News from Spink

SPINK PHILATELIC AUTUMN SCHEDULE COMMENCES WITH SIMON RICHARDS COLLECTION OF BRITISH HONDURAS

First ever specialised catalogue of British Honduras - a rare occurence on the market

Spink are pleased to offer a fine specialised collection of British Honduras formed by Simon Richards, on Thursday 27th October at 2.30pm. The 119 lots represent the first entire catalogue devoted to this subject. Interestingly, much of the contents emanates from the Charlton-Henry and Sir Henry Tucker collections. Their collections were sold mostly via auction houses, but the British Honduras in both cases were placed by Private Treaty. Thus, when this dispersal takes place, it will offer collectors a rare opportunity to acquire items that have not been individually available for decades.

The first 17 lots incorporate early letters and handstamps dating prior to the issue of postage stamps, from 1789 to 1865. Lots 18 to 27 pertain to the first issue of 1d, 6d and 1/- values. Mint blocks of each value are present but the clear highlights are lots 24 and 25. Lot 24 is the magnificent block of 12 of the 1/- and 6d interpanneau se-tenant block. The first issues were printed in four panes of 60, the lower left being the 1/- value and the lower right the 6d. Subsequent orders for the 1d value were issued in sheets of 120. This block is in mint condition with lower sheet margin, and is one of the great items of this country. It is estimated at £70,000/£80,000 and is catalogued in Stanley Gibbons as S.G.4a. Lot 25 is a similar interpanneau se-tenant block but of 4 stamps with a pair of the 1d value above and the 1/- value below. Catalogued as S.G.4b, it is estimated at £30,000/£35,000.

The 1872/79 issues include proofs, mint blocks and lot 33 - a strip of three of the 1d value with variety imperforate between unused with part original gum. Catalogued as S.G.12a, this rarity is expected to realise from £5,000. Lot 47 is one of the rarest stamps of this country. In 1888, the 3d value of 1872/9 was surcharged with “3/cents”. In unused condition, it is a great rarity and is catalogued as S.G. 24 at £13,000 – the estimate is from £3,000. Lot 48 is an envelope posted to Munich and includes a pair of the “3/cents” surcharge on 3d with other overprinted examples. This must surely be the only example as such and is estimated from £15,000. The S.G numbers are 24, 25,25b and 28.

Two other important items are offered from the 1888 surcharges. Lot 57 is the “50/cents” on 1/- grey, error “5” for “50”. In unused condition and catalogued S.G.30a at £9,500, it is estimated from £4,000/£5,000. From the March surcharge, lot 62 is the “Two” in black on 50c on 1/- grey in unused part o.g. condition. Only nine examples remain after a fire at the Belize Post Office, and this example was previously in the Arthur Hind collection. Catalogued as S.G.35b at £11,000, it is estimated from £8,000.

The 1891/1901 issue has a nice section of imperforate colour trials with some on piece. Most estimates range from £150-£180. Lot 101 is from the 1899 “Revenue” overprints. The 50c on 1/- grey in a horizontal pair with the right hand stamp showing variety “Bevenue” with original gum is a considerable rarity. Catalogued S.G. 69,69a at £3,410, it is estimated from £1,500. The collection finishes with an interesting group of covers and cancellations from 1893 to 1979.

The above is but a brief resume of this scarce and unusual offering, and it will be most interesting to study the collector response on the day of the auction.

For further information about this sale, please contact David Parsons.