brooks family in Richmond, Yorkshire, England, some typical peripheral opening tears, but an engaging primary source for the rise of west African nationalism. This archive provides a sophisticated witness to the rise of Nigerian nationalism during the twilight of British colonial rule. The writer, David Brooks (Director of Extra Mural Studies at University College Ibadan), captures the "troublesome" atmosphere in the wake of the 1949 Enugu Colliery massacre, documenting the nationalist "Day of Mourning" on July 4th where local Ju Ju traditions and strict prohibitions against women in the streets were enforced. Brooks’s narrative follows his travels via "Dove" aircraft and river launches to remote districts like Langbassi, where he met with Baloguns (village chiefs) to navigate the complexities of introducing local government. He provides a vivid contrast between the colonial high life, dining with the Governor of Nigeria and the Resident in Sir Roger Casement’s former house, and the "frightful scenes" at his lectures caused by "Zikist" agitators demanding the British "go home". Technical and social anecdotes abound, including a personal meeting with the celebrated Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik) and the receipt of a massive silver ring from the Emir of Kano, fashioned from a Maria Theresa silver coin. Brooks writes candidly of the physical toll of the tour, from the "dank smell of the mangrove swamps" and primitive "Thunderbox" sanitary arrangements to his eventual recovery from dysentery in the Nassarawa Hospital. Throughout the archive, the writer maintains a highly engaging and literate style, balancing scholarly observation with a dry, often humorous tone that captures the absurdities of colonial travel. His descriptions range from "pagan" worship of the God of Iron to the delightful scene of a child carrying a postage stamp on his head under a brick to keep it from blowing away. A fascinating look at the interplay between British colonial administration and rising Nigerian nationalism.

United States Covers bulk lot

Uruguay Covers bulk lot

Canada Collections

United States Covers bulk lot

Lot 827

900.00 CAD

Live

TENNESSEE UNDER THE GUN: The John H. Denton Archive - A Union Soldier’s Witness to the Western Theater and the Occupation of Nashville,

TENNESSEE UNDER THE GUN: The John H. Denton Archive - A Union Soldier’s Witness to the Western Theater and the Occupation of Nashville, 1861–1863, an extensive correspondence of 29 letters mostly franked with 3c rose Washington on small covers from John H. Denton to Martha A. Cole in Aurora, Indiana, the majority of the covers are struck with Nashville, Tenn. military duplex or double-circle postmarks, with several earlier examples originating from Louisville, Kentucky, typical wartime wear including minor soiling and some wrinkling, but with exceptional correspondence enclosed providing a rare glimpse into the soldier's service with the Third Indiana Battery. The correspondence follows a succession of Tennessee encampments, documenting the Union's slow but steady advance into the Confederate heartland. Denton’s narrative begins in the "heart of rebellion" in Nashville, where he describes a local woman defiantly wearing a "sesesh flag pinned" to her breast and observes the "Hard fighting" scars at Fort Donelson shortly after its fall. By early 1863, a significant cluster of letters originates from Lavergne, a critical strategic outpost on the road to Murfreesboro. Here, Denton describes the constant expectation of battle, noting on April 22 that they were "ordered to be redry to march at 6 oclock" for an anticipated fight. By April 29, he details an active skirmish where Union forces captured "three or four prisoners and one hundred head of sheep" and burned a mill belonging to an "old Rebel Citizen." As the campaign intensified, Denton writes from camps 8 miles south of Tullahoma (June 30) and near Decherd Station (July 4), describing the physical toll of the campaign, reporting the pursuit of Confederate forces who had "evacuated the place" and mentioning the scarcity of supplies, noting they were "out of coffee and sugar" by the Fourth of July. The final stage of the correspondence tracks the difficult passage through the Cumberland Mountains. From Sweden’s Cove (Aug. 12), Denton describes the "grandest scene" of the mountains, despite the roads being "the steepest and the wildest I ever saw.". By August 23 at Battle Creek, he reports being within five miles of the enemy, with the main Confederate army positioned at Chattanooga. He concludes with an eyewitness account of the army "making rafts to cross the river" for the final assault on Chattanooga, which Denton correctly predicts they will take "without a fight" as the rebels "are leaving the place." Throughout, Denton offers unvarnished descriptions of the war's psychological impact, frequently expressesing fatigue, writing on July 7, 1863, that he is "getting tired of war" and longing to "return home to our friends," yet he maintains a sense of duty, reflecting that the hardships of the march are "all for the good of the Country." He remarks that letters received from the addressee, Martha Cole, are cherished as his "only enrichment" and with whom he frequently discussed plans for a post-war marriage.

Uruguay Covers bulk lot

Canada Collections

Uruguay Covers bulk lot

Lot 854

300.00 CAD

Live

BLOOD, WOOL, AND CAUDILLOS: The Wendelstadt Archive, 1854–1869, a German Pioneer’s Witness to the Uruguayan Revolution and the

BLOOD, WOOL, AND CAUDILLOS: The Wendelstadt Archive, 1854–1869, a German Pioneer’s Witness to the Uruguayan Revolution and the Triple Alliance War, an extensive and significant archive of 16 letters, approximately 60 pages of correspondence and an additional 15 pages (some double sided) of settlement records documenting the foundational German colonization of the Uruguayan littoral, primarily comprising the personal and business correspondence of Richard Wendelstadt, alongside letters from his brothers Carl and Victor Wendelstadt, and fellow settler Eduard Deichmann. The archive traces 1854 mercantile activity in Rio de Janeiro to the establishment of a massive agricultural Estancia near the settlement of New Melhem (Nuevo Berlín). In addition to the narrative interest, the archive includes comprehensive financial ledgers from 1854 and 1858, such as the Estancia von 68 Suertes ledger, providing a technical census of the estate's 16,000+ sheep and capital valuations; some imperfectons, not detracting from the historically fascinating narrative. This archive serves as a vital primary source for the study of 19th-century German emigration and the socio-political evolution of the Rio de la Plata region. The early letters from Rio de Janeiro capture the alien environment of Brazil, describing the "ice-cold water" and lush avenues of trees. By the late 1850s, the correspondence provides a visceral account of pioneer life, from the "primitive conditions" of their initial shelters to the "unending pests" and "bitter cold" that threatened their livestock. Wendelstadt’s writing offers a candid look at the immigrant psyche, advising his family in Prussia that success in the Americas requires "iron patience and a strong back". The historical and political significance of the archive is highlighted during the turbulent 1860s as the settlers were caught in the crossfire of regional wars, documenting their precarious position amidst regional volatility, noting that the "Revolution disturbs the communications" and describing an "anxious atmosphere" as local Caudillos mobilized for conflict. Wendelstadt specifically details how political instability and "blockades" hindered commercial trade with firms like Santiago Lowry, with wool shipments frequently delayed. His 1861 letters emphasize a strategy of "strict neutrality" as a means of survival during the lead-up to the War of the Triple Alliance. By 1864, the impact of the war is direct, with the settlers witnessing the mobilization of militias and the total disruption of the river trade that sustained their colony. Central to the narrative is the Guerra Grande Legacy, as the earliest 1854 letters find the settlers moving into a landscape still defined by the aftermath of the "Great War" (1839–1851). The 1860s correspondence directly witnesses the Uruguayan Revolution (1863–1865), with Wendelstadt recording how the "Revolution" paralyzed the countryside and cut off the interior from Montevideo. Important regional figures and historical ties appear throughout, including interactions with the merchant house of Santiago Lowry and references to Eduard Deichmann, whose firsthand reports on the Caudillos underscore the lawlessness of the frontier. The narrative reaches a conclusion in the 1869 correspondence from Montevideo. After fifteen years of labor, Wendelstadt writes of being "distressed" by the "disappearance of capital" and the "colossal" impact of regional economic failure following the war's conclusion, stating that wealth had "vanished from the land". He reflects that while he succeeded in building a "New Berlin" in the wilderness, he still harbored a deep longing for the "order and quiet" of his homeland.

Canada Collections

Lot 903

100.00 CAD

Live

First Day covers, 1932/2007, collection of an estimated 1,500, largely organized in a variety of configurations including FDCs unaddressed

First Day covers, 1932/2007, collection of an estimated 1,500, largely organized in a variety of configurations including FDCs unaddressed with cachets and plate blocks (185); unaddressed with cachets and blocks/singles (400+); addressed with cachets and plate blocks (150+); addressed with cachets and blocks or singles (650+); and addressed but no cachet (130); nearly two-thirds show some signs of wear, light toning and/or likely storage issues over time but no odor, remainder fresh and clean, uhecked by us for varities, though we saw many covers with a catalogue value of $15 and more; our photos show a representative sample.

Canada Covers bulk lot

Lot 904

200.00 CAD

Live

First Day Covers, 1940s/2004, accumulation of several hundred, the large majority from the latter half of the range, about half addressed

First Day Covers, 1940s/2004, accumulation of several hundred, the large majority from the latter half of the range, about half addressed (ex Earle Covert), mostly Rose Craft and Canada Post-issued, with a wide variety of frankings including plate blocks, blocks, pairs, se-tenant, and souvenir sheets, many with cancellations other than Ottawa, little duplication excepting a small holding of 1986, 1995, and 2000 Canada Post Christmas covers and Season's Greeting cards, overall fine to very fine.

Lot 905

100.00 CAD

Live

First Day Covers, 1960s/2005, accumulation of approximately 600 first day covers comprising private and Canada Post Official issues, with

First Day Covers, 1960s/2005, accumulation of approximately 600 first day covers comprising private and Canada Post Official issues, with singles, se-tenant multiples, and large-format souvenir sheets represented, spot-checking confirming most issues in the period present with a good number of higher-denomination stamps and attractive cachets, overall very fine.

Canada Covers bulk lot

Collections and Lots Zeppelin and Airmail Covers bulk lot

Lot 906

100.00 CAD

Live

First Day Covers, 1980s/2010s, accumulation of several hundred, housed in six cover albums with additional material loose in a box, the

First Day Covers, 1980s/2010s, accumulation of several hundred, housed in six cover albums with additional material loose in a box, the majority dating from the 1990s to the 2010s with a small number of earlier issues and some duplication noted, overall very fine.

Collections and Lots Zeppelin and Airmail Covers bulk lot

Canada Covers bulk lot

Collections and Lots Zeppelin and Airmail Covers bulk lot

Lot 907

200.00 CAD

Live

First Flights, 1928/1946, collection of over 400 covers, predominantly to 1939, showing a wide range of routes to and from Canadian towns

First Flights, 1928/1946, collection of over 400 covers, predominantly to 1939, showing a wide range of routes to and from Canadian towns with some United States destinations, featuring a dizzying variety of cachets, markings, and frankings, chiefly Air Mail issues though not exclusively, including singles, coils, complete sets, a booklet, and even a paste-up pair, many now housed in protective sleeves, some envelopes affected by past storage conditions, a substantial holding offering excellent scope for study or continuation, fine or better.

Canada Covers bulk lot

Lot 909

120.00 CAD

Live

Manitoba, 1850s/1880s, group of eleven early covers, from stampless to Small Queens, including scarce pieces, noting 1875 1c Small Queen

Manitoba, 1850s/1880s, group of eleven early covers, from stampless to Small Queens, including scarce pieces, noting 1875 1c Small Queen cover from St. Andrews to Winnipeg, two Ross correspondence covers including 1854 stampless from Sault Ste. Marie, 1864 from New Haven, Connecticut, to Selkirk Settlement, missent to Sacramento (stamp cut out), 1880 3c Small Queen cover to Rapid City, 1875 cover with crisp Fort Garry, Manitoba split-ring, three Barber correspondence covers, two privately carried to Point Douglas, Red River, another 1871 3c Small Queen cover from Hamilton to Winnipeg, endorsed "via St. Paul & Pembina" (reduced, opened on three sides), etc, faults to be expected, some significant, including rough openings, tears, cover reductions, etc, but several elusive items included.

Lot 910

100.00 CAD

Live

Newfoundland, 1890s/1940s, accumulation of 250+ covers, with a large number of Trail of the Caribou and Pictorial frankings, including

Newfoundland, 1890s/1940s, accumulation of 250+ covers, with a large number of Trail of the Caribou and Pictorial frankings, including censored items, registered covers, T.P.O. and R.P.O. cancels, a few Butler covers, and a group of five identified as Blitz Printing issues (noted by Walsh), approximately 30% fronts only with many of those addressed to Groves and Lindley in Huddersfield, England, many fine with some very fine, all useful for further study.

Lot 911

150.00 CAD

Live

Newfoundland, 1900s/1980s, Railway Post Office accumulation of more than 125 covers and postcards augmented by 200 or more singles on Vario

Newfoundland, 1900s/1980s, Railway Post Office accumulation of more than 125 covers and postcards augmented by 200 or more singles on Vario pages, the large majority of both groupings pre-1950, with a wide variety of cancellations, destinations, and recipients throughout the period, accompanied by a large compendium of philatelic literature detailing earliest and latest dates for Newfoundland R.P.O.s and hammer strikes, many items identified by the collector and dealer, condition mixed as expected, an ideal research holding, overall fine or better.

Lot 913

40.00 CAD

Live

Newfoundland, 1930s/1940s, TPOs, RPOs and other postmarks assortment, on stamps on about 95 pieces, filling three double-sided black stock

Newfoundland, 1930s/1940s, TPOs, RPOs and other postmarks assortment, on stamps on about 95 pieces, filling three double-sided black stock pages, with issues from the Pictorial, Gilbert, Resources and Definitives series, great for further study, overall fine.

Canada Covers bulk lot

Collections and Lots Topics Covers bulk lot

Lot 914

60.00 CAD

Live

New Brunswick, 1860 5c Queen Victoria, group of four covers, each stamp neatly-tied by oval grid cancels, note one "1" of Saint John and

New Brunswick, 1860 5c Queen Victoria, group of four covers, each stamp neatly-tied by oval grid cancels, note one "1" of Saint John and one "13" of Fredericton, noting shades from yellow green to deeper green, variously sent to destinations in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia, small imperfections, overall fine.

Collections and Lots Topics Covers bulk lot

Canada Covers bulk lot

Collections and Lots Topics Covers bulk lot

Lot 915

50.00 CAD

Live

Olympics & Expositions, 1976/1986 Olympics, Expo and Commonwealth Games First Day Covers (FDCs) and special event cover collection, ex

Olympics & Expositions, 1976/1986 Olympics, Expo and Commonwealth Games First Day Covers (FDCs) and special event cover collection, ex Earle Covert. More than 400 covers (large majority are addressed) in eight FDC albums with sleeves (35 being loose), nearly two-thirds being related to the 1976 Montréal Olympics, and with representation from the 1978 Commonwealth Games, 1980 Moscow Olympics, and 1986 Expo covers plus postcards. Shows a tremendous range of postmarks including for opening and closing ceremonies and the various sporting events. Also includes a b/w copy of Dale Speirs's postal history of the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games. Fine to very fine overall, and providing a solid foundation for continuation in this area.

Canada Covers bulk lot

Lot 916

Scott 368-273...

100.00 CAD

Live

Peace Issue, 1946, group of 38 first day covers, comprising singles, mixed frankings, plate blocks, and blocks from the 8c Farming through

Peace Issue, 1946, group of 38 first day covers, comprising singles, mixed frankings, plate blocks, and blocks from the 8c Farming through the 17c Special Delivery Express stamp with several airmail covers, including plate blocks of the 50c Logging and $1 Ferry, commercial corner cards, and private makers including Cachet Cover and Artmaster, overall fine to very fine.

Lot 922

150.00 CAD

Live

Railway Post Offices, 1890s/1960s, Quebec RPO accumulation of approximately 250 covers and postcards, sorted by cancellations from more

Railway Post Offices, 1890s/1960s, Quebec RPO accumulation of approximately 250 covers and postcards, sorted by cancellations from more than 30 locations, with a variety of postmarks, destinations, and recipients over the period, many with collector and dealer identifications in light pencil, condition mixed as expected for an accumulation of this type, an ideal specialist holding, overall fine or better.