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Harvey Mirsky Collection of postage stamps to showcase US first issues

The stamp collection of Harvey Mirsky featuring his renowned 1847 issues is to be sold in New York

Paul Fraser Collectibles, Tuesday 17 April 2012

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The Harvey Mirsky Collection of the United States is to be sold at auction on April 24, 2012. Featuring some of the finest US first issues, the collection comes to auction following Mirsky's death in 2011.

The former marketing boss became a renowned postal historian specialising in US first issues, after rekindling his childhood love of stamp collecting upon retirement. His collection of the 1847 issue has garnered several international awards.

US 1847 10c Black block of four

The auction will be led by lot 2030: a block of four 10c Black 1847 issue stamps. This very fine block is one of only two original-gum, unused blocks of the stamp available to collectors, with the third currently housed in the Hirzel Collection at the Swiss PTT Museum.

The 1847 issue was demonetised in 1851 and therefore this block is considered one of the rarest and important multiples to collectors.

An estimate of $200,000 has been set for the block, with many other examples of the stamp available throughout the auction.

The 10c Black will be closely followed by a block of ten 5c Red Brown 1847 issues. This lot is noted for being one of the largest multiples of its kind, second only to a block of 16. A block of 30 of the stamps has been reported but remains unconfirmed.

The block is made more desirable to collectors by featuring corner sheet margins, pushing the estimate to $116,000.

The unique collection of Harvey Mirsky provides a great opportunity for philatelists to own a piece of US postal history. The collection of 1847 issues is joined by a session of first issue related presidential free franks.

A George Washington cover will sell with an estimate of $4,000-$5,000. The cover bears the bold signature "G. Washington" as commanding general of the continental army. It is addressed to Oliver Phelps, a former tavern keeper and deputy commissary of the continental army.

George Washington collectors should see our great line in memorabilia relating to the president. This signed lottery ticket encapsulates early American history and is a fine example of the president's signature.

We also have our own collection of rare stamps here. This plate of twelve 1840 Rainbow Trial stamps provides a great addition to British collections of first issues.