A China 1915 Hall of Classics invert has provided the joint top lot at Cherrystone's latest online sale.
 The China 1915 Hall of Classics invert – one of just 50 |
The first Peking printing $2 black and blue error stamp sold for $160,000 at the September 11-ending sale.
With just one sheet of 50 of these stamps ever sold, they are incredibly rare. Its well centred, lightly hinged and "fresh unused" attributes further contributed to the stamp's strong price, whose type is regarded as one of the "four treasures of the republic".
Another of the 50 sold for $160,000 last year, evidence that the market for these items is consistently strong.
Another of the four treasures joined the 1915 Hall of Classics $2 at the head of the present auction: a 1923 surcharged in red on first Peking printing 2 Cts on 3c blue-green.
 The 1923 surcharged in red also made $160,000 |
Fewer than 20 examples of this surcharge inverted error stamp are thought to exist. This specimen is in "very fine" condition, with the added attraction of good centring.
Keeping with the China theme, a never hinged example of the 1896 surcharged Red Revenue stamp, 3c red, perforated 14, sold for $130,000.
There was also a strong performance from the hugely popular US CIA Invert issue.
A block of four, one of just three known, hammered for $60,000, while a single, bearing the rare addition of a white stripe, made $14,500.
Just 95 specimens of the 1979 inverted $1 Rush Lamp, to give the stamp its full title, are known. Of those 95, only eight bear the white stripe.
The stamp takes its nickname from the Virginia-based CIA agent who bought the only sheet of the error stamp.
You can view our fine selection of stamps for sale here.
