Heffel to Auction The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection in Historic Fall Sale
Once-in-a-generation event features Churchill, Bell-Smith, and Berczy masterpieces celebrating over 350 years of Canadian heritage
TORONTO — Heffel Fine Art Auction House has announced one of the most anticipated art events in Canadian history — The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection auctions, a landmark sale featuring rare artworks, artifacts, and retail-era treasures from one of the country’s most storied institutions.
Authorized by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) in September 2025, the auctions will begin with a live sale, “A Legacy Through Art: The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection,” on November 19, 2025, followed by a series of online auctions running November 12 through December 4, 2025.
“Excitement for the Hudson’s Bay Company Collection has been unprecedented,” said David Heffel, President of Heffel Fine Art Auction House. “For the first time, collectors can now take part in this historic moment, carrying forward a piece of Canada’s legacy.”
A Legacy Through Art
The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), founded in 1670, stands as North America’s oldest company and a pillar of Canada’s economic and cultural history. The forthcoming sale represents a curated selection of 27 highlight works — alongside an expansive offering of paintings, memorabilia, and retail-era ephemera — showcasing more than three centuries of artistic and commercial heritage.
The event also marks Heffel’s 30th anniversary since its first auction in 1995, a milestone that will be commemorated with four live sessions featuring Canadian, Impressionist, Modern, and Post-War artworks at Heffel’s Toronto headquarters.
Highlights from The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection
Sir Winston Churchill — Marrakech
A major oil painting gifted by Churchill to HBC in 1956, this rare and historically significant canvas captures one of the statesman’s most beloved subjects. (Estimate: $400,000–$600,000)
Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith — Lights of a City Street (1894)
An iconic portrayal of downtown Toronto featuring the artist and his son, considered Bell-Smith’s most important work ever to appear at auction. (Estimate: $100,000–$150,000)
Hudson’s Bay Company Calendar Paintings
A dozen original works created for HBC’s historical calendars, by noted artists W.J. Phillips, Franklin Arbuckle, and Frank Johnston, depicting pivotal moments in the company’s trading history.
William Berczy — Battle of Trafalgar and Rear Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson
Two monumental 19th-century naval paintings nearly seven feet tall, celebrated for their rarity and historical value. (Estimate: $70,000–$90,000 each)
Beyond the fine art, the online auction will include HBC blankets, coins, vintage signage, retail collectibles, and toys, offering enthusiasts across generations the chance to own a piece of Canadian history.
Exhibition & Auction Schedule
Live Auction Preview
📍 Heffel Toronto, 13 Hazelton Ave., Toronto, ON
🗓️ November 11–18, 2025 | 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET
Online Auction Preview
📍 Heffel Toronto (by appointment)
🗓️ December 1–3, 2025
Live Auction — November 19, 2025 (Broadcast live at Heffel.com)
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3:00 p.m. ET — A Legacy Through Art: The Hudson’s Bay Company Collection
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5:00 p.m. ET — The Lillian Mayland McKimm Collection
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7:00 p.m. ET — Canadian, Impressionist & Modern Art
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Post-War & Contemporary Art* immediately following
Catalogues, registration, and full details are available at www.heffel.com.
About Heffel Fine Art Auction House
Founded in 1978, Heffel Fine Art Auction House is Canada’s leading authority in fine art sales and estate management, connecting collectors worldwide with rare and important works. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary, Heffel’s sales have surpassed $1 billion and include major Canadian and international masterpieces.
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