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Founded in 2007, Sparks Auctions is one of Canada’s leading philatelic auction firms. Our sales include specialized offerings of Canada & British North America, complemented by quality stamps and covers of the British Commonwealth and the world, from single items to intact collections. Our extensive print catalogs, with exacting descriptions accompanied by high-quality images, are distributed to a worldwide collector base.
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1764 (March 10), La Rochelle, France, to Montreal, stampless ...more
1764 (March 10), La Rochelle, France, to Montreal, stampless folded
letter, addressed to Monsieur de Bellot, likely Antoine-Joseph,
privately carried from La Rochelle, the letter conveying greetings
and continued confidence on behalf of M. and Mme de Ramezay,
detailing the handling of letters of exchange drawn in Québec in
late 1763 and payable at La Rochelle, including two bills
dishonoured for non-payment with formal protests enclosed for
reimbursement, reflecting the close family and financial ties
linking the Bellot and de Ramezay households and illustrating the
liquidation of French colonial commercial obligations in the
immediate aftermath of the fall of New France, remarkably fresh,
and an extremely early incoming letter to Canada, five years after
the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, and only a year after the
Treaty of Paris ceded New France to Great Britain.
1879 (July), Victoria B.C. to England, forwarded cover with 1d
Penny ...more 1879 (July), Victoria B.C. to England, forwarded cover with 1d Penny Red, franked with a 5c Small Queen, tied by black grid cancel, Victoria split-ring despatch at lower left, to Weston Super Mare, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (24 Aug), affixed with perforated 1d red for forwarding, ultimately reaching its destination of Horrabridge on 28 August, with transit backstamps of Tavistock (25 Aug) and Plymouth (28 Aug), some creasing, but a striking twice-redirected cover.
1890 (March 27), Port Hope to England, forwarded cover with 1d
lilac, ...more 1890 (March 27), Port Hope to England, forwarded cover with 1d lilac, franked with 5c Small Queen, tied by segmented cork in black, Port Hope c.d.s. despatch strike at left, to Eastbourne, whereupon affixed with 1d lilac for forwarding to London and cancelled by duplex (7 Apr), with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, some overall wrinkling, else a fine forwarded cover.
1871 (January 14), folded letter from Smyra to Genoa, franked ...more
1871 (January 14), folded letter from Smyra to Genoa, franked with
3sld green and 10sld blue horizontal pair, Fine Print, each tied by
small Smirne c.d.s., the pair slightly overlapping "via Brindisi"
manuscript endorsement, lightly-struck "P.D.", reverse with
Brindisi (18 Jan) and Genova (19 Jan) backstamps, tear to back from
removal of seal, an attractive franking. (Sc. 2, 4)
1916 (January 18), Wietrzychowice (Galicia) to Chicago, ...more
1916 (January 18), Wietrzychowice (Galicia) to Chicago, United
States, censored short-paid wartime cover, stampless civilian
letter struck with clear Wietrzychowice c.d.s. (18 Jan), bearing
violet two-line K.u.K. Militärzensur Bochnia handstamp with
matching censor marking and original Bochnia censor tape at left,
assessed on arrival with New York Due 10 duplex (2 Feb) and franked
with 10¢ U.S. precancelled postage due, subsequent delivery
attempts evidenced by violet instructional markings “Moved—Left No
Address” and “Directory Service Given,” front additionally struck
Chicago Advertised (4 Mar) and reverse Chicago Div. D.O.F. (20
Mar), wartime wear as expected, otherwise sound.
1917 (January 20), Hungarian Field Force, Bukowina, ...more
1917 (January 20), Hungarian Field Force, Bukowina, to
Constantinople, soldier's cover from the Hungarian Field Post
Office 171, to an Austrian Railroad Unit in Constantinople,
censored at Budapest, Hungary, and by Turkish authorities at
Galata, with near machine tbackstamp (27 Jan), Turkish censor seal
at top, superior quality for such military mail, very fine.
1850 (April 20), registered cover from Asola to Mantova, franked ...more
1850 (April 20), registered cover from Asola to Mantova, franked on
reverse with 30c brown on ribbed handmade paper, and on front with
two 15c red singles, each with large to very large margins, the 15c
stamps struck by choice Asola circle-of-bars datestamps, the 30c
cancelled by dual RACCOMANDATA straight-lines with framed Mantova
handstamp alongside and ornate double-circle “2” above, a lovely
and well-composed cover bearing superb examples of this desirable
Asola cancellation; signed Colla.
1929, Orval Abbey, overprinted Crown & L, privately overprinted ...more
1929, Orval Abbey, overprinted Crown & L, privately overprinted set
of nine, lightly hinged original gum, a fresh and well-centred set,
the surtax intended to raise funds for the restoration of the
ruined Orval Abbey, fresh and fine-very fine.
1863 (December 3), mourning cover from Constantinople to ...more
1863 (December 3), mourning cover from Constantinople to Liverpool,
franked with 6d lilac, Plate 3, tied by fine "C" in barred oval,
endorsed "via Marseilles", reverse with British Post Office
Constantinople despach backstamp and Liverpool c.d.s. receiver (11
Dec), London split-ring transit on front, scarce and very fine.
1895 (February 13), Stamboul to New York, uprated registered ...more
1895 (February 13), Stamboul to New York, uprated registered postal
stationery envelope, franked with 40pa on 2½d indicia uprated with
80pa on 5d Levant issue, tied by three 'British Post Office /
Stamboul C' (13 Feb) cds, showing large oval 'R' handstamp and red
'Recommandé' marking, with violet transit (3 Apr) and boxed 'New
York' registration receiver on reverse alongside intact red wax
seal; typical light wear, fine-very fine.
1908 (October 12), Smyrna to Melbourne, uprated postal ...more
1908 (October 12), Smyrna to Melbourne, uprated postal stationery
cover, franked with top margin 1pi on 2½d blue Edward VII Levant
issue, tied by 'British Post Office / Smyrna' (12 Oct) cds, showing
bilingual 'Alexandria' (17 Oct) and 'Suez' (18 Oct) transits on
reverse, with 'Melbourne / Victoria' (16 Nov) flag machine arrival,
some wrinkles, else a fine single-franking to a less common
destination.
Ottoman Posts in Bulgaria, 1840 "TARTAR POST" letter carrier ...more
Ottoman Posts in Bulgaria, 1840 "TARTAR POST" letter carrier list,
for the route from Filibe (Plovdiv) to Vidin (Widdin), blue-green
negative sal of "In janib-i-posta-i-Filibe" at top, Vidin receiving
strike at bottom, strikes fair to excellent, the document in better
quality than usually found, scarce and fine; with 2013 Todd AIEP
certificate.
1944 (April), 1pi orange, perforated 13½ x 12½, lightly ...more
1944 (April), 1pi orange, perforated 13½ x 12½, lightly hinged
original gum, nicely-centred and bright colour, a scarce
perforation variety, with regular issue for comparison, very fine.
(S.G. 154a, £550; Sc. 146a, $375).
1926, 20h and 30h vertical pairs, imperforate horizontally, ...more
1926, 20h and 30h vertical pairs, imperforate horizontally, never
hinged, the 20h bearing two expertiser signatures and the 30h
bearing three, fresh and well centred, fine to very fine.
1934, “Centenary of the National Anthem” souvenir sheets, set ...more
1934, “Centenary of the National Anthem” souvenir sheets, set of
two sheets of fifteen, in the darker shades on thick paper, without
gum as issued, the 2k value showing a small stain at upper right
and a couple of insignificant inclusions on the reverse, otherwise
fresh and attractive.
1919, Austria airmail set overprinted “Posta Ceskoslovenska ...more
1919, Austria airmail set overprinted “Posta Ceskoslovenska 1919,”
never hinged, fresh colours, each stamp bearing two expertiser
handstamps on reverse, scarce and fine-very fine.
1919, Austria Postage Due stamps, overprinted diagonally, hinged
and ...more 1919, Austria Postage Due stamps, overprinted diagonally, hinged and well centred, fresh colours throughout, all values save the 14h expert signed on reverse, the 30h accompanied by 1993 Mikulski certificate, very fine.
1925–1926, International Olympic Congress and Sokol issues, both ...more
1925–1926, International Olympic Congress and Sokol issues, both in
complete never hinged sets, the Sokol set bearing Gilbert expert
signature, fresh and well centred, fine to very fine overall.
1920, 14k-28k Air Post set, surcharged inverted, each lightly
hinged ...more 1920, 14k-28k Air Post set, surcharged inverted, each lightly hinged and of fresh colour, nicely-centred, each with three expert signatures on reverse, attractive and very fine; with 2000 Raybaudi certificate.
1920, Czechoslovak Legion Post in Siberia, complete set, ...more
1920, Czechoslovak Legion Post in Siberia, complete set, including
surcharged issues, roughly half of the set being never hinged, the
“Lion of Bohemia” values particularly well centred and fresh, all
bearing two expertiser signatures on reverse, fine to very fine.
1855 (May 9), Napoleon franking transatlantic cover to United
States, ...more 1855 (May 9), Napoleon franking transatlantic cover to United States, with 10c blue, two 40c orange and a pair of 80c red imperforate Emperor Napoléon III issues, cancelled by grilled lozenge obliterators, struck with red boxed P.P. (Port Payé) and Le Havre c.d.s. (9 May), additionally bearing large circular Boston Br. Pkt c.d.s. the reverse with Le Havre à Paris TPO c.d.s. (9 May), minor oxidation affecting one 40c and the 10c affixed overtop of envelope, otherwise sound and attractive, a desirable multi-colour franking.
1857 (September 27), stampless folded letter carried by ...more
1857 (September 27), stampless folded letter carried by steamship
Paimbœuf, datelined La Touraine (26 Jun) and addressed to
Châtillon-sur-Indre, bearing clear circular Bateau à Vapeur /
Paimbœuf handstamp (27 Sept) on front with matching Paimbœuf c.d.s.
on reverse, routed inland with Blain transit/arrival (28 Sept), the
front additionally struck with large manuscript “25” in outlined
numerals denoting postage due in centimes, with contents comprising
a four-page manuscript letter discussing family matters, health and
legal affairs, light aging but overall quite fresh and fine-very
fine.
1871 (January 19), Balloon Monté cover, Paris to ...more
1871 (January 19), Balloon Monté cover, Paris to Langrune-sur-Mer,
folded letter, with contents, franked with 20c Cérès perforated
issue, tied by star cancel with matching Paris Rue Serpente c.d.s.
(19 Jan), addressed to Calvados with clear Langrune-sur-Mer
receiver on reverse (30 Jan), likely carried on the Général
Bourbaki, light age toning, otherwise sound, a pleasing Balloon
Monté usage to the Normandy coast.
1871 (May 6), Paris Commune period folded letter, Paris via
St-Denis ...more 1871 (May 6), Paris Commune period folded letter, Paris via St-Denis to Marseille, commercial folded letter on printed letterhead of Lᵈ Brocheton, 35 Rue de Clichy, dated internally Paris (5 May), franked with 20c Cérès perforated issue tied by large numeral “3568” with matching St-Denis-S-Seine double-circle c.d.s. (6 May), addressed to Marseille with arrival c.d.s. (8 May) on reverse, routed out of Paris via St-Denis, contents present, light creasing and minor edge wear, otherwise a sound example of mail dispatched during the Paris Commune following the lifting of the siege.
1871 (September 8), multi-franked imperforate Cérès cover, Pau ...more
1871 (September 8), multi-franked imperforate Cérès cover, Pau to
Llandulas, North Wales, Great Britain, franked with a vertical
strip of four and a vertical pair of 5c Cérès imperforates, tied by
multiple lozenge “2795” grid cancellations with matching Pau c.d.s.
(8 Sept), front struck with small red boxed P.D.indicating prepaid,
the reverse with Rhyl “B” transit and Abergele “B” receiver (11
Sept), bottom backflap removed, otherwise sound and well presented,
a scarce multi-franked imperforate Cérès usage to Wales.
1876 (February 19), Marseille Boîte Mobile, folded mourning ...more
1876 (February 19), Marseille Boîte Mobile, folded mourning letter
to Constantinople, franked with 30c brown Ceres, tied by black
Anchor in dotted lozenge, postmarked with Marseille B.M. (Boîte
Mobile) c.d.s. (19 Feb), addressed to Constantinople, no
backstamps, light horizontal filing folds, else fresh and very
fine. (Yvert 56).
1877 (April 10), 10c + 5c Sage Type II issues on formulaire ...more
1877 (April 10), 10c + 5c Sage Type II issues on formulaire card,
postal card franked with 5c and scarce 10c Sage Type II issues,
both tied by single-circle Aubervilliers (Seine) c.d.s. (10 Apr),
addressed locally within Paris, the 15c franking correctly paying
the rate as printed on the card, light handling and mild ageing as
expected, otherwise sound, an attractive example, fine-very fine.
1930, 1.50fr International Labour Bureau overprint block, of ...more
1930, 1.50fr International Labour Bureau overprint block, of ten,
with sheet selvedge at left and right, never hinged, a post office
fresh multiple, fine-very fine.
1935, 50c+10c & 50c+2fr “Aid for Unemployed Intellectuals”, set ...more
1935, 50c+10c & 50c+2fr “Aid for Unemployed Intellectuals”, set of
two in lower right corner blocks of four, fresh and very fine.
1936, 50fr ultramarine Monoplane over Paris, well-centred ...more
1936, 50fr ultramarine Monoplane over Paris, well-centred and
lightly-cancelled, fine-very fine.
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Lot 1
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2100.00 CAD
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Sparks Auctions
Lot 97
Penny ...more 1879 (July), Victoria B.C. to England, forwarded cover with 1d Penny Red, franked with a 5c Small Queen, tied by black grid cancel, Victoria split-ring despatch at lower left, to Weston Super Mare, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (24 Aug), affixed with perforated 1d red for forwarding, ultimately reaching its destination of Horrabridge on 28 August, with transit backstamps of Tavistock (25 Aug) and Plymouth (28 Aug), some creasing, but a striking twice-redirected cover.
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225.00 CAD
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Sparks Auctions
Lot 103
lilac, ...more 1890 (March 27), Port Hope to England, forwarded cover with 1d lilac, franked with 5c Small Queen, tied by segmented cork in black, Port Hope c.d.s. despatch strike at left, to Eastbourne, whereupon affixed with 1d lilac for forwarding to London and cancelled by duplex (7 Apr), with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, some overall wrinkling, else a fine forwarded cover.
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Lot 513
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Lot 514
3 more pictures
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60.00 CAD
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03/05/2026 08:00 EST
(app. 38 EUR)
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Lot 515
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(app. 38 EUR)
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Lot 516
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225.00 CAD
(app. 142 EUR)
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(app. 142 EUR)
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Lot 521
SC
B69-77var
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160.00 CAD
(app. 101 EUR)
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(app. 101 EUR)
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Lot 524
SG
Z98
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90.00 CAD
(app. 57 EUR)
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(app. 57 EUR)
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Lot 525
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80.00 CAD
(app. 50 EUR)
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(app. 50 EUR)
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Lot 526
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40.00 CAD
(app. 25 EUR)
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(app. 25 EUR)
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Lot 527
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90.00 CAD
(app. 57 EUR)
03/05/2026 08:00 EST
(app. 57 EUR)
Sparks Auctions
Lot 544
SG
154a
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150.00 CAD
(app. 95 EUR)
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Lot 545
SC
123a, 124a
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800.00 CAD
(app. 505 EUR)
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(app. 505 EUR)
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Lot 546
SC
200a, 201a
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375.00 CAD
(app. 237 EUR)
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(app. 237 EUR)
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Lot 547
SC
B37-39
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2600.00 CAD
(app. 1641 EUR)
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Sparks Auctions
Lot 548
1 more picture
SC
B41, B43-45
and ...more 1919, Austria Postage Due stamps, overprinted diagonally, hinged and well centred, fresh colours throughout, all values save the 14h expert signed on reverse, the 30h accompanied by 1993 Mikulski certificate, very fine.
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475.00 CAD
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(app. 300 EUR)
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Lot 549
SC
B137-143
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Lot 550
1 more picture
SC
C1a-3a
hinged ...more 1920, 14k-28k Air Post set, surcharged inverted, each lightly hinged and of fresh colour, nicely-centred, each with three expert signatures on reverse, attractive and very fine; with 2000 Raybaudi certificate.
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Lot 551
SC
1-14
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Lot 562
States, ...more 1855 (May 9), Napoleon franking transatlantic cover to United States, with 10c blue, two 40c orange and a pair of 80c red imperforate Emperor Napoléon III issues, cancelled by grilled lozenge obliterators, struck with red boxed P.P. (Port Payé) and Le Havre c.d.s. (9 May), additionally bearing large circular Boston Br. Pkt c.d.s. the reverse with Le Havre à Paris TPO c.d.s. (9 May), minor oxidation affecting one 40c and the 10c affixed overtop of envelope, otherwise sound and attractive, a desirable multi-colour franking.
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150.00 CAD
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(app. 95 EUR)
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Lot 563
2 more pictures
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50.00 CAD
(app. 32 EUR)
03/05/2026 08:00 EST
(app. 32 EUR)
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Lot 564
3 more pictures
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250.00 CAD
(app. 158 EUR)
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(app. 158 EUR)
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Lot 565
1 more picture
St-Denis ...more 1871 (May 6), Paris Commune period folded letter, Paris via St-Denis to Marseille, commercial folded letter on printed letterhead of Lᵈ Brocheton, 35 Rue de Clichy, dated internally Paris (5 May), franked with 20c Cérès perforated issue tied by large numeral “3568” with matching St-Denis-S-Seine double-circle c.d.s. (6 May), addressed to Marseille with arrival c.d.s. (8 May) on reverse, routed out of Paris via St-Denis, contents present, light creasing and minor edge wear, otherwise a sound example of mail dispatched during the Paris Commune following the lifting of the siege.
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50.00 CAD
(app. 32 EUR)
03/05/2026 08:00 EST
(app. 32 EUR)
Sparks Auctions
Lot 566
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190.00 CAD
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Lot 567
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50.00 CAD
(app. 32 EUR)
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(app. 32 EUR)
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Lot 568
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40.00 CAD
(app. 25 EUR)
03/05/2026 08:00 EST
(app. 25 EUR)
Sparks Auctions
Lot 569
SC
257
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60.00 CAD
(app. 38 EUR)
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(app. 38 EUR)
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Lot 570
SC
B42, B43
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90.00 CAD
(app. 57 EUR)
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(app. 57 EUR)
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Lot 571
SC
C15
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110.00 CAD
(app. 69 EUR)
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(app. 69 EUR)
Current Time: Tuesday March 24th 2026 - 20:18 MET