Rarity Triumphs

The Summer British Empire & Foreign Countries auction, held over two days on June 10th and 11th, contained several important sections and perhaps unsurprisingly the final sale total of £580,888 well exceeded the total of the pre-sale estimates.

The presentation of Mauritius postal stationery section was remarkably only the first part to be offered of the extraordinary collection formed by the late Alan Huggins MBE, RDP, Hon FRPSL, former President of the Royal Philatelic Society. Featured on the front cover of the auction catalogue, his handsome essay for the proposed 1879 8 cents Foreign rate post card [lot 1141] passed to its new owner for £2,318.

There was strong support for the ‘Friuli’’collection, a unique study of the postal history of the Boxer Rebellion. Realisations soared sometimes far beyond expectation. An unpaid 1900 “On Active Service” envelope [lot 954] sent to Bath  from “Ho-Hsi-Wo, China” had been despatched two days after stamps had been issued but before their general availability and reached £878 and sent from the New South Wales Naval Contingent a cover with Contingent cachet sent in 1901 franked at the civilian rate by the China Expeditionary Force ½a. and 2a. cancelled by F.P.O. No. 1 (Peking Legation). c.d.s. [lot 987] reached £976.

Similarly popular was the fine collection of Saint Lucia formed by the late Alister Kinnon. The 1860 (1d.) and (4d.) with part Perkins Bacon “CANCELLED” handstamp and originating from the single blocks of six produced with this mark are major rarities. The (1d.) [lot 1387] is one of just two examples in private hands and soared to £7,564. The 4d. [lot 1389], unique in private hands reached an impressive £5,856.

The first issues of the Saint Lucia Steamship Company are not the prettiest but are also very rare. Star item from this rarely offered group of lots was [lot 1474] that climbed to £2,654.

From another exceptional collection, Gold Coast formed by Ian Anderson, another series of notable prices included the handsome mint plate block of four of the 1921-24 £2 [lot 870] that was bid strongly to £2,135 and the used example of the 1889 1d. on 6d. orange double surcharge [lot 829] that reached £2,379 despite some creases.

The latest in Grosvenor’s popular twice yearly series of specialised offerings of Falkland Islands & Antarctica produced a more patchy set of realisations although the £7,320 paid for the ‘Henry King & Co.’ Black Frank cover [lot 431] and £7,930 for the ‘Travis’ Black Frank cover [lot 430] were strong results for these essential classic items in the current market. A cancelled example of the scarce Charcot blue expedition label produced for the 1908-10 French Antarctic Expedition [lot 594] achieved £317.

Realisations quoted include buyer’s premium. For further information please contact Tom Margalski or Verity Smith at the Grosvenor London office.