Can Spink match its World Record price for an Indian stamp?

Another inverted head variation of an 1854 issue is to auction with other Commonwealth rarities

As we've mentioned, Spink is holding a major stamp sale before we are even two weeks into 2011. The London sale, known simply as the Winter Collector's Series Sale, comprises over 1,000 lots (the general title naturally bringing in a wide variety of stamp types).

Many are genuinely investment-grade pieces. We've already covered some stamps from the British mainland: a £1 brown-lilac with IR Official overprint and an example of Hume's comic envelope - the only known example of this caricature with an 1840 2d stamp attached.

But the stamps from elsewhere, notably the British Commonwealth/Empire are at least as impressive.

Indian philately has been going from strength to strength in recent years. We noted in October that a rare Indian stamp at Spink had quintupled its estimate to sell for £105,390 - a world record price for an Indian stamp.

The exciting news is that another example of the inverted head variety of the 1854 4 annas stamp is available in this auction - perhaps drawn out by news of the first sale.

Indian 4a stamp invert

Like its sibling, the first printing, head die I, frame die I stamp has been cut to shape. It bears a somewhat heavier cancel but the paper is a little fresher.

It was once found in an old album among a collection which was sent by the collector's heir for auction and sold three times during the 1980s before selling in a private treaty sale to an unknown collector, and is listed here at £40,000-50,000 ($77,500).

Surprisingly, this is not even the highest listed Indian lot in the sale. That honour belongs to an extraordinary cover sent to Ireland bearing a complete set of the first issue of Indian stamps in 1854.

The 1855 envelope from an unknown post office "Via Southampton via Bombay" to Carrickmacross, Ireland, bears the 1854 (1 Oct.) 1/2a. pale blue/blue Die I (2), 1a. red Die I (2), 2a. green and 4a. blue and red Second Printing, all neatly cancelled with diamond of dots.

1854 Indian issues cover

Just one other cover, from the same correspondence, is known bearing a complete set of the first issue of India, this is now in the Singapore Postal Museum. Once part of the Emerald collection, this example is listed here at £60,000-70,000 (up to $108,500).

Its main rival for top lot status in the sale is an 1851 Twelve Pence Black from Canada (British North America). The imperforate stamp is unused with deep rich colour and sharp detailed impression.

The stamp, which proved to be quite unpopular with the public due to its limited usage for specific postal rates to distant destinations, is now extremely rare and highly sought after (two examples were the key lots in Bill Gross's sale of British North American stamps in 2009).

This example is expected to sell for £60,000-70,000 in the sale which takes place in London on January 12. Watch this space for the results.

• Click here to view our stamps for sale
• Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in rare stamps
• Read all the latest Stamps and Covers news

Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today or download our free Collectors News app for your iPhone

Recent and Related Articles...

·  Abolition of Slavery stamps deemed 'too risky to issue' come to auction | 6 January 2011

Spink Shreves is offering the fascinating errors and rarities of the Mahfood Collection of Jamaica

·  'One of British philately's greatest rarities': an IR Official overprint sells at Spink | 4 January 2011

The auctioneer's great winter auction of rare stamps and covers will include some classic British pieces

·  Signed, sealed and delivered... Our Top Five stamp sales of 2010 | 29 December 2010

This week, we take a look back at some of last year's most spectacular philatelic auctions

·  Mauritius 'Post Paid' classic and Gambian rarities star at Spink's rare stamps auction | 9 December 2010

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

·  The Collections of Bill Gross | 26 November 2009

The financial genius, philanthropist and stamp collector

www.paulfrasercollectibles.com

Images: Spink