NZ Post Recalls Royal Wedding Stamp Packs

New Zealand Post wants to recall more than 2000 Royal wedding stamp collection packs after an 'embarrassing' mistake.

The text on the presentation pack issued on Wednesday, said Prince William was born on 21 May 1982. The correct date was 21 June.

New Zealand Post says the error was not picked up during the checking process and it is regrettable and embarrassing.

The company is asking people to return the product.

But a leading British stamp dealers, Apex Philatelic Auctions, says people should not return them because the mistake, and the small number of packs may increase their value.

Nordia 2011 - major Nordic stamp exhibition

This year, Nordia 2011, the Nordic stamp exhibition, will be organized in Jyvaskyla, Finland, on April 1-3. The exceptionally large-scale exhibition has one of the greatest collections among all stamp exhibitions organized in Europe this year.

Itella Posti (Finland) will publish new stationeries and stamp the first day postmark on them at the exhibition. In addition to Posti, the event will be participated by all other Nordic postal services, as well as those from Estonia and Germany.

The brand new Finnish stamps published on April 1, 2011 will be available for sale at Nordia 2011. In addition, the Postage Stamp Center will sell previously released stamps and collector's items, such as year sets, yearbooks, stamp collections and miniatures.

Stamp auction is expected to set new world record in Hong Kong

Hong Kong will hold its largest stamp auction at the Park Lane Hotel from Saturday to Monday, with 3,000 lots and a presale estimate of over $6.45 million, according to the organizer.

The auction will include both rare Classic China stamps from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and 600 lots issued at the beginning of the People's Republic of China.

A three-strip of the $5 inverted surcharge from the 1897 Red Revenue series, which is valued at $619,000-710,000, is expected to set a world record to become the most expensive Classic Chinese stamp multiple ever sold at auction.

Another highlight is the unique four-block 1968 "Chairman Mao's Inscription to Japanese Worker Friends," with presale figures estimating it at up to $1,032,000. The issuance of the stamp was cancelled later but a few had been released from a post office in Hebei, according to the organizer. The owner of this stamp, Ng Siong Tee of Singapore once won a Gold Medal at the International Stamp Exhibition in Beijing in 1999, with his own collection of Cultural Revolution (1966-76) issues.

"As a philatelist, we are seeing in the People's Republic stamps a level of interest and excitement that is absolutely breathtaking, with many increasing 200 percent or more in value in the past two or three years in this white-hot market," said Jeffrey Schneider, the founder of Interasia in Hong Kong, the organizer of this auction.

Last year, the two-day auction realized $7.35 million with 1,940 lots for auction.

INDIPEX 2011 – Program and Special covers

INDIPEX 2011 will have each day earmarked for celebrating themes such as science and technology, culture and heritage, youth and sports, environment and women’s issues. During Indipex 2011, 13 Special Covers are to be released on various themes. The detailed program is a s follows:

DAY 1 – Saturday, 12 th February 2011
PEACE & HARMONY DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs

– 10:30 hrs to 11:30 hrs – Inauguration Ceremony – President visits the exhibition. Venue – Hamsadhwani
– 14:00 hrs to 14:30 hrs – Presentation function for Aerophilately stamps. Venue – Activity Area
– 15:00 hrs to 15:30 hrs – Release of Special Cover – ONGC. Venue – Hamsadhwani
– 15:30 hrs to 16:30 hrs – National Level Quiz Competition. Venue – Hamsadhwani
– 16:30 hrs to 17:00 hrs – Awards ceremony for the winners of National Level Quiz. Venue – Hamsadhwani
– 19:30 hrs to 20:30 hrs – Light and Sound Show. Venue – Old Fort

DAY 2 – Sunday, 13 th February 2011
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs

– 11:30 hrs to 12:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – Gujarat Tourism. Venue – Activity Area
– 15:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – Western Union. Venue – Activity Area
– 19:00 hrs to 21:00 hrs – Stamp Release on Legendary Heroines of Indian Cinema. Venue – Imperial Hotel Lawns

DAY 3 – Monday, 14 th February 2011
YOUTH DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrsTime Schedule

– 11:30 hrs to 12:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – SPMCIL. Venue – Activity Area
– 15:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – St. Michael Group of Institutions. Venue – Activity Area

DAY 4 – Tuesday, 15 th February 2011
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs

– 11:30 hrs to 12:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – HCL. Venue – Activity Area
– 15:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – Sethu Educational Trust Institute of Technology. Venue – Activity Area
– 16:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs – Release of Special Cover – HP Venue – Activity Area

DAY 5 – Wednesday, 16 th February 2011
CULTURE & HERITAGE DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs

– 11:30 hrs to 12:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – Incredible India. Venue – Activity Area
– 15:30 hrs to 16:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – Arya Vaidya Salar Kottakal. Venue – Activity Area

DAY 6 – Thursday, 17 th February 2011
ENVIRONMENT DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs

– 11:30 hrs to 12:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – On Environment Day by India Post. Venue – Activity Area
– 12:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs – Awards ceremony for the winners of the Exhibition. Venue – Activity Area
– 15:00 hrs to 15:30 hrs – Release of Special Cover – ICICI Prudential Life. Venue – Activity Area
– 19:30 hrs to 22:00 hrs – Awards Night followed by Palmares Dinner. Venue – Hotel Taj Palace

DAY 7 – Friday, 18th February 2011
AEROPHILATELY DAY – 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs

– 11:30 hrs to 12:00 hrs – Release of Special Cover – Air India.

For more information visit: http://www.indipex2011.com

Rocky Mountain stamp show in Denver May 13-15

The Germany Philatelic Society has announced their 2011 society convention will take place at THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN STAMP SHOW (ROMPEX 2011), at Denver, Colorado, May 13-15, 2011.

The exhibition and bourse will include circa 340 frames of competitive & non-competitive exhibits and 40-50 stamp and postal history dealers.

Among the special events will be two Power-Point lectures:

May 13: "Having Your Stamps Expertized in Germany" by Dr. Gernot Reiners.

May 14: "Inexpensive Additions to Your Collection of German Stamps. Varieties, Color Shades, Fly Specs & Cancellations" by Jerry Jensen.

Renowned aero-philatelic, postmark, censorship (etc) specialists will also be attending and available for questions and answers at the GPS society table & in the GPS hospitality suite.

The GPS general meeting for members & non-members will take place on Saturday, May 14, at the show hotel, and an informal GPS Dinner is scheduled the evening before on Friday, May 13, at a local German-fare restaurant. Times will be posted at the show.

UK makes sure queen's head will grace its stamps

Britain's business minister says he will guarantee that the monarch's head will appear on British postage stamps even if Royal Mail is sold to a foreign buyer.

Sculptor Arnold Machin's depiction of a youthful Queen Elizabeth II has appeared on billions of stamps since it was first commissioned in 1967 and has become a classic of British design.

So there was disquiet when media reports suggested that plans to part-privatize the Royal Mail could mean that the queen's head would disappear from Britain's letters and parcels.

Business Minister Ed Davey told the Mail on Sunday newspaper that he would put forward an amendment to make it impossible for a buyer to remove the monarch's image from stamps without royal assent.

Neil Armstrong stars in sale of stamps from around the world, and the skies

British, American and Chinese stamps are mixed with space and aviation covers at Earl P Apfelbaum

Stamp collectors and investors are now looking ahead to next year for more high quality sales. Fortunately, they won't have to look very far with Earl P Apfelbaum's first auction of the new year taking place in the first week of January.

Their latest Public Auction offering of 5,537 lots will be scheduled for 2 sessions. The first session, held Tuesday, January 4^th, consists of 2,600 lots of United States singles & collections including Back-of-the-Book and Possessions.

The second session will be on Wednesday, January 5^th. This session offers all Great Britain & British Commonwealth singles & collections and General Foreign complete including collections & accumulations. This session has 2,937 lots.

Apollo 10 signed cover

As is sometimes the case, the auction contains some lots which are likely to appeal at least as much to collectors from other fields as from stamp collecting. Three commemorative covers in particular might interest many fans of early aviation and space exploration in the early stages of the auction:

Firstly, there is a commemorative cover for the 25^th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers' flight cancelled at Kitty Hawk signed by Orville Wright. In extremely fine condition, it is likely to sell for $1,000.

Space collectors will be more excited to see a triple-signed Apollo 10 cacheted cover, autographed by Thomas Stafford, John Young and Gene Cernan. That might achieve $1,400.

There is even a set of three Apollo 11 Crew Space City cacheted covers, one for each and autographed by Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins.

Whilst some of the individual stamp lots are certainly worthy of a good collection, such as an 1845-46 5c Black New York with its original gum, which might bring $1,500, the most interesting lot might be a collection of stamps from the People's Republic of China.

This offers a huge stock of material, going from 1980 to 2008 in nine cartons. Included are mint singles, multiples, souvenir sheets, unexploded booklets and First Day Covers (cacheted and unaddressed), maximum cards, Post Office packs, Year Sets and much more.

The lot is expected to bring around $10,000-12,000. Buying large collections of slightly lower-grade stamps is not always as good an investment as one or two in perfect condition, but it does allow for lucky finds, or expert finds if you fancy yourself to be an expert philatelist.

In any case, the market for Chinese stamps, especially from the People's Republic, is so strong that there is a good chance that the lot will sell and be re-sold for considerably more than that estimate - already bids have reach $8,500. Watch this space for results of the sale, which takes place online until January 4-5.

$29,000 'sepcimen' stars in Robert A Seigel's final stamps sale of 2010

From War Department errors to a cover that survived a siege, this sale included many rare issues

Rarities from the War Department were the stars of Robert A. Seigel's final stamp auction of 2010, to cap a fine year for the company.

Their sale of 'Specialized US Collections, Air Post, Foreign Stamps & Covers' featured a number of important single owner collections such as the Dr. David H. Lobdell Collections of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Issue and War Department Officials.

And it was a War Department stamp that took the top spot for the highest price of the auction. The extremely rare 12-cent War Department issue with a "sepcimen" overprint error was described as the only recorded example of its kind.

The 12c and 15c War Department issue overprint errors

And its rarity and high quality meant it more than doubled its pre-sale estimate of $13,500, eventually selling for $29,000.

The next highest lots were a similar 90c War Department issue with the same overprint error which sold for $24,000, and the 15c and 24c issues (again with the overprint) that each sold for $23,000.

The other notable lot was a "phenomenal postal history rarity": a postal cover sent from Switzerland to Paris just days before the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War in September 1870. It was held in Paris during the siege, then forwarded to Belgium by Ballon Monte then forwarded yet again to England.

The postal cover sent held during the siege of Paris in 1870, which sold for $19,500

The remarkable cover had an estimated value of $7,500 - $10,000 but its uniqueness led to a winning bid of an impressive $19,500.

The sale featured a number of investment-grade stamps, and although the auction was relatively modest compared to their recent high-profile events it attracted a solid crowd of international collectors and investors.

With the company now preparing for 2011, philatelists can look ahead to a year in which the stamp market is set to go from strength to strength.

Chinese stamp markets are going strong as sale doubles $86,900 estimate

It starred a 1968 Chinese stamp, which doubled its estimate despite being described as 'repaired'

The latest Stanley Gibbons Public Auction, held in London on December 17, showed that Asian material is once again proving to be very popular with bidders. The China section in particular more than doubled its lower pre-auction estimate of just over £56,000 ($86,921).

According to Stanley Gibbons, room bidders were competing against determined telephone bidders and a strong log book, which resulted in the 1962 Stage Art of Mei Lan-fang 3y miniature sheet (SG MS2044a) realising £12,650.

Meanwhile, the highest realisation was scored by the 1968 The Whole Country is Red 8f. The piece sold for £31,050 ($48,195), even though it was described as having been repaired, re-gummed and with tone spots.

This 1968 The Whole Country is Red 8f doubled its estimate in London

Another, better quality version of the once controversial stamp previously sold for a World Record price of HK$3.68m (US$475,000) in November 2009.

Collections of China were also keenly contested with one lot comprising a general collection in three volumes from 1949 to mid 1980s. It brought £20,70, while what was described as an "interesting accumulation of Postal History loose in carton" reached £13,800.

Hong Kong continued the trend with a complete sheet of Trengganu 1942 $5 green and red/yellow (SG J115) stamps realising £10,925.

The Penny Black has proved popular among Chinese collectors with Stanley Gibbons selling out of stock at an event in Beijing in November.

The world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black,
is proving popular among Chinese buyers. Pieces
like this very rare block of four can command values
of around £140,000 on the collectors' markets

With demand for the stamp 100 times the normal market size and collectors prepared to pay well over the catalogue value, prices for this relic of British will surely increase in the future. "Buyers of the 1d black at this month's auction may well have secured themselves a great deal if the trend continues," said a statement from Stanley Gibbons.

All above quoted prices include buyers premium at 15%.

One of 'Four Treasures of the Republic' stamp brings $240,000

One of greatest rarities of 20th Century Chinese philately starred alongside an Inverted Jenny in NY

Cherrystone's December 16 stamps auction boasted America's most famous stamp, the Inverted Jenny (sold for $300,000). But if that isn't impressive enough, how about a stamp described as the foremost of the "Four Treasures of the Republic"?

Also regarded as of the greatest rarities of 20th Century philately, this '1925 surcharge in red on second Peking printing 3 Cts on 4c slate-gray' from the People's Republic of China was another big lot in the New York auction.

Only 10 examples of this error - or misprinted stamp - were reportedly discovered in 1925; seven unused and three used (two in Shanghai, one in Peking). It is generally held that no further examples have survived.

The 1925 surcharge in red on second Peking printing 3 Cts on 4c slate-gray

Although this stamp was one of the used examples, it was nevertheless a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire what might be the only available used error on the market. The piece sold with expectation, after a defective unused copy previously brought HK$1,800,000 ($231,456, including buyer's premium).

In the end, the used specimen sold for even more. It fell just short of its higher $250,000 pre-sale estimate, though sold for well in excess of its €160,000 catalogue price, bringing $240,000.

UK stamps could lose Queen's head

Buckingham Palace is to hold urgent talks with ministers over its fears that the Queen's head could vanish from British stamps following the Government's sale of the Royal Mail.

There is no stipulation in the Postal Services Bill, which privatises the service, that the image should be included on future stamps. The monarch's head has been on every stamp since the Penny Black of 1840.

The Bill could result in up to 80 percent of the Royal Mail owned by a foreign company.

The leading bidders in the Royal Mail sell-off are expected to be Dutch and German operators.

The British stamps are the only ones in the world that do not carry the country's name - just the portrait of the sovereign.

The current standard stamps, drawn up in 1967 by Arnold Machin, are considered a design classic and a defining icon of Britain recognised around the world.

Not feeling the blues... an extremely rare 90c blue re-issue headed Siegel stamp sale

Pan American 2c inverted stamp

The single used stamp brought $190,000 in the company's landmark 1000th auction

As we reported, Siegel held its 1,000^th rare stamps sale this week (December 8) with 1,352 philatelic rarities, many of which would be worthy of leading a good stamp auction, going under the hammer.

In the event, a substantial part of the sale's prices realised was carried by 1901 Pan-American Exposition Issue inverts.

The Pan-American issue was the first set of United States stamps of the 20th Century and created three inverts.

The 1¢ and 2¢ Inverts were issued through post offices. The errors occurred during the two-stage printing process—centre first, frame second—resulting from the pressman's mistake in turning the sheet 180 degrees from the correct orientation after the first impression.

Four lots of Pan-American issues achieved $202,500 between them. They included a 1c Pan-American, Centre Inverted block of four which was acquired by the owner in the Siegel 500th sale. The extremely fine gem sold for $45,000 - something of a bargain in our opinion and a strong investment.

The best performing lot of the four was a 2c Pan-American, Centre Inverted single. The 2c is the rarest of the three Pan-American Inverts. It is surmised that approximately 200 were issued through the post office, with two distinct shades known.

One estimate of those surviving suggested that only 55 unused examples remain in existence. This example has full and absolutely pristine original gum which has just one hinge mark at top, radiant colours as fresh as the day they were printed, choice centring with wide and balanced margins.

It was estimated at $55,000, but bidders pushed it past that to reach $62,500.

90c blue reissue stamp

However, the single strongest performer of the sale dwarfed all of these: a 90c blue reissue. It is an extremely fine gem, one of the two finest used examples of the 90 cent 1861 re-issue. In fact only four used copies are known to exist.

The example boasts perfect centring with wide even margins, deep rich colour and intense impression on crisp white paper, and is neatly cancelled by New York City circular datestamp and oval grid. It sold for an impressive $190,000.

Lenin set to rule in New York as great Russian stamp collection goes up for sale

1926 Lenin Russian stamp set

The well-known Patrick Eppel Collection is going under the hammer at Cherrystone, next week

As we've reported, Cherrystone is holding a stunning sale of rare stamps of the world next month with an example of the most famous stamp in the world, the Inverted Jenny, going under the hammer alongside great Chinese and Russian rarities.

Naturally Russian stamp collector will not want to miss the sale which features a 1k orange invert pair which was formerly owned by the House of Fabergé and the Bond King himself, Bill Gross. But they should also be aware that the sale is Cherrystone's third that week with the second offering the collection of Patrick Eppel.

Patrick Eppel was well known in Russian philatelic circles and formed the better part of his collection well before the collapse of the Soviet Union. He was able to put together close to 700 different 'fantails' (varieties which are imperforate on one side or between the stamps).

This was in addition to his 'regular' Russia collection with rare imperforate items from the 1930s, the always popular back of the book items including Cinderella collections, exceptionally strong Zemstvo and a rich philatelic library.

Although there is no representative of air postage quite as spectacular as the Inverted Jenny (which was intended to show a Curtiss JN-4, or Jenny, carrying mail), there are two related directly to flight.

Firstly there is a Russian air post 1934 10k Vasenko - one of the fantails - of the variety imperforate at the bottom. It has been cancelled to order and is very fine and rare, with a catalogue value of $10,000.

Referencing a more particular air journey is a set of 1938 Trans-Polar Flight, 10k-50k imperforate horizontal pairs. The four pairs have never been hinged, and overall are a very fine, rare and striking set, catalogued at $18,000.

Finally there is a set of very striking 1926 horizontal pairs depicting Lenin which we think will make a particularly strong investment. In 1r brown, 2r dark violet, 3r green varieties the imperforate stamps are very fine, have never been hinged and are very rare indeed, and catalogued at $29,333.

Collectors should probably expect to pay over the estimates for some of the items given the recent performance of Russian stamps at auction, but equally they are likely to prove to be sound investments. The sale takes place in three sessions from December 14-15 in New York and online.

$100,000 quartet of Lincoln covers stars at Robert A Siegel's 1,000th stamps auction

Classic Abraham Lincoln Cover

At a landmark event for the famous auction house, a great President takes centre stage once more

Tomorrow, Robert A Siegel Auctions will be holding its 1,000^th major auction of stamps, which sets it far apart from philatelic auction houses around the world: few have come close to that number.

It is not realistic to attempt to adequately cover the remarkable range of material which is on offer. It is worth noting that highlights from the Peter G. DuPuy Collection of High-Value 1857-60 Issues, The "Southern" Collection of Gem-Quality United States Stamps and a 1c Pan-American Invert Block acquired by the consignor in their 500^th sale will all feature.

However, the lot which we've chosen to focus on is a famous 'Quartet' of Lincoln Covers, perhaps the finest in existence, with the four covers representing different aspects of the martyred president's role in American history.

First, there is the 1860 campaign, represented by a cover with the famous "split rail fence" design and portrait of a beardless Lincoln, used from Chicago and stamped with 3c postage and the extremely rare Floyd's Penny Post 1c Brown (68L2).

Second, there is the familiar portrait of a bearded Lincoln as president, represented by the only known engraved printing on an envelope, of which this one example is recorded.

Third, from the other side of the war we have the famous Confederate "Hanging Lincoln" cartoon, showing the president hanging upside down from a tree limb, with his symbolic axe and fence rail tied around his neck, of which twelve examples are recorded.

Fourth, there is the envelope distributed in the days immediately following Lincoln's assassination, which shows a portrait of John Wilkes Booth with a caption that begins "Hunt the villain down" — the only envelope design depicting the assassin Booth, of which just two examples are recorded.

The set stands on its own as the most outstanding group of its kind ever assembled. It could provide the keystone to an expanded collection of Lincoln-related covers, which will undoubtedly have special relevance as America commemorates the 150th anniversary of its Civil War in 2011.

The set is expected to sell for $75,000-100,000 in Siegel's sale which takes place in New York.

They didn't just win the World Cup... Russian $40,000 stamp stars at auction

Days after its winning World Cup bid, Raritan's New Jersey stamps sale also spelled victory for Russia

A Russian Telegraph Stamp was the $40,000 winner in Raritan's New Jersey based philatelic auction, selling alongside the collections of 24 individuals and 1,523 lots of rare Worldwide Stamps and Postal History.

And while countries like China and Russia are asserting themselves in today's global economy, it was historic specimens from both nations which turned heads at Raritan's sale.

In the end, one of the auction's major highlights was a 20k black and brown Imperial Russia Telegraph Stamp, Yvert #1, dating all the way back to 1866.

The 20k black and brown Imperial Russia Telegraph Stamp

Especially rare in this flawless condition, the 20k stamp boasts its full original gum, is previously unhinged and was classed as "very fine" according to Raritan's notes.

Auctioned with a verifying E Diena certificate, the stamp eventually sold for $40,000.

Elsewhere, other star lots in Raritan's sale included a 1976 numismatic rarity from the People's Republic of China: a 4^th Five-Year-Plan complete set in sheets of 40.

Like the Russian specimen, the stamps bear their original gum, are never hinged and "very fine" - and now have a proven market value of $8,500.

The complete Harry Potter MyStamp Collection by SingPost

Harry Potter fans have more to look forward to than just watching the movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" now. SingPost has just released limited edition of Harry Potter MyStamp Collection comprising images from the seven films including the final instalment of the series - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

This exclusive collection, priced at S$69.90, comes in an exquisite hard cover album and contains of nine sheets of MyStamp, and 24 pieces of limited edition postcards showcasing scenes from the movies. These postcards are not available in any parts of the world. Each page is beautifully decorated with images of the main characters and magical creatures, depicting the adventures of Harry Potter and his friends during their years in Hogwarts. It also has a page of lenticular effect to create the magical feel of entering the wizardry world.

Every purchase of Harry Potter MyStamp Collection gives customers a chance to win a trip for two to USA worth S$6,000.

MyStamp is a unique and creative stamp personalisation product by SingPost, which has featured a variety of themes including popular movies, television shows, cartoon characters, special occasions and even major sports events.

Stamps fit for Royalty lead the way at Spink's British African auction

Next week's sale is led by an early Mauritius classic and a stamp block from the Royal Collection

A large proportion of collectors concentrate on collecting stamps from some section of the British Empire or Commonwealth, and next week Spink is offering an excellent range of stamps from two collectors who did just that, specialising in parts of British Africa.

Although only part of the great Vestey collection of British Africa, together with the Wilkin collection of British West Africa it swells the catalogue to an impressive 1,300 lots.

Three lots stand out in particular:

A block of six deep blue 1d stamps with selvedge produced for the Cape of Good Hope in 1900 to commemorate the Battle of Mafeking. It shows the cracked plate variety, and is a fresh and fine unused example with large part or full original gum.

It's an extremely rare multiple with only three complete sheets recorded, one of which is from an early printing prior to the deterioration of the plate. But best of all is the provenance: It was part of the Royal Philatelic Collection until 2008.

This makes it a rock-solid investment and well worth anything close to the estimate of £15,000-18,000 ($28,000).

The two expected top lots are a set of plate-proofs and an example of one of the most famous stamps in the world.

The former is a series of Gambian 1886-93 issues: a 1/2d. grey-green, 1d. crimson, 2d. orange, 2 1/2d. ultramarine, 3d. slate-grey, 4d. brown, 6d. olive-green and 1/- violet. With a large part of their original gum intact and margins from the foot, this is a superb set and well-worth the £15,000-20,000 ($31,170) listing, especially as it comes from the celebrated collection of Dale Lichtenstein.

Mauritius Post Paid

Also on offer at $18,000-20,000 is a Mauritius 2d blue stamp. Mauritius was famously the first country in the British Empire outside of Britain itself to produce stamps, albeit in very small numbers to provide invitations to a Ball. Some of the greatest collectors including Ferrary, Kanai and Chand have prized these stamps.

Originally the stamps bore the text 'Post Office'. Those are beyond the reach of most collectors, but the stamps bearing 'Post Paid' are also very valuable if fresh and unused, as the one in this sale is.

Spink's auction takes place in London on December 7.

David Feldman ends its 2010 stamp auctions with a $250,000 Tete-Beche pair

The French carmine piece taken from one of six catalogues attracted frenzied bidding

David Feldman has concluded its auctions for 2010 with six catalogues, nearly 3,500 lots, and bidders from all over the world present in person to view and bid. Switzerland was one star performer, with lots from Cantonals to Modern Rarities often selling for 150% or 200% of their estimate, even for the ever-popular collection lots.

In fact, collections and large lots, whether of France, Great Britain & Empire, or the rest of the world, drew interest not only from those who had journeyed to Geneva to view them, but - thanks to extensive scans of the contents - to internet bidders who connected and took part during the auctions, causing a great many lots to easily surpass their estimates.

Internet bidders often pushed each other bravely, fought hard against the agents and collectors on the auction floor, and won a greater percentage of the lots overall than ever before.

Overall, the results ranged from satisfactory to excellent, especially on items - at every price level - which had not been seen on the market for a long time, showing the growing recognition of rare stamps as a fine investment.

Tete Beche French Carmine pair

Rare stamps and covers were offered throughout the catalogues, including the semi-annual auction of "Rarities of the World" where the Canada New Carlisle postmaster's provisional brought Euro 334'600 and the Mauritius "Post Paid" 2d Earliest Impression, the finer of two known on cover, reaching €143,400 ($187,300).

"Tete-beche" rarities (those showing adjoined stamps inverted relative to one another) were popular, with the France 1849 1 franc Brownish Carmine pair mint bringing €191,200 ($250,000) and the Switzerland 1882 15c Yellow pair, reportedly the finer of two known in private hands, bringing a record realisation of CHF59,750 (almost exactly $59,750).

David Feldman is now taking consignments of stamps, covers and collections - especially exhibit collections - for sale in its Spring Auctions (May 2011) which will offer a diverse mix of countries and periods.

Those looking to buy before then may be interested to know that a range of stamps is currently available including this 1878 £1 Brown-lilac.

British stamps collection of 'the finest lady philatelist' makes $4.7m

The collection of Lady Mairi Bury sold last week at Sotheby's, with very impressive results...

The sale of one of the world's finest collections of British postage stamps concluded at Sotheby's on Friday, having significantly exceeded pre-sale expectations.

'The Great Britain Philatelic Collections of Lady Mairi Bury' reached an impressive sale total of £3,045,924, beating its estimate of £2.6m.

Described as a "collector's collector", Lady Mairi Bury was one of the finest lady philatelists of our time. Her collection represented her excellent eye for quality and rarity as well as the unusual, and the three-day sale saw packed auction rooms with collectors from around the globe vying for its treasures.

The sale's top lot was 'The Balance of Lady Mairi's collection of King Edward VII' stamps', a comprehensive collection of 91 pages housed in two Frank Godden exhibition boxes and arranged by order of value from ½d. to £1. It contained several specimen stamps, numerous plate flaws and a superb range of blocks of four. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it smashed its estimate of £20,000 - £25,000 eventually selling for £66,000.

'The Balance of Lady Mairi's collection of King Edward VII' stamps' sold for £66,000

Other notable lots included a rare unused 1840 Two Pence Blue, Plate 1 which sold for £43,200, more than four times its high-end estimate of £10,000, and a 'VR' Official Penny Black which sold for £36,000 (far beyond its £15,000 - £20,000 estimate).

Stamp expert Adrian Roose, who dealt with Lady Mairi on many occasions, said:

"She was a truly dedicated philatelist, who gave real love and care to her collection. She knew the benefits of investing in the best quality stamps, and this collection is a testament to her passion."

The auction, which achieved a sell-through rate of 83% by lot and 84% by value, was hailed as a great success and an indicator of the continuing strength of the market. 2010 has seen some record-breaking stamp sales, with figures proving them to be better investments than traditional stocks and shares, and many collectors are already gearing up for an equally-exciting 2011.

Half a rare German postage stamp fetches a fortune

Half a rare German postage stamp which dates back to 1872 has fetched some 261,000 euros ($347,500) at auction in the southern German town of Bietigheim-Bissingen.

A spokeswoman for the auction house said a German collector paid the high price for the well-preserved half-stamp, which originates from the northern German town of Syke, because it was so rare.

"Stamps were in short supply in Syke between 1872 and 1874 so it was decided that they should be cut in half as a makeshift solution," she said. "But because this was only done for a short period, very few letters actually bear these halved stamps."