News from Spink

FINAL STAMP SALE OF THE SEASON FEATURING RARE FRENCH STAMPS AND POSTAL HISTORY IS ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS

IMPORTANT OVERSEAS AND COMMONWEALTH STAMPS FEATURE IN £800,000+ AUCTION

CHATEAU RAMEZAY FRENCH COLLECTION AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTOR

The Spink auction gallery echoed with diverse accents when on the afternoon of the 8th December a number of French and European dealers and collectors gathered to participate in the fine “Chateau Ramezay” classic French collection of stamps and covers.  As this material had not been on the market for over half a century, the interest was intense, particularly for the “Boule de Moulins” section.  The sale profile indicates that a net total of £717,182 was achieved (89% by value and consigned by 109 vendors).  The registered bidders totalled 234, and 171 were successful.  This marks another remarkable realisation of some £1.75 million disposed over three days and two auctions.

The 140 lot “Chateau Ramezay” French collection was first on the auction block.  The multiples and covers performed very well with prices largely in line with the carefully thought out estimates.  The major surprises were mostly confined to the last 40 lots, starting with collections and studies.  Lot 2103 contained a collection with hundreds of stamps, covers and cancellations. Containing values issued between 1849 - 1871, it was estimated to realise between £8,000 and £10,000. However, competition was so intense with many bidding cards evident that it soared to £30,000.  Likewise, lot 205 - a varied gathering of covers and fronts dating between 1849 and 1900 - also caught the imagination.  A low estimate of £5,000 was exceeded by the opening bid of £6,500 and after much competition it was finally knocked down at £18,000.

Next followed the most interesting section of the “Boule de Moulins” covers.  Mail for besieged Paris during the 1870/71 war with Prussia was placed inside zinc circular containers and floated up the Seine river from Moulins Sur Allier to Bray sur Seine by Monsieur Delort.  Some 500 to 800 letters were included as the drifted with the tide to the centre.  Not all the “Boule” consignments arrived safely and the cost of 1 franc per letter was considered exceedingly expensive.  These items are keenly sought after, and of the 29 lots on offer, two lots were of particular note. Lot 2116 (a letter from Bordeaux with 1867 80c and Bordeaux 20c of 1870 despatched on the 27th December 1870 with arrival on the 2nd February 1871) was evidently the only recorded example arriving on this date.  Thus the estimate of £2,500 to £3,000 was greatly exceeded, and the final bid was £11,000.  Lot 2137, an envelope with letter sheet sent on 5th January 1871 from Pornic to Paris, arrived much later on the 18th April 1882, and clearly floated in the Seine as the stamps were missing. This was sent to the Director of the Posts in Paris from the Minister of the Posts and Telegraphs with original enclosure. Estimated from £5,000, it surpassed this estimate and reached £13,000.  Several covers in this section were discovered well into the 20th century and overall these most unusual besieged items are of extreme interest to collectors.  The French section was completed with a fine group of booklet panes and many returned to their home country.

The balance of the overseas material was well received, and particularly lot 3026:  a collection of Chile dated from 1853/67, containing items in superior condition with wonderful colours showing the various issues.  Mounted on “FG” de luxe album pages, the estimate of £6,000+ was well exceeded and the final bid was £18,000.

The last two sessions were devoted to British Empire and over 90 countries were represented - a true eclectic gathering!  Canada had two lots that surprised.  Lot 3575 was a Small Queen cover to Australia, dated September 1878. It carried a rare franking of 2c (2) and 10c (2) paying the 24c rate.  There was a great deal of competition here, so the low estimate of £250 appeared reasonable, as it brought £1,500.  An assortment in an album and packets from the same source, (lot 3577) contained much material of the 19th century, however the estimate of £500 to £600 was not adequate, as the final bid was £3,800.  This lot returned to Canada and will not doubt be broken down and offered as sets or individual items.  Cape of Good Hope was represented by a rather attractive cover with a marginal block of 4 of the 1d on slightly blued paper addressed to Cape Town. Lot 3604 was estimated from £1,500 but realised £3,500 so one more Spink vendor was more than content.

There followed over 100 lots of Cayman Island covers and cancellations from the C. W. Meredith collection, originally sold in 1955.  This most unusual group was a virtual sell out and many well exceeded our estimated values.  Moving onto the final session, amongst a myriad of offerings was a most unusual set of New Brunswick first issue stamps.  The 3d, 6d and 1/- values with scarce cancellation of square dots, originally thought to be of a trial nature, was estimated from £1,500. However, a Scandinavian client perceived the value to be higher, so the final winning bid was £2,700.

Within this final session, there were many useful collections which exceeded the estimates quoted. Overall, it was another very satisfactory sale.