Lot 97 Canada #63 $3 Yellow Bistre Queen Victoria, 1897 Diamond Jubilee Issue, A VFNH Example With 2002 Sismondo Certificate

A VFNH example of the $3 yellow bistre Queen Victoria from the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Issue with 2002 Sismondo certificate. The Sismondo certificate expresses a clear opinion and states that the gum is original and NH, with no qualifications being expressed. There is one very, very light crescent shaped bend near the "D" of Canada, at the top of the stamp, but this is trivial and is not mentioned on the certificate. Clearly, Sismondo felt that this was insignificant enough for him to express a clear opinion on the gum, classifying it as mint NH, and I would agree with him. I mention it though, just for sake of being thorough in my description. Any other auction house will describe this as VFNH and will assess the full 200% premium on the gum, and will realize a very hefty percentage of this, as very few of the dollar value jubilees have survived with gum this pristine. This is one of the nicest mint $3 jubilees I have seen, when all condition factors are taken into account. The colour is unusually deep and vibrant. A fantastic stamp for the highest calibre collection.

Unitrade values this at $6,000. The stamp offered here grades 78 as follows:

Centering/Margins: 50/70

Paper Freshness: 5/5

Colour: 5/5

Impression: 5/5

Absence of Visible Paper Flaws: 5/5

Perforations: 8/10