News from Spink

Outstanding Great Britain Stamps To Be Offered By Spink On 4th October.

Victoriana Collection Of Line Engraved And Surface Printed Formed Many Decades Ago

Spink are absolutely delighted to offer our Great Britain collectors some fascinating material which has not been available on the market for decades.  437 lots dating from 1840 to 1900 with sections including Mailboat and Naval cancellations together with British Post Offices abroad as well as early Line Engraved gems and Surface Printed high values.  The estimates of over £600.000 should be comfortably exceeded when this original material formed mostly 60 to 80 years ago comes under the hammer.  From this superb gathering, we can only give our clients a brief foretaste to tempt the philatelic appetite!

From an impressive 1840 Mulready display, lot 2001 is an example used on the 2nd May, 4 days before the official “First Day”.  This considerable rarity is estimated from £8.000 to £9.000.  There follows other examples with rare dates including the 5th May, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and particularly 10th (1st Sunday).  Lot 2020 has a 2d Mulready letter sheet uprated with two 2d blue plate 1 addressed to Boston, Lincolnshire dated 4th June 1940.  This ex. Meroni example, purchased in 1954 has an estimate from £6.000 to £7.000.  To complete this wonderful section, we have a Mulready 2d envelope dated 1st March 1841 addressed to Tobago in the West Indies.  This unique destination is valued from £12.000 to £15.000 (lot 2024).

From the first issue of 1840, there are many attractive lots from which we select lot 2042 – the 1840 1d black plate 1b, a block of 14 on a large letter sheet with red maltese cross cancellations and for a multiple of this size, in very fine condition.  This largest known multiple on cover dated the 7th August, 1840 to London is valued from £20.000 to £25.000.  The finest mint multiple from the 1d black section is undoubtedly lot 2062.  Here we have a marginal mint block of 4 from plate 7 on thin experimental paper with inscription at left.  This block adjoined a larger piece from the Seymour sale sold in 1952.  It is estimated from £60.000 to £80.000.  The 1840 2d blue is handsomely represented by a mint block of 4 contained in lot 2077 from Plate 2.  This is an exceedingly rare multiple and was part of a larger multiple sold in the “Royle” collection in 1921.  It is valued from £80.000 to £100.000.

The 1847/54 Embossed issues have always been popular – the head used from a design by William Wyon and the paper with silk thread by Messrs. Dickinson.  Lot 2153 includes an unused range of values including the 1/- (2), the 10d (2) and the 6d (3).  With margins nearly all around, these 7 examples listed between S.G.54/60 and catalogued at £50.000 +, are estimated reasonably at £7.000 to £8.000.  Lot 2161 has no less than 9 examples of the 1/- pale green on entire letter sheet to Mexico dated 2nd August 1851.  This appealing cover is estimated from £2.000.  Finally from a selection of 45 lots in this section, lot 2168 has a horizontal pair of the 1/- green, Die 1, on entire to New Jersey and cancelled with Calton, Glasgow date stamp of the 22nd December 1854.  This most attractive cover is valued from £1.800.

The Surface Printed section includes many nice multiples and rare individual stamps.  Lot 2215 from the 1855/7 issue has a mint block of 4 of the 4d rose, watermark large star, S.G.66.  Very well centred for this and rated at £7.500 in the catalogue, it is estimated from £2.000.  From the same issue, the 1/- pale green in a marginal block of 6 with right margin and part original gum, is of fine appearance and listed in S.G. as number 73 priced at £10.000.  This rarity is valued from £2.000 (lot 2213).

This collection contains two very rare “abnormal” stamps.  Firstly lot 2255 from the 1862/4 issue has the 1/- green, abnormal plate 3, lettered AC.  This has some trimmed perforations but is very fresh and catalogued in the S.G. Specialised J102 at £20.000.  With Philatelic Foundation certificate, it is estimated from £5.000.  Next the 1865/7 issue has the 9d straw, abnormal plate 5, line perf. 14, S.G. specialised J95 at £15.000 is valued from £5.000 (lot 2265).

We now come to the “High Value” Surface Printed issues.  Lot 2309 1867/83 5/- pale rose, plate 2, Watermark Maltese Cross, a part original gum pair, S.G.127 priced at £16.500 is an exceptional rarity in a multiple.  A few small faults to not detract and the estimate is from £4.000.  Lot 2311 from the same issue is a marginal imprimatur of the 10- greenish- grey, S.G.128.  Last offered in public auction in 1937, it is estimated from £10.000.  A scarce used multiple can be found in lot 2313.  Here is a pair of the 10- greenish-grey cancelled with a Glasgow date stamp of the 26th July 1882.  Described as “visually stunning”, S.G.128 is listed at £5.400 and is estimated from £4.000.  Finally from this Watermark, lot 2315 is the £1 brown-lilac, with small part o.g and well centred.  Of impressive appearance, lot 129 is rated at £55.000 and our example is valued from £12.000.

To complete this brief assessment of this wonderful auction, we have three examples from the “Watermark Anchor” issue of 1867/83.  Firstly on blue paper, lot 2321 is the 10/- greenish-grey, unused with some gum, S.G.131 at £62.000.  A little wrinkled but of impressive appearance, it is estimated from £6.000.  Lot 2323 is a magnificent example of the £1 brown-lilac again on blued paper, well centred and fine large part gum.  S.G.132 is priced at £85.000 and our valuation commences at £25.000.
Finally on white paper, the 5/- rose, plate 4, lot 2325 has part original gum which is a little disturbed in places.  However this is of pristine appearance and listed in S.G. as 134 at £16.000.  Our estimate is from £5.000.

We hope this summary will excite our wise clientele and that you will feel inclined to participate.  Remember there are many ways to bid at Spink including the new “Spink Live” facility via the internet, as well as the telephone, fax, email etc.  A report on the prices realised will appear shortly after the auction.

About Spink

Spink is the world’s leading auctioneer of coins, stamps, medals and banknotes.  Since its foundation in 1666, the Spink name has become synonymous with tradition, experience and integrity. Holders of three royal warrants and numerous records for prices achieved at auction, Spink offer an unparalleled range of services to collectors worldwide.  Spink is headquartered in London and hold over 35 auctions a year around the globe.  In June 2006 Spink shattered the world record for a British Coin sold at auction with the sale of the Double Leopard Gold Coin for a staggering £460,000.

Spink Live

Launched on the 11th July 2006, Spink is pleased to offer our bespoke bidding service, Spink Live.   This enables you not only to bid real time but to leave an absentee bid in any of our forthcoming auctions; whilst online you can also see and hear the auctioneer through our remarkably user friendly and efficient software.

Since its launch, Spink Live has so far revolutionized the way in which people bid at auction. Spink is thrilled to offer this new platform for our clients so that they may enjoy adding to their collection from the comfort of their homes or anywhere else on the globe they may be.  It is believed to the only service of its kind in the world of collectables.

Public Enquiries:  020 7563 4000 – www.spink.com or info@spink.com

Images:  Spink Press Office on 020 7563 4009