Grand variety of British Commonwealth rare stamps go up for sale in New Jersey

Victorian Stampco's auction next week will include a very striking Labuan invert error

Victorian Stampco is company which trades exclusively in stamps of the British Empire, despite being located in New Jersey, USA.

Their 29th Public Auction will be closing in just over a week's time and it's worth a look as it presents several comprehensive, one-country collections as well as a range of general British Commonwealth material.

Specialists will enjoy their offering of Bahamas which boasts proofs, stamps and rare covers. There are impressive pedigrees in this section: Ludington, Hoey, "Abaco" and others.

Barbados features the Paul A. Larsen Collection with booklets, proofs, varieties and interesting covers. The Thomas S. Osdene, PhD Collection of Falkland Islands and Dependencies is replete with blocks, shades, specimens and covers to tempt the collectors of this popular country.

Hong Kong features the discovery copy of a major King George VI error, the 1¢ brown definitive doubly printed. This stamp forms the basis of the new Stanley Gibbons listing. Montserrat is represented by a comprehensive collection of stamps, varieties and covers.

Seldom has so much material been offered from this area and collectors have a chance to add items that infrequently come on the market. A small but excellent group of Penrhyn Islands offers astute collectors the opportunity to own several rarities.

Labuan inverted-frame stamp

The "Max Simon" Collection of Virgin Islands represents a significant offering of early proof material, varieties, covers and multiples to entice the collectors of this country with many items ex-Frazer.

The "Mumpara"@ Collection of Zululand is the first major collection of this interesting area to be offered in years and specialists will no doubt compete strongly for the many rarities herein.

One particularly interesting piece in the sale is a 1901 8¢ black and vermilion Postage Due overprint, of the variety inverted frame. Only 33 examples have been recorded, all of which were cancelled to order in the London office.

A very nice example with good colour, it is listed at $6,000, but is worth more as an investment. The sale closes on March 26th.