Mauritius 'Post Paid' classic and Gambian rarities star at Spink's rare stamps auction

The sale included part of the great Vestey collection of British Africa, together with the Wilkin collection

Spink has completed its latest rare stamp sale which included part of the great Vestey collection of British Africa, together with the Wilkin collection of British West Africa.

One of the top lots was 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.

As we said, it is a rock-solid investment and well worth anything close to the estimate of £15,000-18,000 ($28,000). In fact it sold for £29,340 ($46,200).

Top lot was 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.

It sold for £30,510 ($48,000).

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www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: Spink