British Columbia 3

1865 Five cent rose, watermark Crown CC, imperforate, a spectacular mint single displaying the characteristic darker shade associated with this stamp – a prime contender as British North America’s rarest mint stamp – with well clear to superb margins, slight bend of no importance and surprisingly possessing the cleanest original gum that we have ever seen.  A handsome and peerless example with impeccable provenance, Very Fine, Original Gum

(Unitrade 3; catalogue value $125,000)
Expertization: 2018 Greene Foundation certificate

Provenance:
⋅ Gerald Wellburn, Eaton & Sons, October 1988; Lot 1136 - illustrated on the front cover of the catalogue of this incomparable collection.
⋅ British North America, Harmers of New York, February 1980; Lot 14
⋅ Henry Hussey, Sissons, Sale 329, November 1973; Lot 3
⋅ J. Grant Glassco, Robson Lowe Ltd., July 1969; Lot 15
⋅ William L. Moody III, H.R. Harmer (New York), May 1951; Lot 3

According to Wellburn, the foremost expert and collector of British Columbia & Vancouver Island, only 30 imperforate sheets of each of the 5c rose and 10c blue were included in the sole shipment of Vancouver Island stamps from De La Rue in London. These were simultaneously issued in the Colony with regular perforated stamps. A very small number of mint Five cent imperforates with original gum survive in sound condition. During our research we were able to locate a mint pair (ex. Dale-Lichtenstein) and a mint single (ex. Ferrary, Burrus, Amundsen, Samos, Baillie) which last sold in 2006 for US$86,250 inclusive of buyer's premium. The other mint OG examples, very few in number, are of noticeably inferior quality.

A FABULOUS MINT EXAMPLE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND 5 CENT ROSE ISSUED IN 1865,
THE FINEST WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO OFFER.