We hold public stamp auctions, monthly. Each auction contains between £200,000 and £300,000 of world stamps and covers, single country ranges, specialised items, including proofs, topical ranges, accumulations and collections offered intact, in fact something for every collector and dealer. Additionally, specialised auctions of named collections are held periodically.

The dates of our 2012 sales are as follows:

• 7th March 2012
• 4th April 2012
• 2nd May 2012
• 13th June 2012
• 4th July 2012
• 1st August 2012
• 5th September 2012
• 3rd October 2012
• 7th November 2012
• 5th December 2012

Our next general public auction of Stamps will be held at Lord Leycester Hotel, Jury Street, Warwick CV34 4EJ, on Wednesday 7th March, starting at 12 noon. To view the online catalogue, once it is uploaded, and place bids on items in the sale click here. To download a catalogue (without illustrations) click here.

The sales take place at the Lord Leycester Hotel, Jury Street, Warwick CV34 4EJ. The hotel has a small car park at the rear and the nearest public car park is in New Street. The nearest railway station is Warwick Town and the nearest major international airport is Birmingham. For directions please visit our How to Find Us page.

Public viewing for all of our auctions is held at our own premises, the sales being too large to transport to the auction venue. Account settlement and lot allocation takes place progressively at our premises whilst the auction continues, so as soon as the section which interests you has been knocked down, you can pay and collect your lots without waiting for the end of the sale.

Public viewing for this sale is available at our offices on the following dates:

• Friday 2nd March from 09.00 - 17.00
• Monday 5th March from 09.00 – 17.00
• Tuesday 6th March from 09.00 - 17.00
• Wednesday 7th March from 08.30 onwards

There is no need to attend an auction in person, as commission bids can be placed in advance of the sale via our online facility, or by telephone, mail, fax or e-mail. For further details please visit our Online Catalogue.

If you would like to receive a free sample printed catalogue, or alternatively to apply for a catalogue subscription, please complete our catalogue enquiry form. However please remember that the printed catalogue contains far fewer illustrations of lots than the online catalogue.

Contemplating Selling?

Are you thinking of selling your entire collection or part of it? Would you like us to value it and give you advise on how best to market it? Visit our Marketing Your Collection page.

The City Posts of Germany, by Colin Such, Being an account of a comprehensive collection of these issues to be offered as a single lot in our auction on March 7 2012

The city posts of Germany were formed as a result of the wording of the postal acts of the North German Confederation in 1867 and the federal act passed in 1871. This latter act established the Reichspost at the time of the federation of the German States. The acts provided a monopoly for the state on the delivery of mail between towns with post offices, as long as it was sealed. The Reichspost was not initially concerned with inner city deliveries, nor with the delivery of parcels, printed papers, unsealed letters and postcards. Such a vacuum allowed private enterprise to step in and provide a service, which became increasingly necessary as the industrial cities expanded at the end of the 19th century. The postcard was accepted as a means of communication only from 1872 in Germany and the postal authorities did not foresee the extent to which it would be used.

The Berlin City Posts

The private posts were initially slow to rise to the challenge and the first company to form a service in Berlin was J.J. Schreiber’s Brief und Druckschriften-Expedition, which started in May 1873. The rate for cards and wrappers was 2 pf up to 125 gm. Schreiber’s company was the first to introduce advertising stationery cards, which the Reichspost did not introduce until 1889. Postal orders or “mandat” were also introduced. However an economic crisis in Berlin led to the closing of Schreiber’s business in August 1874.

Postcard conveyed by the Brief und Druckschriften-Expedition, the first private city post of Berlin

Mandat or postal order of the Brief und Druckschriften-Expedition

Commercial development began to increase again around 1880, when Berlin’s population began to expand. In 1884 the very successful company Berliner Packetfahrt-Gesellschaft was formed.

15 pf value of the 1884 (May) first issue of the Berliner Packetfahrt-Gesellschaft

By September 1885, in co-operation with other firms, an inter-city parcel delivery service had been formed with the name Express-Packet-Verkehr. It expanded rapidly, even offering overseas delivery. In 1886 the name was changed to Neue Berliner Omnibus und Packetfahrt Actiengesellschaft. Stamps were used on parcels from the outset, but it was not until June 1886 that stamps were produced for use on letters and postcards. This move coincided with the opening of a delivery service by a new competing firm Hansa I. The volume of letters and printed matter carried by the Packetfahrt in Berlin increased dramatically, mainly because it was able to undercut the rates charged by the Reichspost. By 1895 the company employed more than 1500 people. Many of the private city posts of Germany produced stamps more with an eye to philatelic sales than practical necessity, but that was not totally the case with the Berlin Packetfahrt, who showed restraint with their output. However they did produce some commemorative issues, including a novelty postal stationery card celebrating the 10th accession anniversary of the Kaiser, incorporating a celluloid portrait which could be viewed from either side.

Card celebrating the jubilee of Kaiser Willhelm II

From 1887-8 they also produced attractive New Year cards and envelopes.

1887-8 New Year envelope

1889-90 New Year envelope and card

A number of private post firms were established in Berlin, in competition with the Packetfahrt but most were short-lived and unsuccessful. However the Berliner Privatpost und Spedition AG, established in 1895 was well organised and introduced a number of new services, including inner city delivery guaranteed within one hour for just 10 pf. In order to ensure its dominance in the market the Packetfahrt bought out the company.

Envelope conveyed by the HANSA post, set up in opposition to the Berlin Packetfahrt. The stamp is applied upside down

1896 express postal stationery card issued by the Berliner Privatpost und Spedition AG with a timed postmark. Delivery was guaranteed within one hour

Private posts were banned by the government on April 1st 1900. The Reichspost, together with the Bavarian and Wuerttemberg Posts had to pay compensation to the existing 74 companies totalling 8.2 million marks, 3.6 million marks going to the Berlin Packetfahrt. This was not the end of the company however, as they continued for a further 60 years with activities which did not infringe the law such as the delivery of unaddressed mail and parcels.

The Hamburg City Posts

In Hamburg the private posts started in the 1860s but the so-called Boten issues of stamps were printed in vast numbers to sell to philatelists. Forgeries also exist in substantial numbers. From 1872 to 1874 H. Maack ran a genuine commercial service in Hamburg and Altona and the stamps he issued are quite rare. These were the first adhesive stamps issued in Hamburg.

1872 1 sch. adhesive of the Brief und Packetbefoerderung H. Maack

From 1886 the requirement for inner city post increased dramatically as the sea port expanded and a number of delivery firms sprang up, the most significant being the Hammonia Stadtbriefbefoerderung.

1896 experimental introduction of the Brief und Circulair Befoerderung CITO. This is the only known cover bearing this handstamp

1908 red adhesive of the Hamburger Orts-Paket Postgesellschaft to prepay carriage on packages up to 1 kg

Local Posts Elsewhere in Germany

A total of 250 private postal companies operated in 164 towns and cities in Germany before they were closed down by the government in 1900. Initially the Reichspost were pleased with the assistance provided by the private posts, but when it was realised that the business of postal delivery was rapidly expanding and that the private posts were benefiting disproportionately from that expansion, the Reichspost sought to compete in every way possible. It established a “special surveillance” office with the task of publishing nationally the shortcomings of the private posts. In many towns and cities the Reichspost obtained injunctions preventing the private posts from using the word “Post” on their stamps and stationery and in describing their services. They also insisted that the private post letter boxes be located inside buildings and not hanging on the outside. Any letter intended for the private post inadvertently posted in a Reichspost posting box was severely surcharged.

Bremen city post 3 pf on locally used greetings card

Frankfurt am Main 1887 1m receipt stamp for bulk mailings

Rare 1886 parcel receipt form for parcel conveyed between Berlin and Potsdam by the Berlin-Potsdamer Packet-Befoerderung

Hannover 1897 stationery card commemorating the birth centenary of Kaiser Willhelm I

Abschiedskarten or “farewell” cards were published by some companies when the Reischspost terminated their activities in 1900. This stationery card was conveyed by the Stadtbrief-Befoerderung Courier in Munich

An 1887 3 pf lettercard conveyed by the Strasbourg city post. The reverse lists 35 retailers where the stamps and stationery of the city posts can be purchased

When the act was passed, on April 1 1900, granting a monopoly to the Reichspost, companies that could show that they had been trading profitably prior to April 1 1898 were compensated for loss of potential profits for the next 10 years. This level of compensation was generous and shows how successful the private sector had been. As a gesture to the public, who had been enjoying cheaper postcard rates with the private posts, the Reichspost reduced its postcard rate from 5 pf. to 2 pf.

Barbados Popular

A very comprehensive collection of Barbados was offered intact in the Warwick and Warwick auction of February 1st 2012. It started with 14 stampless letters to or from Barbados and finished with the issues of the 1990s. Occupying 6 albums, it was estimated at £4,000. Competitive bidding pushed the final figure to £4,945, including the buyer’s premium.

Offered independently was lot 197, a 1858 wrapper, made from a shipping circular, bearing a (1d) red and a (4d) blue Britannia. It was posted from Bridgetown to U.S.A. and had a “STEAMSHIP / 10” handstamp applied. Estimated at £1,200, it realised £1,265.

In Natal, a range of Victorian covers were on offer. The prettiest was lot 282, an undated small cover to Durban, bearing an embossed 3d rose, tied by an oval “POST OFFICE / P.M.BURG” in blue (Pietermaritzburg). The estimate of £200 was well exceeded by the realisation of £391.

The sale contained a large section of foreign countries and Germany was particularly well represented. A large Third Reich collection, estimated at £800 made £920 and a superb collection of Feldpost issues, estimated at £900 made £1,092. In Liechtenstein, the 1934 Vaduz miniature sheet with special first day cancel, in a VIP presentation folder, realised £776 (lot 508).

The Great Britain section contained a number of desirable Q.V. issues, including the following:

• 1870 ½d rose, plate 11, QX, with full margin at right, with part marginal inscription, imperforate between stamp and margin, U.M. and bright colour, lot 625, realisation £230.
• 1867-83 wmk. MC 10/- F.U. with c.d.s. (lot 630), realisation £891.
• 1867-83 wmk. MC £1, ironed out vertical crease, F.U. with c.d.s. (lot 631), realisation £1,207.
• 1867-83 wmk. anchor, blued paper £1, ironed out diagonal crease, F.U. with c.d.s. (lot 632), realisation £2,300.
• 1867-83 wmk. anchor, blued paper 10/- F.U. with c.d.s (lot 633), realisation £1,840.

• 1888 wmk. orbs £1 F.U. with c.d.s. (lot 637), realisation £2,530.

The Relentless Rise in Prices of Modern China

The Warwick and Warwick auction of January 11th included several China U.M. and F.U. sets and miniature sheets from the 1960s and 1970s which sold at figures well above estimate. The following results were obtained.

• Lot 378 1961 Table Tennis M/S, UM. (SG MS1971a) cat. £2000, estimated £800, realised £1,035.
• Lot 379 1961 Table Tennis M/S, FU with special red first day cancel. (SG MS1971a) cat. £1200, estimated £400, realised £719.
• Lot 381 1967 Literature and Art set, UM. (SG 2359-61) cat. £1400, estimated £500, realised £776.
• Lot 382 1967 Our Great Teacher set, UM. (SG 2367-9) cat. £850, estimated £300, realised £564.

• Lot 383 1967-8 Poems set, UM., a few values (excluding scarce 8f “Huichang”) with typical negligible gum bends (SG 2372-85) cat. £3750, estimated £1200, realised £2645.
• Lot 384 1978 Science Conference M/S, UM. (SG MS2765a) cat. £700, estimated £250, realised £380.
• Lot 385 1978 Science Conference M/S, FU with neat Peking first day cds’s. (MS2765a) cat. £450, estimated £150, realised £218.
• Lot 386 1978 Galloping Horses M/S, UM. (SG MS2781) cat. £500, estimated £200, realised £380.
• Lot 387 1978 Arts and Crafts M/S, UM. (SG MS2815) cat. £400, estimated £130, realised £253.
• Lot 388 1978 Bridges M/S, UM. (SG MS2834) cat. £500, estimated £170, realised £276.
• Lot 389 1979 Great Wall M/S, UM. (SG MS2865) cat.£275, estimated £100, realised £115.
• Lot 390 1979 Great Wall M/S, FU with neat Peking 1979 cds. (SG MS2865) cat. £130, estimated £40, realised £57.
• Lot 391 1979 Stamp Fair ovptd Great Wall M/S, UM. (SG MS2874) cat. £1000, estimated £350, realised £414.
• Lot 392 1979 Stamp Fair ovptd Great Wall M/S, FU with special red first day cancel. (SG MS2874) cat. £500, estimated £170, realised £265.

• Lot 393 1979 Science from Childhood M/S, UM. (SG MS2900) cat. £2250, estimated £800, realised £1380.
• Lot 394 1979 Camellias M/S, UM. (SG MS2922) cat. £400, estimated £140, realised £195.
• Lot 395 1979 Camellias M/S, FU. (SG MS2922) cat. £200, estimated £70, realised £98.
• Lot 396 1980 Paintings M/S, UM. (SG MS2955) Cat £275, estimated £100, realised £184.
• Lot 397 1980 Paintings M/S, FU with neat Beijing cds. (SG MS2955) cat. £120, estimated £40, realised £80.

Signed R.A.F. and Concorde Covers.

The Warwick and Warwick December 7 auction contained a comprehensive collection of popular Great Britain R.A.F. Museum covers. The majority of the covers were offered in substantial lots, however the more significant autographed covers were offered individually and some pleasing realisations resulted.

• R.A.F. Test Pilots no’s 1-40 complete all signed incl Brian Trubshaw, Peter Twiss, Neville Duke. Realisation £253.
• R.A.F. Museum SC29 1970 cover signed by Douglas Bader. Realisation £50.
• R.A.F. Museum SC 32 1970 cover signed by Portal of Hungerford. Realisation £184.
• R.A.F. Museum SC32 1970 cover signed by Arthur Harris. Realisation £27.
• R.A.F. Museum SC27 1971 cover signed by Frank Whittle. Realisation £172.

• R.A.F. 1972 Dam Busters cover signed by Barnes Wallis, Arthur Harris and Harold Martin. Realisation £195.
• R.A.F. 1972 Mountbatten cover signed by Mountbatten of Burma A.F, John Baker and B. Main. Realisation £69.
• R.A.F. 1974 cover signed by King Hussein of Jordan, no. 11 of 55 signed. Realisation £75.
• R.A.F. HA1 1976 cover signed by Douglas Bader, Johnnie Johnson and Stanford-Tuck. Realisation £69.
• R.A.F. HA16 1977 cover signed by Leonard Cheshire. Realisation £15.
• R.A.F. 1980 40th Anniversary Battle of Britain, signed Johnnie Johnson, Stanford-Tuck, Douglas Bader, John Cunningham and James Lacey. Realisation £138.
• R.A.F. 1994 FDC signed by King and Queen Hussein of Jordan. Realisation £80.
• R.A.F. 1994 FDC signed by King Hussein of Jordan and Capt. B. Poulton. Realisation £75.

The section was also rich in Concorde flown and signed covers and the following realisations were recorded.

• Concorde 1974 cover 202 G-BBDG development flight, signed by Brian Trubshaw, Peter Baker and Alan Heywood. Realisation £103.
• Concorde 1977 covers, test flights nos. 427, 428 and 429, Concorde 202 G-BBDG, all 3 signed Brian Trubshaw and R.D. Griffin. Realisation £253.
• Concorde 1980 cover 216 G-N94AF, Filton to Heathrow, signed Brian Trubshaw, Brian Walpole and R.D.Griffin. Realisation £103.

Earlier flight covers were also on offer in the auction and a collection of 112 first flight covers on the 1920s and 1930s pioneering routes between Britain and South Africa, estimated at £750, realised a pleasing £1,092.

Mulready Caricatures and Victorian Illustrated Envelopes

When William Mulready designed his postal stationery on the introduction of uniform penny postage, he did not foresee the degree of ridicule his allegorical design would attract. Several rare caricatures of his work were offered in our 2nd November 2011 auction.

Hume’s Comic Envelope Number 3, the ‘Elephant in a Kilt’ envelope, state 2, used from Bagshot to Dulverton, Somerset, 4th Aug 1840, brg 1840 plate 2 1d. black, with large margins, tied by a red MC, with framed ‘MISSENT/TO WILY’ in red. Alain von der Weid Cert (1994).Bodily, Jarvis and Hahn recorded ten used examples. Ex Bohn. Realisation £3,910.

Menzies’ Caricature Envelope, state 1, used from Edinburgh to London 9 July 1840, a superb example of this exceptional caricature. Bodily, Jarvis and Hahn recorded 17 used examples though thought others would come to light. This example is one of those not recorded by them. Realisation £1,667.

Victorian illustrated envelopes developed from the Mulready stationery and caricatures and the sale contained several delightful examples.

Hume’s ‘Nemesis’ Envelope, used from Edinburgh to Bothkenna, 23 August 1844, postage paid by 1841 1d. red-brown, light creasing affecting the adhesive. BPA Cert (2004), the unique used example, a major rarity of printed envelopes. Bodily, Jarvis and Hahn recorded one mint example in the Royal Collection and this used example. Illustrated by them in ‘British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century’, page 120. Ex C.G. Holland, W. Knox, ‘Illustrious’, Grunin and Bohn. Realisation £4,600.

Hume’s Musical Envelope No.1, the ‘Robert Burns’ envelope, used from Leith to Dover 5 February 1842, franked 1841 1d. red-brown, plate 11, S.G.AS74, with margins three sides, tied by a black Maltese Cross cancellation. R.P.S. Certificate 2004. One of the great rarities of the entire pictorial series and the finer of the two known. Bodily, Jarvis and Hahn recorded two used. This example is illustrated by them in ‘British Pictorial Envelopes of the 19th Century’, page 107. Realisation £3,910.

Straits Settlements Essays

Three attractive essays from the Straits Settlements achieved good prices in our 5th October 2011 auction. The first was an imperforate composite essay for the 1891 25c, with the value tablet hand-drawn. This lovely and probably unique item realised £1,265.

The other 2 essays on offer were colour trials of the 1c and $5 values of the1902 series, the 1c in dull purple and green and the $5 in grey and carmine, mounted on a card headed “Appendix A” and dated 25th Nov 1901.

In Gambia, a complete U.M. sheet of 15 of the 1886-93 6d olive-green, including 2 sloping varieties, estimated at £400, realised £604.

New Guinea and Papua were well represented in the sale by specialised collections; 3 New Guinea collections with total estimate of £2,900 realised £5,635 and an interesting collection of 150 Papua WWII censored covers, estimated at £400, made £920.

On offer in the German section was a Ruhleben Internment Camp archive of sketches, correspondence and ephemera, formed by prisoner C.M.A. Whitehouse. It included a plan of the camp, 18 pencil sketches of the camp, Ruhleben Camp Magazine cover and advertisement artwork, postcard of the football team, 1915 Christmas card printed at the camp, baring censor h/s, 5 used postal stationery items and a 1/3d p.stat. envelope baring an additional 1/3d adhesive. This fascinating archive was estimated at £300 and it realised £414.

In Great Britain, a fine Queen Victoria die proof was on offer. It was a proof of the frame only, without value tablet, of an unadopted design for the 1887-92 Jubilee Series 2d value. The estimate of £1,500 was exceeded by the realisation of £1,782.

British West Indies Postal History

The Warwick and Warwick sale held on 7th September 2011 contained an interesting range of late 18th century entires from the sugar plantations of the West Indies, send to Britain by packet mail. Several of the entires bore handstamps not previously recorded in the literature. The following results were obtained:

1792 entire to London, rated 1/-, bearing in ms. on the front “p Packet” and *** “MONTSERRAT”, 39 x 4 mm, previously unrecorded. Filing creases (one through handstamp) and tear, part flap missing and soiling. Realisation £1,092.

1792 entire from Montserrat to London, rated 1/-, bearing in ms. on the front “Per Packet” and on the reverse *** “St.Kitts”, 21 x 6 mm, previously unrecorded. Filing creases, clear of handstamp. Realisation £1,035.

1792 extensive entire from St. Kitts to London, rated 2/-, bearing in ms. on the front “By the Packet / St. Kitts” and on the reverse *** “St.Kitts”, 21 x 6mm, previously unrecorded. Filing creases, clear of handstamp and part of flap missing. Realisation £1,150.

1796 part entire to London, written from St. Christopher, concerning absconding negroes on a sugar plantation, rated 1/-, with ms. “P. Packet” and *** “St KITTS”, 45 x 6 mm, previously unrecorded. Torn and parts missing, but handstamp unaffected. Realisation £414.

Elsewhere in the sale, a collection of Concorde flight covers, contained in 30 albums, estimated at £6,000, realised £8,625.

In a large section of U.S.A., an 1858 cover from Hawaii, to New York, bearing 1857 5c with 4 margins and U.S.A. 1857-61 12c, both tied by San Francisco town cancel, with red Honolulu cancel alongside, estimated at £2,000, realised £2,760.

Mounted Prussian Blue makes £7,762.

A mounted mint copy of the famous 1935 Silver Jubilee 2½d Prussian blue error of colour sold for £7,762, including the buyer’s premium, in the Warwick and Warwick auction held on 12th January 2011.

The sale was notable for its contents of rare Great Britain high values, all of which sold exceptionally well, despite the increase in VAT on the buyer’s premium. In the line engraved section, a 1d black, from plate 1b, with 4 large margins and attractive red-orange Maltese Cross, estimated £150, realised £195, and £2,185 was paid for a mint copy from plate 5, with 4 good margins and rust spots removed, estimated at £2,000. A part o.g. 1840 2d blue single, with 4 close to large margins, was estimated at £5,000 and made £6,612.

The 1847-54 embossed issues were represented by a 1/- marginal example, with clear margins and original gum, estimated £1,500, which realised £2,645 and a 6d o.g., with 4 clear margins, estimated £1,800, which realised £2,127.

It was in the surface printed section where the real rarities were on offer. The following results were obtained.

• 1880 2/- brown, part o.g., enclosed tear (SG 121), cat. £20.000, estimate £1,500, realisation £3,320.

• 1867-83 wmk MC 10/- greenish grey, unused, regummed (SG 128), cat. £50,000, estimate £7,500, realisation £8,912.

• 1867-83 wmk MC £1 brown-lilac, o.g., light creasing (SG 129), cat. £80,000, estimate £12,000, realisation £13,800

• 1867-83 wmk anchor, white paper, 10/- greenish grey, o.g. (SG 135), cat. £120,000, estimate £25,000, realisation £24,725.

• 1867-83 wmk anchor, white paper, £1 brown-lilac, F.U., with crisp, central c.d.s. (SG 136), cat. £8,000, estimate £2,000, realisation £3,105.
• 1867-83 wmk anchor, white paper, £5 orange M. (SG 137), cat. £12,000, estimate £3,000, realisation £3,220.

• 1867-83 wmk anchor, white paper, £5 orange M., slight faults, but perfectly centred, (SG 137), cat. £12,000, estimate £2,000, realisation £3,680.
• 1867-83 wmk anchor, white paper, £5 orange F.U., minor creasing (SG 137), cat. £4,500, estimate £1,500, realisation £1,495.

• 1888 wmk orbs £1 brown-lilac o.g., light gum crease and small area of gum disturbance, (SG 186), cat. £60,000, estimate £10,000, realisation £16,962.
• The sale was also strong in rare Officials. A VR 1840 1d black, unused, with 4 even margins was estimated at £3,500 and realised £7,187. The Inland Revenue section contained many mint high values.
• 1884-8 white paper 5/- rose o.g., corner creasing (SG O9), cat. £6,000, estimate £1,900, realisation £1,782.
• 1884-8 white paper 10/- ultramarine o.g., creased (SG O10), cat. £8,500, estimate £2,400, realisation £2,185.

• 1885 wmk crowns £1 brown-lilac o.g., minor imperfactions (SG O11), cat. £55,000, estimated £10,000, realised £9,487.

• 1890 wmk orbs £1 brown-lilac o.g., tone spots and creasing (SG O12), cat. £80,000, estimated £10,000, realised £14,950.
• 1892 £1 green M., minor creasing (SG O16), cat. £9,000, estimate £2,500, realised £2,990.
• 1901 1/- green and carmine M. (SG O19), cat. £3,500, estimated £1,000, realised £1,840.

• 1902-4 6d dull purple, overprinted “SPECIMEN” type 16, with o.g. (SG MO4s), cat. £35,000, estimate £10,000, realisation £10,637.
• 1902-4 1/- dull green and carmine o.g. (SG O24), cat. £3,500, estimate £1,000, realisation £1,840.
• 1902-4 5/- bright carmine M., slight colour run at sides (SG O25), cat. £17,000, estimate £3,500, realisation £4,485.

• 1902-4 10/- ultramarine o.g. (SG O26), cat. £90,000, estimate £20,000, realisation £21,275.

• 1902-4 £1 blue-green o.g., faults incl. creasing (SG O27), cat. £55,000, estimate £8,000, realisation £7,762.

Inverted Jenny takes off at Warwick!

The U.S.A. 1918 24c airmail with inverted centre, the iconic “inverted Jenny”, certainly got airborne at Warwick, on March 4th 2009, when Warwick and Warwick sold a mint copy, with a tiny paper thin, for a hammer price of £160,000 plus the buyer’s premium of £24,000, making a total realisation of £184,000. It was the first time this famous stamp had been offered in this country in over 50 years and the most expensive stamp ever auctioned by Warwick and Warwick. Auctioneer Colin Such stated that it was an honour and a privilege to offer such an iconic philatelic item and he was pleased with the outcome. He was particularly surprised by the fact that there were no less than six bidders contesting to secure the stamp, three present in the room and three on telephones, including two from U.S.A. The successful bidder was a British collector who was present in the room.