Spink's auction of British stamps on November 11 offered an number of exciting pieces.

Of the lots we reported on, the Mulready envelopes, the one estimated at £35,000 (apparently a fraudulent re-use of cancelled pieces), didn't sell.

However that's not to say there was no interest in the Penny Black/Two Penny Blue alternatives. The two penny version with a fine red Maltese cross cancellation (sent to Perth on the third day of use in 1840) beat its £10,000-12,000 valuation to sell for £15,000.

Another 1840 Mulready (one penny) with additional Penny Black also beat its £1,500-2000 expected price to sell for £2,100, whilst a hand-coloured version sold on target at £5,200. (This and all lots listed here are hammer price alone, not including Buyer's Premium.)

Penny Black Proof block (Click to enlarge)

The 'Royal Reprint' Penny Black block remains unsold, though a Proof block of four on thick card doubled its £1,500-2,000 valuation to sell at £3,800.

An intriguing collection of 7,700 Penny Red stamps from 1854-57 including a wide variety of water marks (some inverted) and cancellations beat its £8,000-10,000 estimate to sell for £13,000.

The Penny Red replaced the Penny Black in 1841, even though it had only been introduced in 1840.

1884 Watermark Imperial Crown

The top lot turned out to be one of the two beautiful 1884 watermarked £1 Imperial Crowns (the other appears to have been withdrawn from sale), clearing its £14,000-16,000 listing to go under the hammer for £17,000.

At Paul Fraser Collectibles, we currently have a stamp rarer than any of these available: the only Tyrian Plum on offer in the world today.

A very interesting auction for philatelists - we will report on the results of the John Sacher collection sale as soon as they are available.