A Find Of A Life Time...#32

This is a dream of every stamp collector. To discover an extremely rare stamp and be able to buy it on a modest budget. I never thought I would ever see this stamp variety let alone own one. It is now in the hands of Eastern Auctions Ltd., and will be offered in a Fall auction. Here are two views of the stamp.

Face:




Back lighted view of Back:




These images are ones I did prior to getting a VG Greene Foundation Certificate. I noticed the stamp in a circuit book and used back lighting to see if it had a watermark. Needless to say when I saw the back lighted image above I couldn't believe my eyes. The rest of the story remains to be written.

Perhaps you would care to elucidate.

Looks like laid paper. Very very rare. I guess yours would be like the 3rd known copy? Not a Canada expert, so I'm subject to correction on that.

This is the third reported copy which has made a big story in the philatelic press and here in the forum.

Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation issued a certificate
#G 20118 June 24, 2013 stating: "Canada Scott No. 32, used, on horizontal laid paper, .0036 in. thick, genuine, two diagonal creases, internal tear on right side, dated Hamilton MR 16, 1870."

This is the only copy with city date stamp cancelation.

The other two copies were certified genuine in 1935.

It's the dream of every stamp collector? And you are selling it?

Congratulations.

Two Canada # 32 going up for sale at auction this year. One in the Brigham Auction an another in Eastern Auctions.

Have you received any kind of stamp society recognition or fellowship for your important philatelic stamp discovery?

Congratulations on recently finding and identifying another copy of a very rare and important stamp of which the
last two other copies were found and identified almost 80 years ago. Very impressive and remarkable work.

Amazing find, congrats! I would sell it too. As only the 3rd one found, I imagine I could buy quite a few stamps on my wish list. :)

Nice find. Congratulations.

Congratulations on your find!

You are keeping the dream alive for all of us who keep looking for that needle in the haystack!

Dan

That truly is amazing! Congrats on your new find!

I had been staying quiet about my find up until recently. The stamp itself has caused quite a stir and a complete report on its certification can be found at www.greenefoundation.ca . The latest BNA Topics has an article that discusses all three known copies of the stamp. This article is the first to mention my name. I had been keeping quiet for security and privacy reasons. Now that the stamp is at the auction house I feel better about releasing my name. It was a difficult decision to sell the stamp but I didn't feel safe keeping it at the house and really couldn't enjoy it locked up in a safety deposit box. The stamp is going to be sold but the memories of the find will always be with me.

Hi Mike. Was it the nice socked on nose cancellation that first attracted you to this stamp? Did you know that you had # 32 when you bought it as # 24 or did you find out later by dipping it in watermark fluid or wetting it with water to remove a stamp hinge? Thanks.

The stamps cancelation is attractive but I always check Large Queen stamps to see if they are watermarked or what paper they are printed on. As soon as I saw the back lighted reverse of the stamp I couldn't believe my eyes I even flipped it back over to see if I might have missed a light bar cancelation (not just once but three times). I was in complete disbelief. I immediately removed the stamp from the circuit book and put my buyers mark in its place. I then compared it to my #31 and #33 copies and saw a close match to #31. I then soaked the hinge off the back with no ill effect to the stamp. Yes I was pretty sure it was #32. The Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation verified my identification and then I knew for sure what I had.

Great find watermark

Way to go

Dianne

It must be great to discover something philatelic and get acknowledged by the philatelic press.

It is quite an honor to find such a rare stamp. But to be able to share it with others is a real thrill. Philately is the study of stamps in all aspects and there are many people out there looking for rare and unusual items. The threads here are full of questions pertaining to different aspects of collecting. That is why it is so much fun to share and offer advice about stamps one is familiar with or has questions about.
I have been sharing my re-entry collection through different venues for example: Re-entry Study Group (no longer exists) and on Re-entries.com . I have also submitted a few articles for publication. Enjoy the hobby the way it suits you and perhaps some day you will be lucky enough to make a fantastic find like this one was for me. Remember a knowledgeable collector has an edge on one who is not.