Q & A

F.A. of Sebringville, Ontario writes:

II was hoping that one of your experts could give me a fair market value for the law stamps below. I realize that one has a bit of the edge slightly disturbed and that it can lower the value, but any appraisal you could provide me with would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone I've approached has given me values from both ends of the spectrum. I've had one dealer tell me he'd give me $100.00 for the works and another that stated the King George ones are worth more than the Queen Victoria and that he believed they were worth as much as $600.00 a piece with the exception of the one with the flaw. It's because of opinions such as these, that I'd like an honest opinion from an expert. I bought a stamp pricing guide but there are so many factors to take into consideration as to exactly what stamps these actually are. For example, are they wet print? Rouletted? Hence my seeking expert advice.

My dad has had these stamps in his dresser drawers for he can't remember how long and out of curiosity has asked me to see if I can find out their value.

We asked Geoff Bell to respond:

Revenue stamps are used to demonstrate that some sort of tax has been paid. There are federal, provincial and municipal issues and they have been in use from before confederation to the present day. The stamps were printed in many cases by the same companies that printed banknotes, therefore are beautifully engraved and very collectable. It is interesting that the use of revenues was one of the major causes of the American Revolution. If you look at many old documents, attached will be a revenue stamp.

Your particular stamps were made by the American Banknote Company and were used around 1915. They were Supreme Court of Canada issues and come in denominations of 10, 25 and 50 cents and $1.00. Unfortunately, it appears yours have been cut by scissors and the edge or “teeth” have been partially removed. I would think $200 value would be in the ballpark.