Press Releases

Showing 1-20 of 37 items.
Last Post from Remote Russian Outpost
Dec 19 2014

On 18 January 2015 Spink China will be offering for sale "Fine Stamps and Covers of China and Hong Kong".   Amongst the highlights is a highly important cover of Mongolian Postal History (Lot 2879). This address label used in 1917 is from the Russian Post Office in Ulankom. It was sent by registered post to St. Petersburg. It is believed that this post office was only opened in 1917 and would have closed shortly after the October Revolution in Russia. This is the only recorded item of ma...

The Fantastic Journey of a Family Letter During a Time of War Across Continents
Dec 11 2014

The 7th December 1941 is etched in the minds of millions of people across the world in terms of Pearl Harbour. Within the next year Japanese forces had conquered a vast tract of territory in the region; Hong Kong, Singapore,  Malaya, Burma, Thailand, Borneo, Java, Sumatra, the other islands making up the Dutch East Indies (DEI), Wake Island, Guam and the Philippines had all fallen.   The Philippines was the last major country to fall to the Japanese. When they landed on Luzon, the...

Spink London Breaks the World Record for a Single Australian Item in Auction
Oct 16 2014

Today, 16th October 2014, Spink London broke the world record for a single Australian philatelic item in an auction of Australian Commonwealth from the Vestey Collection; a corner block of the prepared but never issued, Edward VIII 2d. stamps.  Quoted by Spink Specialist, Nick Startup, as "one of the most prized rarities in all Australian Philately", the famed sheet realised a fantastic £240,000. The legacy of these stamps began in Australia, 1936. The Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntingf...

Spink Breaks Six World Records in One Auction
Oct 15 2014

Spink has yet again reinstated itself as the world's premier auction house by breaking six world records for Middle Eastern postal history within a single auction. Many incredible results from the auction of "Indian Postal Agencies in the Persian Gulf Area, The Alan Parsons Collection", 10th October 2014, achieved hugely impressive prices that surpassed estimates by the thousands. One of the items to do so was one of the finest of the few covers known from Muscat (Lot 2183) with the "23" Dupl...

Spink China Auctions Historical Philately
Oct 11 2014

Following the outstanding auction of Indian Postal Agencies in the Persian Gulf Area from Alan Parsons, Spink China held an auction of diverse selection of stamps, surcharges and postal history dating back to Imperial China. From the huge catalogue on offer, one of the many historically important items was the 1980 Year of the Monkey from the People's Republic of China in a complete sheet of eighty (Lot 869). This fine sheet is surpassed its estimate and achieved HK$1,200,000. Lot 869 Pr...

Spink China Breaks New Records for Middle East Material
Oct 10 2014

On 10th October 2014, Spink China held an eventful evening sale offering the remarkable collection of Indian Postal Agencies in the Persian Gulf Area assembled over many years by the well-known collector and student of this area; the late Alan Parsons FRPSL. The majority of lots achieved incredible prices that surpassed estimates by the thousands. Setting new records for Middle East material, Spink raised the bar to a new level within this genre of stamp collecting. Amongst the many highlight...

Spink China to Offer Fine Historical Philately
Oct 01 2014

On 11th of October, Spink China will auction a diverse selection of stamps, surcharges and postal history dating back to Imperial China. One of the many historically important items amongst the hundreds of lots on offer is the 1980 Year of the Monkey from the People's Republic of China in a complete sheet of eighty (Lot 869). This fine sheet is expected to achieve HK$1,000,000-1,100,000. Lot 869 Estimate: HK$1,000,000 - HK$1,100,000 (detail)   Highlights also include a fine and v...

Spink London to Auction the Greatest Rarity in Australian Philately
Sep 30 2014

Spink London is thrilled to announce the sale of one of the most prized rarities in all Australian Philately; a corner block of the prepared but never issued, Edward VIII 2d. stamps.  Offered on 16th October 2014, amongst other items of the Australian Commonwealth specifically selected from the outstanding Vestey collection and sold by the order of Trustees, the unique block is expected to realise between £200,000 - £300,000. During the reign of King Edward VIII in 1936, the Governor of...

Spink London to Auction the Greatest Rarity in Australian Philately (1)
Sep 30 2014

Offered on 16th October 2014, amongst other items of the Australian Commonwealth specifically selected from the outstanding Vestey collection and sold by the order of Trustees, the unique block is expected to realise between £200,000 - £300,000. During the reign of King Edward VIII in 1936, the Governor of Victoria, Lord Huntingfield, visited the Note and Stamp Printing Branch of the Commonwealth of Australia. After witnessing the printing process of the then new King Edward VIII is...

Spink To Offer Philatelic Tribute to Alan Parsons
Sep 29 2014

On 10th October 2014, Spink China will auction a remarkable collection of Indian Postal Agencies in the Persian Gulf Area assembled over many years by the well-known collector and student of this area; the late Alan Parsons FRPSL. President of the India Study Circle for 8 years, Alan Parsons is best remembered for his award winning displays of Persian Gulf Postal History and collections of Eastbourne, Gibraltar, Malta, Morocco Agencies, Pondicherry and Zanzibar. Spink Specialist, David Parson...

Spink Auction Rare British Stamps of Outstanding Quality
Sep 25 2014

On 25th September 2014, Spink London held an auction of exceptional British philately, specifically selected from the outstanding collection amassed by Lord Vestey and sold by order of the Trustees. From a choice selection of 258 rarities, items ranged from issues of Queen Victoria through to King Edward VII and King George V. Offering stamps of the upmost rarity and uniqueness, the auction allowed collectors and philatelists the opportunity to own items that rarely come onto the market. With...

Rare Stamp and Covers of South East Asia Offered by Spink
Sep 20 2014

Following a successful auction offering items from the Singapore Philatelic Museum Handling Collection, Spink Asia held an auction of over 1000 lots of stamps and covers from South East Easia at the Singapore Hilton, 20th September 2014. Offered amongst rare issues, envelopes and postal history was the award winning collection from Peter Cockbur, Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society, a meticulously researched and written-up collection covering all aspects of the Revenue collecting side of ph...

Spink to Offer Outstanding Collection of British Philately
Sep 18 2014

On 25th September 2014, Spink London will offer a range of exceptional British philately from the reigns of Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V, specifically selected from the Vestey Collection and sold by order of the Trustees. Opening with an outstanding selection of important items from Queen Victoria, Spink will offer the famous 1840 2d. Bisect with both halves of the same stamp, one on its original cover and the other on a separate piece. With only 5 examples of this rare Bi...

Spink to Offer The Peter Cockburn Award Winning Collection
Sep 16 2014

Spink Asia is proud to announce an auction of 'Stamps and Covers of South East Asia' at the Singapore Hilton on 20th September 2014. Offered with over 1000 lots of South East Asian philately will be the award-winning collection of Straits Settlements and Malayan States Revenue Stamps formed by Peter Cockburn, Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society. This meticulously researched and written-up collection covers all aspects of the Revenue collecting side of philately. Auction highlights include...

Spink to Auction Stamps from the Singapore Philatelic Museum Handling Collection
Jul 21 2014

In addition to the annual philatelic sale in Singapore, Spink are proud to announce a Sale of Stamps from the Singapore Philatelic Museum Handling Collection, on the 20th  September 2014. Comprising of 52 highly sought-after lots, the auction features complete mint sheets, booklets and Revenue stamps, offering clients to bid for items that rarely come onto the market and the unique opportunity to acquire remarkable items of Singapore philately. Opening the sale are fourteen lots of compl...

Spink Auction Award Winning Philately
Jul 11 2014

Today, 11th July 2014, Spink completed an eventful three day Philatelic Collector's Series Sale that featured an award winning collection of Postal History, formed by Greg Francis, and exceptional Rhodesia issues from Cliff Wheatley.  The auction began with a fine selection from Great Britain, including over 70 lots of 1840 Penny Blacks, a wonderful group of Queen Elizabeth II errors and varieties with many rarities. Amongst highlights was a cover featuring a fine example of an 1840 1d. B...

Spink Achieve Fantastic Prices for British Europe in Second Vestey Collection
Jul 09 2014

On July 9th, Spink London held the second instalment from the important group of auctions to offer the Vestey Collection. Consisting of 444 rare and high quality items, the auction focused upon philately from Cyprus, Gibraltar, Long Island and Malta, featuring many rare single issue stamps, important essays and proofs and unique errors.  From the selection of Cyprus, highlights included a very rare 1880 1d. Plate 208 pair, one with overprint omitted (Lot 11), which realised £13,200 and a...

Philately from the Greg Francis & Cliff Wheatley Offered at Spink
Jul 07 2014

Spink is proud to announce that the July Philatelic Collector's Series Sale will feature an award winning collection of Postal History, formed by Greg Francis, and exceptional Rhodesia issues from Cliff Wheatley. Commencing with a fine selection from Great Britain, the first session will include over 70 lots of 1840 Penny Blacks, a wonderful group of Queen Elizabeth II errors and varieties with many rarities. Amongst these highlights is an attractive example of a £5 orange CB unmounted mint, e...

Spink Hong Kong Welcomes Tommy Chau
Jul 04 2014

It is with great pleasure that Spink welcomed Tommy Chau to join our Philatelic Team on 2nd July 2014 Tommy has been a stamp collector for over two-and-a-half decades. In addition to his successful financial career in a CPA role, he took up the challenge as a professional auctioneer for 3 years, allowing himself to be known by most of the keen players in the trade. Speaking of our new specialist, Chairman and CEO, Olivier D Stocker commented "Spink has taken another big step forward since my...

Spink London to Offer a Second Vestey Collection
Jul 03 2014

On July 9th, Spink London will hold a philatelic sale of "British Europe Including Long Island from the Vestey Collection", a second session from the important group of auctions offering the Vestey Collection, by Order of the Trustees. The 444 lot auction commences with a selection of rare single issue stamps, important essays and proofs from Cyprus. Highlights include a fine and very rare 1880 1d. Plate 208 pair, one with omitted overprint, estimated £10,000 - £12,000 (Lot 11), and an impress...